International Orangutan Day
August 19
About International Orangutan Day
International Orangutan Day takes place every year on 19 August, falling on Wednesday, 19 August 2026. The day is dedicated to raising awareness of the threats facing the world’s three orangutan species, all of which are classified as critically endangered, and to encouraging action to protect them and the rainforests they depend on.
What is International Orangutan Day?
International Orangutan Day is an annual conservation awareness day focused on orangutans, the great apes native to the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra in Southeast Asia. It brings together conservation organisations, zoos, sanctuaries, and members of the public to highlight the dangers of deforestation, the palm oil industry, the illegal pet trade, and habitat loss. The day was established by World Orangutan Events, and is supported by organisations such as Orangutan Outreach, to promote both the conservation and the welfare of these remarkable primates. It is a global day of action, intended to turn admiration for one of our closest relatives into practical support for their survival.
When is International Orangutan Day?
International Orangutan Day is observed on 19 August every year. In 2026 it falls on Wednesday, 19 August. The date is fixed and does not change from year to year, which makes it easy to mark in advance whether you are an individual, a school, a zoo, or a wildlife charity planning an event or fundraiser.
Why International Orangutan Day Matters
Orangutans are among the most threatened great apes on the planet. There are three species, the Bornean, Sumatran, and Tapanuli orangutan, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists all three as critically endangered, the highest threat category before extinction in the wild. The Tapanuli orangutan, only described as a distinct species in 2017, is the rarest great ape on Earth, with no more than around 800 individuals remaining.
The decline has been severe and rapid. The number of Bornean orangutans has fallen by more than 60 per cent over the past 60 years, and between 1999 and 2015 alone the island of Borneo lost more than 100,000 of them. The Sumatran orangutan population has dropped by roughly 80 per cent over the last 75 years. Orangutans are sometimes called the gardeners of the forest because they disperse seeds across vast areas as they feed, helping the rainforest to regenerate. Losing them would damage entire ecosystems, not just a single species.
Much of this loss is driven by the destruction of habitat for agriculture, particularly oil palm plantations. On Borneo, at least half of all deforestation between 2005 and 2015 was linked to oil palm development, and conservationists estimate that between 1,000 and 5,000 orangutans are killed each year as plantations expand. International Orangutan Day exists to keep these figures in the public eye and to remind people that everyday choices, from the products we buy to the charities we support, can influence the outcome.
How to Get Involved in International Orangutan Day
There are many ways to take part, whether you have a few minutes or want to organise something larger in your community.
- Symbolically adopt an orangutan – Many sanctuaries and charities offer adoption schemes where a regular donation helps fund the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of orphaned and displaced orangutans.
- Check your palm oil – Look for products certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), and use apps and guides that identify brands committed to deforestation-free supply chains.
- Donate to a reputable conservation organisation – Groups such as Orangutan Outreach, the Orangutan Foundation, and the Sumatran Orangutan Society fund frontline habitat protection and rescue work.
- Visit a zoo or sanctuary – Accredited zoos often run special talks and events on 19 August, and visiting supports captive breeding and conservation education programmes.
- Spread the word online – Share facts, photographs, and campaign links across social media to reach friends and followers who may not know how close orangutans are to extinction.
- Hold a fundraiser – Schools, workplaces, and community groups can run a bake sale, dress-down day, or sponsored event to raise money for orangutan charities.
- Learn and teach – Read about the three species and the threats they face, and share that knowledge with children and colleagues to build long-term support for conservation.
- Reduce your wider footprint – Cutting down on paper and packaging waste and supporting sustainably sourced timber helps reduce the pressure on tropical rainforests worldwide.
History of International Orangutan Day
International Orangutan Day was created by World Orangutan Events, an initiative set up to coordinate awareness activities for orangutans across the globe. The day has been observed annually on 19 August since the early 2010s, growing out of the wider conservation movement that emerged as scientists documented the dramatic collapse of orangutan populations on Borneo and Sumatra.
The choice of a single, fixed date was deliberate. By concentrating events, fundraising, and media coverage on one day each year, organisers can amplify their message and make it easier for zoos, charities, and individuals around the world to coordinate. Over the years the day has been embraced by major conservation organisations and accredited zoos, who use it to launch campaigns, publish new research, and rally supporters.
The conservation picture has also evolved during the day’s lifetime. In 2017, scientists formally described the Tapanuli orangutan as a third, separate species, found only in a small area of North Sumatra. Its discovery, and its immediate classification as critically endangered, underlined just how fragile and poorly understood orangutan populations remain, and gave International Orangutan Day a renewed sense of urgency.
Noteworthy Facts About International Orangutan Day
- There are three species of orangutan: the Bornean, the Sumatran, and the Tapanuli, and the IUCN classifies all three as critically endangered.
- The word orangutan comes from the Malay and Indonesian words “orang” (person) and “hutan” (forest), meaning “person of the forest”.
- The Tapanuli orangutan, identified as a distinct species in 2017, is the most endangered great ape in the world, with around 800 individuals left.
- Orangutans share roughly 97 per cent of their DNA with humans, making them among our closest living relatives.
- As seed dispersers, orangutans play a vital role in regenerating the rainforest, which is why they are often described as the gardeners of the forest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is International Orangutan Day?
It is an annual awareness day held on 19 August to highlight the threats facing the world’s critically endangered orangutans and to encourage conservation action, particularly around deforestation, palm oil, and habitat protection.
When is International Orangutan Day in 2026?
International Orangutan Day falls on Wednesday, 19 August 2026. The date is fixed and is the same every year.
Why are orangutans endangered?
The main threats are habitat loss from deforestation and the expansion of oil palm plantations, alongside the illegal pet trade and hunting. These pressures have caused orangutan populations to fall sharply over recent decades.
Spread the Word
Help raise awareness by sharing International Orangutan Day with your friends, family, and followers. Use the hashtags #InternationalOrangutanDay and #OrangutanDay2026 on social media. The more people who understand how close orangutans are to extinction, the greater the chance of protecting them and the rainforests they call home.
Related Awareness Days
- International Primate Day – A wider celebration of all primates and the conservation challenges they face, marked each September.
- World Chimpanzee Day – Honours another of our great ape relatives and the work to protect them in the wild.
- World Elephant Day – Another August conservation day focused on protecting an iconic and threatened species.
Links
- Visit the official International Orangutan Day website
- Explore more awareness days at AwarenessDays.com
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