Orangutans are large, tree-dwelling apes. These mammals live in the tropical rainforests of Sumatra and Borneo in Southeast Asia. An orangutan’s lifespan in the wild is between 30-40 years, but they can live up to 60 years in captivity. Their diet consists of mostly fruits and leaves, though they are considered omnivores since they also consume insects. Full-grown orangutans measure between 4 and 5 feet and weigh anywhere from 82 to 220 pounds. More impressively, their arm span from fingertip to fingertip stretches up to six and a half feet! These large animals are characterized by their red fur and long, strong arms, but the question remains: how strong are orangutans?
Key Takeaways:
Orangutans can lift up to 500 pounds.
Orangutans have a bite force of up to 575 pounds per square inch.
The grip strength of an orangutan is around 600 pounds.
Male and female orangutans have significant differences in size and strength.
The average orangutan is five to seven times as strong as the average human.
Orangutans are stronger than chimpanzees.
An orangutan is NOT stronger than a gorilla.
Strength: Male vs. Female Orangutans
Orangutans are a sexually dimorphic species meaning the difference in size and shape between the males and females is significant. While male orangutans often weigh over 200 pounds and reach a height of 5 feet, female orangutans are much smaller. On average, a female orangutan weighs less than 110 pounds and is 4 feet tall or under. Both male and female orangutans can lift more than twice their body weight, but since males weigh more, a male orangutan can lift more weight than a female. If females weren’t so much smaller than the males, there might not be such a difference in strength, but as it is, male orangutans are much stronger than their female counterparts.
How strong are orangutans compared to chimpanzees?
Chimpanzees and orangutans are generally similar in size, but that doesn’t mean that their strengths are the same. While an orangutan can lift up to 500 pounds, a chimpanzee can only lift about 250 pounds. As far as grip strength is concerned, orangutans win again. An orangutan’s grip strength is around 600 pounds, and a chimpanzee’s grip strength is about 440 pounds. The two animals are similar in their bite force, though the orangutan still wins. A chimpanzee’s bite force is up to 550 pounds per square inch, but an orangutan’s bite force is up to 575 pounds per square inch. Chimpanzees are not weak by any means, but orangutans are stronger still.
How strong are orangutans compared to humans?
While the orangutan is one of human’s most closely related relatives, orangutans are around five to seven times stronger than people. Orangutans can lift up to 500 pounds; for the average orangutan, this is three times their weight. While men and women bodybuilders can lift upwards of 1,000 pounds, the average human can only lift between 135 and 175 pounds. When comparing average to average, the orangutan wins every time. If you consider bite strength, humans lose again. A human’s bite force is around 162 pounds per square inch, and an orangutan’s bite force is 575 pounds per square inch. Another factor to consider is grip strength. The average human male has a grip strength of up to 73 pounds, but an orangutan’s grip strength is 600 pounds, so there’s no contest. The fact of the matter is, if it came down to a human vs. orangutan fight, the orangutan would almost definitely win.
Which is stronger? An orangutan or a gorilla?
If you have been waiting to find an animal stronger than an orangutan, look no further. In a strength contest between an orangutan and a gorilla, the gorilla would win every time. As mentioned above, orangutans are five to seven times stronger than humans, but gorillas are four to ten times stronger than the average human. A silverback gorilla can lift up to 1,800 pounds! That’s more than three times as much as the average orangutan. Bite strength is another category in which gorillas best orangutans. A gorilla’s bite strength is up to 1,300 pounds per square inch compared to the orangutan’s 575 pounds per square inch. Gorillas and orangutans are similar in size, but gorillas are stockier and much stronger.
Orangutan Wrap Up
Orangutans are extremely large and strong apes with disproportionately long arms. Their arms are about one and half times longer than their legs, and Orangutans’ tree-dwelling tendencies serve to increase their arm strength. Because orangutans spend most of their time swinging from branch to branch, they regularly build their arm and hand strength, which explains their lifting and grip power. Orangutans tend to be mild-mannered and are not typically aggressive, but their strength and bite force make them a formidable opponent if they choose to attack. For more quick facts about these amazing creatures, click here.