Fauna 1989 - Orangutan (WWF series)

As part of an effort to preserve and save Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) - one of the disappearing wild animal in Indonesia - the Directorate General of Posts and Telecommunications, in cooperation with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), issues on 6 March 1989 a set of special stamp series "Fauna 1989". Denomination of this series consists of Rp 75, Rp 100, Rp 140, and Rp 500.

Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) was selected as the design WWF stamp series premiered in Indonesia because of the status of these animals. This animal is an endangered species. Forest fires, illegal logging, and orangutan trade on a large scale is suspected as the cause of the declining population of orangutans in Indonesia. In fact, in the wild these animals play a role in conserving the forest. Not less than 1,000 kinds of plants depend spread of seeds by primates. This is because orangutans are frugivores, which means the fruit-eating animals, including leaves and cambium.

Orangutans are the only great ape family of four who live in Asia, while three other relatives, the gorilla, chimpanzee and bonobo live on the African continent. There are two types of orangutans, the Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) and Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus). Sumatran orangutan distribution is limited to the northern part of Sumatera. Orangutans in Borneo is divided into 3 sub-types, namely : Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus, Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii, and Pongo pygmaeus morio.

Source :  filatelis indonesia