International Orangutan Day: History, Facts & Insights

This is an in-depth look at all the must-know facts about International Orangutan Day (2024) 🗓️ that no one tells you about. International Orangutan Day is observed on August 19th.

Among the information you’ll find below: the history of International Orangutan Day, activities to do on and how to observe this holiday, as well as amusing facts you may want to know about International Orangutan Day.

📅 What day is International Orangutan Day 2024?

In 2024, International Orangutan Day is on Saturday, August 19th. It is the 3rd Saturday in August; in 2024, it is Monday. There are until the next observance. You also can see all intriguing details and facts about August 19, 2023, that you might not be aware of.

Every year on August 19th, we observe International Orangutan Day as a way to show our solidarity with orangutans. The purpose of this day is to inspire individuals to actively safeguard these incredible creatures in their natural habitats. With their DNA similarity of 97% to humans, it’s not astonishing that orangutans are highly intelligent. This could be a reason why they are referred to as “forest people” in English.

📜 International Orangutan Day History

Further research has shown that orangutans are actually two distinct species that diverged approximately 400,000 years ago. Despite their relatively short height of around five feet, orangutans have incredibly long arms, reaching almost seven feet from fingertip to fingertip. This adaptation is remarkable as it allows them to navigate their arboreal habitat, swinging from tree to tree and constructing shelters using the abundant leaves in the canopy. Deforestation poses a significant threat to orangutans, as they spend the majority of their time in the treetops searching for food. While their diet mainly consists of plants, some orangutans are omnivorous and will consume bark, insects, and even meat when available.

The tropical rainforest has suffered substantial damage due to poor agricultural practices, resulting in a severe decline in orangutan populations. Farmers often view orangutans as pests and resort to killing them or setting fire to forests. Since 2006, the number of orangutans has dwindled to a mere 20,000 survivors, a fraction of what should exist today. Deforestation remains the primary threat to their survival, and if it continues at its current rate, orangutans may soon face extinction. International Orangutan Day serves as an opportunity to raise awareness and improve the chances of saving this endangered species.

Regrettably, humans pose the greatest danger to orangutans. Deforestation encroaches on their habitat, while illegal hunting claims the lives of around 3,000 orangutans annually. Experts predict that orangutans could disappear from the wild within the next 50 years. Nonetheless, numerous organizations, such as the Center for Orangutan Protection, the Sumatran Orangutan Society, the Orangutan Project, Orangutan Outreach, and the Humane Society, are actively working to protect and preserve orangutans.

✅ International Orangutan Day Facts

🔖 Humans of the forest
Orangutans, our close relatives, have a strikingly similar genetic makeup to humans, with about 97% of our DNA being identical.

🔖 They have a long life span
In captivity, these intriguing primates can live for around 50 to 60 years, while in their natural habitat, their lifespan ranges from 30 to 40 years.

🔖 They were first seen in Indonesia
The people living in Borneo and Sumatra saw a hairy, red monkey moving from one tree branch to another in the beautiful forests of Indonesia.

👍 Why Is International Orangutan Day Important

Orangutans display some amazing behaviors, and new ones are discovered all the time. We can learn about their natural behavior in the wild, which will eventually lead to conservation policies aimed at conserving orangutans and allowing them to live happily in their natural habitat.

Orangutans are apes, much like ourselves. Despite being the Great Apes’ most distant cousins, there are just around 14 million years separating us. In evolutionary terms, this is a fraction of a second. When you look into the eyes of an orangutan, it may be even more difficult to determine what separates them from humans.

In 2016, the International Union for Conservation of Nature designated orangutans as severely endangered. They are more vulnerable than ever before and rely on us to protect them.

🙂 How To Observe International Orangutan Day

⚡ Create awareness online

⚡ Gather more information about orangutans
To honor International Orangutan Day, you can dedicate your time to learning extensively about orangutans. This involves exploring various aspects of their lives, including their natural habitat, behaviors, lifespan, and other related details. Additionally, you can visit your nearby zoo to witness orangutans firsthand and observe their behavior.

⚡ Donate to an orangutan rescue organization
Share your thoughts and the facts you’ve acquired with your family and friends. You may even start online petitions to help safeguard them. The most essential thing any of us can do is raise public awareness about the dangers of deforestation.

📅 When is International Orangutan Day?

View all 🔗 August holidays, including 🔗 Animal and other 🔗 Awareness holidays.

We will continue to update this page with new information and fun facts about International Orangutan Day. So be sure to check back soon.