Borneo Orangutan or Pongo pygmaeus from Kalimantan Island Indonesia

INDONESIAN ANIMALS - Borneo orangutan, or Pongo pygmaeus is a species besides the Sumatran orangutan orangutan. As the name implies, Borneo orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) live on the island of Borneo, and are endemic to the island.

Although the population is more than the Sumatran orangutan, but that does not mean free Borneo orangutan from extinction. Borneo Orangutan including one Indonesian endangered species endangered conservation status (threatened).

This animal has a Latin name Pongo pygmaeus. Meanwhile, in English known as the Bornean Orangutan. Borneo Orangutan consists of three subspecies, namely Pongo pygmaeus morio, Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus and Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii.

Characteristics and Description Borneo Orangutan. Borneo Orangutan not much different from his brother, the Sumatran orangutan. Posture is greater than the Sumatran orangutan. Borneo Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) has a body weight of about 50-100 kg (males) and 30-50 kg (females) with an average height of 1.5 meters.

Its fur is reddish brown, has a long and strong arms, short legs, and no tail. Borneo orangutan males have a lump of fatty tissue on both sides of the face that began to develop in adulthood after the first marriage.

Borneo Orangutan is an omnivorous animal though more like plants. The food is fruit, leaves, bark, flowers, bird eggs, insects, and other small vertebrates. Endemic to Borneo is active during the day (diurnal). They communicate with sound.

Regional Distribution, Population, and Conservation. As endemic Borneo, orangutans found only in Borneo (Indonesia and Malaysia). Habitat is forests in the lowlands to mountainous areas with an altitude of 1,500 meters above sea level.

Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus subspecies (Northwest Bornean Orangutan) can be found in Sarawak (Malaysia) and the northwestern part of Borneo. Subspecies Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii (Central Bornean Orangutan) located in Central Kalimantan and the southern part of West Kalimantan. While subspecies Pongo pygmaeus morio (Northeast Bornean Orangutan) found in East Kalimantan (Indonesia) and Sabah (Malaysia).

Borneo orangutan population is more than the Sumatran orangutan brother. Its population is estimated at between 45,000 and 69,000 individuals (Caldecott and Miles 2005). Some of the locations that the habitat of rare endemic animals include Betung Kerihun National Park (2,000 head), TN Lake Sentarum (500 head), TN Bukit Baka Bukit Raya (175 head), TN Mountain Trench (2,500 head), and Hill cavity and Parai (1000 head).

Borneo orangutan population is growing day decreased as a result of habitat destruction (deforestation), forest fires, logging, shrinking forest area, as well as poaching and illegal trade.

Therefore IUCN Redlist insert Borneo orangutans in endangered status (threatened) since 1994. While CITES Appendix I include it in the list which means it should not be traded. The Indonesian government has put these species as protected animals.

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