Orangutans, whose name means “people of the forest,” live in tropical and swamp forests on the Southeast Asian islands of Borneo and Sumatra. These shaggy red apes are the largest arboreal mammal and the only great ape found in Asia. Orangutans spend most of their life in the trees, swinging confidently from branch to branch. With arms longer than their body and long, strong fingers and flexible, grasping feet, life in the trees works well for them. In fact, they look a bit awkward on the ground, using their arms as we might use a pair of crutches or lifting those arms high above their head when they walk. While the other great ape species are usually found in groups socializing, foraging, or playing, orangutans tend to be more solitary.