Why In News?

Odisha authorities have launched a multi-district manhunt following the rescue of five abandoned infant Bornean orangutans linked to an exotic primate trafficking network.

What are Orangutans?

Orangutans belong to the genus Pongo within the family Hominidae, making them humanity’s only non-human great ape relatives native exclusively to Asia.

Largest Living Arboreal Mammals: With adult males weighing up to 100 kg, they are the largest tree-dwelling animals on Earth, spending over 90% of their lives in the forest canopy.

Morphological and Locomotor Adaptations: Possess long arms (with an arm-span reaching over 2 metres), grasping hook-like hands and feet, flexible hip joints, and distinct facial cheek pads (flanges) in dominant adult males.

Advanced Cognitive and Cultural Behaviors: Exhibit sophisticated tool-making abilities, using sticks to extract insects or seeds, constructing complex rain-proof night nests daily, and passing learned foraging traditions culturally across generations.

Slowest Reproductive Rate Among Mammals: Female orangutans give birth to a single infant only once every 7 to 9 years—the longest inter-birth interval of any land mammal—caring for their young for up to 8 years, which makes populations exceptionally slow to recover from hunting and capture.

Habitat

  • Southeast Asian Endemism: Naturally found on only two islands in the world: Borneo (shared by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei) and Sumatra (Indonesia).

  • Lowland Rainforests: Inhabit fruit-rich tropical evergreen forests below 500m.

  • Peat Swamps: Key populations occupy acidic, waterlogged coastal peat forests like Central Kalimantan's Sabangau Basin.

  • River Barriers: Inability to swim makes wide rivers geographic barriers, isolating sub-species.

  • Montane Extremities: Rare populations, including Tapanuli orangutans, survive in northern Sumatra's high-elevation forests (800–1,500m).

Major Orangutan Species

  • Bornean Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus): The most widespread species, divided into three distinct subspecies (P. p. pygmaeus, P. p. wurmbii, and P. p. morio); characterized by a darker, brownish-red coat and broad, circular facial flanges in mature males.

  • Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abelii): Restricted entirely to the northern provinces of Sumatra (primarily the Leuser Ecosystem); features a lighter, ginger-coloured coat, a narrower face, and longer beards.

  • Tapanuli Orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis): Scientifically described in 2017 as a distinct species; confined to an isolated 1,000 sq km area in the Batang Toru forest of North Sumatra.

  • Universal "Critically Endangered" Status: All three extant species of orangutan are classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

  • Genetic Divergence: Genomic studies reveal that Sumatran and Tapanuli lineages diverged over 3 million years ago, while Bornean and Sumatran lineages separated approximately 670,000 years ago.

Source: DECCANHERALD

PRACTICE QUESTION

With reference to orangutans, consider the following statements:

1. They are the only genus of great apes native exclusively to the continent of Asia.

2. There are currently three recognized extant species of orangutans: Bornean, Sumatran, and Tapanuli.

3. All recognized species of orangutans are categorized as 'Critically Endangered' on the IUCN Red List.

4. In India, exotic species listed under CITES Appendices are protected under Schedule IV of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

A) 1, 2, and 3 only

B) 2 and 4 only

C) 1, 3, and 4 only

D) 1, 2, 3, and 4

Answer: D

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Orangutans (genus Pongo) are the only great apes native to Asia (chimpanzees, bonobos, and gorillas are native to Africa).

Statement 2 is correct: The three species are Pongo pygmaeus (Borneo), Pongo abelii (Sumatra), and Pongo tapanuliensis (Batang Toru, Sumatra, discovered in 2017).

Statement 3 is correct: All three species are listed as Critically Endangered (CR) by the IUCN.

Statement 4 is correct: Under the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022, Schedule IV was introduced to regulate and penalize offenses involving specimens of wild animals listed in the Appendices of CITES.