In the lush treetops of southeast Asia lives the orangutan, the largest arboreal mammal. Recognizable by their striking red fur, these highly intelligent great apes spend most of their lives high in the canopy, navigating branches with powerful arms and nimble, grasping hands and feet. Science now recognizes three distinct species of orangutans: two native to the Indonesian island of Sumatra and one found on the island of Borneo, in Indonesia and Malaysia. Orangutans are considered critically endangered and face one common threat: extinction. 

Orangutans are threatened by habitat loss and degradation, illegal hunting, human-wildlife conflict, and climate change. Forests where orangutans live are being destroyed to make way for single-crop plantations and are also damaged by fires, logging, and mining. This habitat loss is largely driven by the global demand for palm oil, a common ingredient in everyday items like packaged foods, soaps, and cosmetics. The collective impact of these threats has severe consequences for the future of orangutans and their forest homes. In Borneo, for example, the orangutan population has declined by an estimated 86% since 1973. 

Utah’s Hogle Zoo is dedicated to helping protect orangutans. As a proud supporter of the HUTAN Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation Program—a French nonprofit working to help Bornean orangutans thrive in their evolving habitat—Hogle Zoo is   committed to making a difference both globally and locally.  

Lexi Yang, a Great Apes Senior Keeper at Hogle Zoo, knows firsthand how small actions can drive big change and encourages our community to take meaningful steps to support these incredible animals.