What the sources say
Bornean OrangutanPongo pygmaeus
Every figure, record and mechanism on the Bornean Orangutan profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 63 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.
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Source
01
Ancrenaz et al. 2024
Ancrenaz et al. (2024). Pongo pygmaeus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T17975A259043172.
- The page saysBornean orangutans are Critically Endangered
- The source says
Critically Endangered (CR)
Source
02
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan
Pongo pygmaeus (Bornean orangutan). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.
- The page sayslong arms for the canopy
- The source says
Bornean orangutans have orange-red hair and long arms, which are advantageous for traveling through the canopy.
- The page sayshands and feet that both grip
- The source says
Bornean orangutans grasp with both their feet and hands, which suites their arboreal life.
- The page saysPrimary lowland rainforest, peat swamp forest, and dipterocarp forest on Borneo
- The source says
They generally live in the old growth forests ranging from the lowland swampy areas to the dipterocarp forests. The peat swamps and flood-prone dipterocarp forests produce more fruit than the dry dipertocarp forests ... Bornean orangutans inhabit the primary tropical rainforest and secondary forest at lower elevations
- The page saysLong arms that help it travel through the canopy
- The source says
Bornean orangutans have orange-red hair and long arms, which are advantageous for traveling through the canopy.
- The page sayshands and feet that can both grasp
- The source says
Bornean orangutans grasp with both their feet and hands, which suites their arboreal life.
- The page saysBornean orangutans rarely come down to the forest floor
- The source says
Bornean orangutans are arboreal and rarely descend to the ground.
- The page saysrather than on their knuckles
- The source says
When walking quadrupedally, they walk on their fists rather than their knuckles, unlike other great apes.
- The page saysA Bornean orangutan cannot swim, so rivers and other waterways box in where it can travel
- The source says
Bornean orangutans cannot swim which make rivers and other water sources impassable boundaries, limiting their range.
Note: "so" is the source's own link ("which make") - The page saysa Bornean orangutan's nest platform sits 12 to 18 meters (40 to 60 feet) off the ground
- The source says
Bornean orangutans sleep in nest platforms made of vegetation 40 to 60 feet off the ground.
Note: 40 to 60 feet converts to 12.2 to 18.3 meters - The page saysTwo Kinds of Grown Male
- The source says
Bornean orangutans exhibit bimaturism, or two different forms of mature males.
- The page saysAdult male Bornean orangutans average about 87 kilograms (192 pounds)
- The source says
males having an average height and weight of 970 mm and 87 kg respectively
Note: 87 kg converts to 192 lb (ADW's own table: 191.63 lb). Within NZP's current wild adult male range for orangutans, 77 to 100 kg, so the two agree - The page saysfemales about 37 kilograms (82 pounds)
- The source says
females averaging 780 mm and 37 kg, respectively
Note: 37 kg converts to 82 lb. Within NZP's current wild adult female range for orangutans, 36 to 54 kg - The page saysMales come in two forms: flanged males with wide cheek pads, and unflanged males that are the same size as females and look much like them
- The source says
Males also develop large cheek pads known as flanges ... These two types of males are denoted as being either flanged and unflanged. ... Unflanged males look much more like the females as they are the same size
- The page saysMales aged 8 to 15 are generally unflanged and become flanged between 15 and 20
- The source says
Males between 8 and 15 years of age are generally unflanged and become flanged between 15 and 20.
- The page saysBoth kinds of male father offspring
- The source says
Both types of adult male orangutans reproduce in the population.
- The page saysunflanged males that hear it flee the area
- The source says
when unflanged males hear long-calls they flee the area
- The page saysGardeners of the Forest
- The source says
Bornean orangutans play such a crucial role in seed dispersal that they have been given the title "gardeners of the forest".
- The page saysBornean orangutans have been recorded eating more than 500 plant species
- The source says
Bornean orangutans have been documented eating more than 500 plant species as part of their diet.
- The page saysfruit makes up more than 60 percent of their diet
- The source says
Fruits make up more than 60% of their total dietary intake
- The page saysThat makes them "gardeners of the forest," spreading seeds, especially large ones that smaller animals cannot disperse
- The source says
Since fruits make up more than 60% the Bornean orangutan diet, they play a vital role in seed dispersal, especially for the larger seeds which cannot be dispersed by smaller animals. Bornean orangutans play such a crucial role in seed dispersal that they have been given the title "gardeners of the forest".
- The page saysThe Bornean orangutan cannot swim, so rivers and other waterways limit where it can travel
- The source says
Bornean orangutans cannot swim which make rivers and other water sources impassable boundaries, limiting their range.
Note: "so" is the source's own link ("which make") - The page saysA Bornean orangutan's nest platform, made of vegetation, sits 12 to 18 meters (40 to 60 feet) off the ground
- The source says
Bornean orangutans sleep in nest platforms made of vegetation 40 to 60 feet off the ground.
Note: 40 to 60 feet converts to 12.2 to 18.3 meters - The page saysThe pads, called flanges, grow on some adult males
- The source says
Males also develop large cheek pads known as flanges ... Bornean orangutans exhibit bimaturism, or two different forms of mature males. These two types of males are denoted as being either flanged and unflanged.
- The page sayswhere they generally inhabit swampy and hilly tropical rainforests
- The source says
generally inhabits swampy and hilly tropical rainforests
Source
03
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Orangutan. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
- The page saysBorneo's biggest mammal in the trees
- The source says
These shaggy red apes are the largest arboreal mammal and the only great apes found in Asia.
Note: The quote ranks orangutans, all three species. The Bornean orangutan is the only orangutan on Borneo (SDZoo: "Bornean orangutan: Native to the island of Borneo"), so the rank is narrowed to Borneo rather than claimed for the species worldwide; "mammal" is kept - The page saysWild figs, durian, and other forest fruit
- The source says
Orangutans eat lots of ripe fruits ... Figs, along with fruit of the durian tree, are most common.
- The page saysleaves, bark, insects, bird eggs, and honey when fruit is scarce
- The source says
When fruits are scarce, they eat leaves, flowers, bark, honey, termites, ants and other insects, and even bird eggs.
- The page saysAn orangutan's arms stretch out longer than its body, more than 2 meters (7 feet) from fingertip to fingertip
- The source says
Their arms stretch out longer than their bodies—measuring over 7 feet (2 meters) from fingertip to fingertip.
- The page saysOrangutans also use leafy branches to shelter from rain and sun, and sometimes drape large leaves over themselves like a poncho
- The source says
Orangutans also use leafy branches to shelter themselves from rain and sun, and sometimes they drape large leaves over themselves like a poncho!
- The page saysOrangutan males average 136 centimeters (54 inches) in height and females 114 centimeters (45 inches)
- The source says
Height: Females, average 45 inches (114 centimeters); males, average 54 inches (136 centimeters)
Note: San Diego Zoo's page covers all three orangutan species, so the figure is stated for orangutans, not as Bornean. ADW (2013) gives Bornean average heights of 970 mm and 780 mm, which disagree; the current page wins (docs/fact-check.md, Check the date). - The page saysWhen males fight, they charge at each other and break branches, and if that doesn't scare one away, they grab and bite each other's cheek pads or ears until one gives up and runs away
- The source says
When males fight, they charge at each other and break branches. If that doesn't scare one of them away, they grab and bite each other on the cheek pads or ears until one of them gives up and runs away!
- The page saysOrangutan diets center on wild figs, durian, and other forest fruit
- The source says
Orangutans eat lots of ripe fruits ... Figs, along with fruit of the durian tree, are most common.
- The page saysbacked up by leaves, bark, insects, bird eggs, and honey when fruit runs short
- The source says
When fruits are scarce, they eat leaves, flowers, bark, honey, termites, ants and other insects, and even bird eggs.
- The page saysTheir arms stretch out longer than their bodies, measuring more than 2 meters (7 feet) from fingertip to fingertip
- The source says
Their arms stretch out longer than their bodies—measuring over 7 feet (2 meters) from fingertip to fingertip.
- The page saysOrangutans also shelter from rain and sun with leafy branches, and sometimes drape large leaves over themselves like a poncho
- The source says
Orangutans also use leafy branches to shelter themselves from rain and sun, and sometimes they drape large leaves over themselves like a poncho!
- The page saysWhen males fight, they charge and break branches, and if that doesn't scare one away, they grab and bite each other's cheek pads or ears until one gives up
- The source says
When males fight, they charge at each other and break branches. If that doesn't scare one of them away, they grab and bite each other on the cheek pads or ears until one of them gives up and runs away!
Source
04
Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Orangutan. Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
- The page saysa long call that can be heard a kilometer or more away
- The source says
It can be heard a kilometer or more away (more than half a mile).
Note: NZP speaks of orangutans; ADW's Bornean account says "The long-call can be heard from several kilometers away in the right conditions", so the lower figure holds for this species - The page saysfor an ape that normally moves cautiously, climbing and walking through large trees to spread its weight
- The source says
Orangutans can brachiate — swing hand over hand — but they normally move cautiously through large trees by climbing and walking. This allows them to distribute their weight among the branches.
Note: vibe.reason; the words before "for" describe the track - The page saysBuilt for Life in the Trees
- The source says
Orangutans are the largest arboreal mammals and are very well adapted to life in the trees
- The page saysOrangutans are the largest arboreal mammals
- The source says
Orangutans are the largest arboreal mammals and are very well adapted to life in the trees
- The page saysit has long curved fingers and toes for grasping
- The source says
They have grasping hands and feet with long curved fingers and toes.
- The page saysIts hands make it graceful and swift when swinging but slow and awkward on the ground
- The source says
Orangutans' hands make them graceful and swift while swinging, but it makes walking on the ground very slow and awkward.
- The page saysOrangutans can swing hand over hand, but they normally move cautiously, climbing and walking through large trees to spread their weight across the branches
- The source says
Orangutans can brachiate — swing hand over hand — but they normally move cautiously through large trees by climbing and walking. This allows them to distribute their weight among the branches.
- The page saysOn the ground, they use all four limbs, supporting themselves on the sides of clenched fists
- The source says
When on the ground, they use all four limbs, supporting themselves on the sides of clenched fists
- The page saysOrangutans usually build a fresh nest each night, though they sometimes rebuild an old one
- The source says
They usually build and sleep in a fresh nest each night, but they will sometimes re-enter or rebuild an older nest.
- The page says"Orangutan" means "person of the forest" in the Indonesian and Malaysian languages
- The source says
Orangutan means "person of the forest" in the Indonesian and Malaysian languages.
- The page saysthe presence of a fully mature dominant male may suppress another male's pads, and in some cases a wild male may never develop them
- The source says
The presence of a fully mature dominant male may suppress secondary sexual characteristics (long hair, face pads, beards and enlarged throat sacs) in other less dominant males, and, in some cases, a wild male orangutan may never develop cheek pads.
- The page saysA male Bornean orangutan's median life expectancy is about 27 years
- The source says
The median life expectancy for male Bornean orangutans is about 27 years
- The page saysthere is not enough data to give one for females
- The source says
There is not enough available data on the life expectancy of female Bornean orangutans.
- The page saysCheek Pads and the Long Call
- The source says
large cheek pads, which demonstrate genetic fitness and amplify their long calls.
Note: "typically" in the source qualifies whether males develop pads; a flanged male has them by definition - The page saysA Face Built to Be Heard
- The source says
large cheek pads, which demonstrate genetic fitness and amplify their long calls.
Note: "typically" in the source qualifies whether males develop pads; a flanged male has them by definition - The page saysA flanged male's cheek pads amplify his loud, deep long call
- The source says
large cheek pads, which demonstrate genetic fitness and amplify their long calls. ... a loud, deep long call used typically by males for long-distance communication.
Note: "typically" in the source qualifies which sex gives the call; ADW: the long-call is "performed only by flanged males" - The page sayswhich can be heard a kilometer or more away
- The source says
It can be heard a kilometer or more away (more than half a mile).
Note: NZP speaks of orangutans; ADW's Bornean account says "The long-call can be heard from several kilometers away in the right conditions", so the lower figure holds for this species - The page saystheir numbers have dropped by more than half over the past 60 years
- The source says
Their population levels have dropped more than 50 percent over the past 60 years
- The page saystheir habitat has shrunk by more than 80 percent in the past 20
- The source says
their habitat has declined by over 80 percent in the past 20 years.
- The page saysYes. Orangutans are the largest arboreal mammals
- The source says
Orangutans are the largest arboreal mammals and are very well adapted to life in the trees
- The page saysthey grasp with long curved fingers and toes
- The source says
They have grasping hands and feet with long curved fingers and toes.
- The page saysTheir hands make them graceful and swift while swinging but slow and awkward walking on the ground
- The source says
Orangutans' hands make them graceful and swift while swinging, but it makes walking on the ground very slow and awkward.
- The page saysOrangutans usually build and sleep in a fresh nest each night, but sometimes re-enter or rebuild an older nest
- The source says
They usually build and sleep in a fresh nest each night, but they will sometimes re-enter or rebuild an older nest.
- The page saysThey demonstrate genetic fitness and amplify the male's long call
- The source says
Males also typically develop large cheek pads, which demonstrate genetic fitness and amplify their long calls.
Note: NZP's "typically" qualifies which males develop pads, and the FAQ's "grow on some adult males" carries it; the pads themselves "demonstrate genetic fitness". - The page sayswhich is audible a kilometer or more away
- The source says
It can be heard a kilometer or more away (more than half a mile).
- The page saysBornean orangutans live in both the Malaysian and Indonesian parts of the island of Borneo
- The source says
Orangutans live on the Indonesian island of Sumatra and in both the Malaysian and Indonesian portions of the island of Borneo.
Note: NZP's page covers all orangutans; the Borneo half of its range is the Bornean orangutan's (SDZ: "Bornean orangutan: Native to the island of Borneo").
How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.