Orang-utans live solitary almost nomadic lives, spending most of their time in the forest canopy They feed mostly on fruits, but also leaves, bark, shoots, stems and epiphytic flowers. Each day they will build themselves a nest of twigs, leaves and branches up to 1 m wide, where they will sleep in the afternoons or retire for the day.
Reproduction is very slow, with an eight-year gap between births.
As natural forests are converted to other land uses, competition for food and space occurs. Conflicts between orang-utans and humans occur in agricultural areas, particularly oil palm plantations. Unsustainable logging Land conversion to agriculture Hunting Forest fires and poaching. In 1997, hundreds of female orang-utans fleeing the forest fires in Indonesia were shot by poachers, and their young taken as pets or for sale into the illegal wildlife market. Current Conservation Measures Enforcement of wildlife laws and careful management of forests by local authorities is being done to minimise environmental damage to natural habitats.