Quick answer
Orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) are listed in our guides as Critically Endangered. That IUCN-style label describes global extinction risk and can differ from national lists — habitat loss and human pressure still decide local survival.
Key takeaway
Orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) are listed in our guides as Critically Endangered. That IUCN-style label describes global extinction risk and can differ from national lists — habitat loss and human pressure still decide local survival.
Orangutan conservation status
Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) is recorded here as Critically Endangered. Global categories summarise extinction risk; regional populations can be safer or worse than the headline label.
Threats facing orangutans
Habitat loss around Tropical rainforest canopy, hunting or persecution, climate pressure, and conflict with people are common drivers. Exact ranking of threats varies by region.
Outlook for Orangutan populations
Where monitoring exists, trends track protected-area quality and enforcement. Fragmented groups need corridors and genetic exchange to avoid local extinction.
What actually helps
Support verified conservation programmes, cut demand for illegal wildlife products, and protect habitat. Tourism helps only when operators follow ethical wildlife standards.
Habitat and range
Orangutans live only on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra in Southeast Asia, where they inhabit tropical lowland and peat-swamp rainforests. They are the most arboreal of the great apes, spending almost all their time in the canopy and rarely coming to the ground. There are three species: the Bornean, Sumatran, and the recently described Tapanuli orangutan, all of which are critically endangered. Their survival is ti
Conservation
All orangutan species are Critically Endangered, with numbers falling rapidly due to logging, conversion of forest to palm oil plantations, fires, and the illegal pet trade. Females reproduce very slowly, giving birth only once every six to eight years, so populations recover poorly from losses. Conservation efforts include protecting and restoring forest, rehabilitating rescued orphans, and promoting sustainable pal
Sources
Orangutan FAQs
Are orangutans endangered?
Orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) are listed in our guides as Critically Endangered. That IUCN-style label describes global extinction risk and can differ from national lists — habitat loss and human pressure still decide local survival.
What is the scientific name of the orangutan?
Pongo pygmaeus — used in research and conservation listings for orangutans.
What do orangutans eat?
Orangutans eat mostly fruit, with seasonal and regional variation in Tropical rainforest canopy.
Where do orangutans live?
They are associated with Tropical rainforest canopy. Local presence depends on food, cover, and human land use.
What is the conservation status of orangutans?
Listed in our guides as Critically Endangered. Check the IUCN Red List and national assessments for the latest formal category.