Ape Cam - San Diego Zoo

Orangutans live in tropical and swampy forests on the Southeast Asian islands of Borneo and Sumatra. These furry red apes are the largest arboreal mammal and the only great ape found in Asia. The other great apes — gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos — are all native to Africa.

Long, flowing reddish hair covers most of an orangutan’s gray skin. Their stocky body has a flexible pelvis, a thick neck, and bowed legs. An orangutan’s arms are longer than its legs, reaching almost to its ankles when the ape stands. Like other apes, orangutans do not have a tail.

Orangutans spend most of their lives in trees, confidently swinging from branch to branch. Their long fingers and toes easily grasp branches and vines. With arms longer than their body and long, strong fingers and prehensile feet, tree life works well for them. In fact, orangutans appear somewhat clumsy on the ground, using their arms like crutches or raising their arms above their heads when they walk. Adult male orangutans are significantly larger than adult females.