What does the name "Orangutan" mean?

This name origins in the Malay and Indonesian language. "Orang" means person; "hutan" means forest. First the name was used not for these great apes, but for the people who lived in the forest. Jacobus Bontius, a Dutch physician, was the first one to use the name for these apes.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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81 Comments

Brian Jackson

Why are people so rude to each other on these sites.maybe because they know they can remain anonymous. Please desist its not nice

Ian MacBrown

"Right turn Clyde..." :-)

Kristi Stevens

Indeed they are!!! Although I'd say "A VERY hairy "forest person"!!!!! :-D

Jacqueline Tattam

Say NO to palm oil

Karin Johansson

Wasi Zaidi, apes are often more persons than many humans are.

Ian Sadler

Oook! (to quote Dr Horace Worblehat).

Ian Swindale

In view of the terrible number of these wonderful animals dying each year due to Palm Oil plantations I wonder if my grandchildren will ever know there are or were wild orangutans in the wild and the only place they will see them is in Zoos

Eleuteria Edwards

Beautiful,all living and breathing creatures are part of us all,the origins of humanities.I believe in Darwinian Theory.

unkabob

Victoria Taylor.. Quit living in the 1950's.. We don't do that now unless of course you live around a bunch of red neck bigots then my condolences.

David Mcgady

It's people like you that cause disharmony in the world.

Barb Schmidt

well maj vote was wrong, somehow should of gone against it, was thinking should, oh well, got it wrong

Char

I took a leap and leapt wrong I thought color lol

Char

Mark Sutter, oh no I missed it

Char

Jack Kircher, if it's a female? So person fits best.

Char

Eleuteria Edwards, me too

Char

Brian Jackson, you may as well be talking to yourself I've been harping every since I started playing. Many names are new yet it's like they just changed names as attitude the same I ignore as much as possible then occasionally snap back in others defense. They are thick skinned only bodies paying attention is us.

deborahpmercer

Brian Jackson, I agree. Constructive criticism or a harmless joke is fine, but please keep the vitriol in the bottle!

Jennifer Dyster

Old man of the forest .a it tricky as none matched what I thought it matched

Michael Brain

not 'old man of the woods'?

Ray Anderson

Wasi Zaidi, So are we.

Kathryn Cavanagh

Steve Tingle, AGREE. Lived 3 years in Malaysia and do have pretty good memory. Don't have a dictionary now, but learned from the local people back then, late 70's.