Slideshow · Animals
30 Unbelievable Facts About Orangutans That Sound Fake
In Malay folklore, orangutan literally translates to 'person of the forest.' From self-medicating with wild vines to outsmarting padlocks and weaving canopy beds, here are 30 unbelievable facts.
12 hours agoVerified Editorial
⏱12 Min Read
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30 Unbelievable Facts About Orangutans That Sound Fake 
29. Ninety-Seven Percent Human DNAOrangutans share nearly ninety-seven percent of our genetic code. 
28. Heaviest Tree Dwellers On EarthThey are the largest strictly tree-dwelling animals in the world. 
27. Massive Seven-Foot Arm SpanTheir arms reach over seven feet from fingertip to fingertip. - AdvertisementSwipe or tap ▶ to continue countdown
26. Dexterous Hands For FeetTheir feet possess opposable big toes for dexterous four-handed gripping. 
25. Longest Childhood In NatureOffspring nurse for up to eight years, rivaling human childhood. 
24. Architectural Bed EngineersThey weave sophisticated spring mattresses in trees every single night. 
23. Rain Umbrellas And Leaf HatsOrangutans fashion protective umbrellas from large palm fronds during storms. - AdvertisementSwipe or tap ▶ to continue countdown
22. The Booming Long CallFlanged males blast throat-sac roars that carry over a mile. 
21. Bimaturism: Two Kinds Of MalesSome adult males pause physical maturation for years without cheek flanges. 
20. Three Entirely Separate SpeciesScientists only discovered a third distinct orangutan species in 2017. 
19. Gardeners Of The RainforestThey are the sole dispersers of massive tropical fruit tree seeds. - AdvertisementSwipe or tap ▶ to continue countdown
18. Mental Rainforest Fruit GPSThey maintain 3D mental maps tracking hundreds of fruiting trees. 
17. Eight-Year Birth IntervalsFemales reproduce only once every eight years, the slowest on Earth. 
16. Inherent Fear Of Deep WaterHeavy muscle density prevents wild orangutans from floating or swimming. 
15. Spontaneous Wire Hook InventionThey spontaneously bend wires into hooks without any prior training. - AdvertisementSwipe or tap ▶ to continue countdown
14. Fishing With Sharpened SticksWild orangutans have been documented spearing fish along riverbanks. 
13. Legendary Lock-PickersA famous captive ape hid wire in his cheek to pick padlocks. 
12. Sixty-Four Intentional GesturesWild orangutans share a confirmed lexicon of sixty-four intentional gestures. 
11. The Chantek Sign Language PioneerChantek the orangutan mastered hundreds of American Sign Language signs. - AdvertisementSwipe or tap ▶ to continue countdown
10. Planning Tomorrow Travel TodayDominant males announce their planned morning travel direction the night before. 
9. Herbal Anti-Inflammatory BalmsThey lather medicinal leaves into foaming balms to soothe sore muscles. 
8. Rakus: The First Wild SurgeonA wild orangutan made global history by surgically treating his wound. 
7. Spontaneous Human MimicryOrangutans spontaneously learned to saw wood and paddle wooden canoes. - AdvertisementSwipe or tap ▶ to continue countdown
6. Washing Limbs With SoapOrangutans mimic human hygiene by lathering themselves with bar soap. 
5. Pendulum Canopy LocomotionThey sway flexible trees like massive pendulums to cross wide canopy gaps. 
4. Communicating About The PastThey can communicate about past events, a trait once thought uniquely human. 
3. Sixty-Year Natural LifespansOrangutans can live past age sixty, making them remarkably long-lived. - AdvertisementSwipe or tap ▶ to continue countdown
2. The Solitary Great ApeThey are the only great apes living strictly solitary lives. 
1. The Archimedes Siphon TrickThey spontaneously solved Archimedes water displacement problem to retrieve food. - Advertisement
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