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Selamat Pagi – Selamat Siang – Selamat Malam !

The Orangutan 5000 Rupiah was issued in the same year as the silver 2000 Rupiah Javan Tiger coin which also commemorates the conservation of indigenous wildlife.

The 5000 Rupiah coin just like the 2000 Rupiah coin were minted in a quantity of 43.000 pieces, and also have the same silver percentage, namely 500/1000 Fine Silver.

The difference is the weight, with the 5000 Rupiah coin weighing 31.65 grams / 1.0176 ozt, and the 2000 Rupiah coin 25.31 gram / 0.8137 ozt.

Orang Utan eating a mature Coconut. * Source ;

Orangutans belong to the family of the great apes and are indigenous within the countries of Indonesia and Malaysia.

The surviving Orangutans communities in South East Asia are classified in three species :

  • Bornean Orangutan (Pongo Pygmaeus) ;
  • Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo Abelli) ;
  • Tapanuli Orangutan (Pongo Tapanuliensis) ;

Flanged male Bornean, Sumatran and Tapanuli Orangutans. * Source ;

Sadly due to diverse reasons like hunting, loss of natural habitat the Orangutans have become an endangered wildlife species.

They’re on the Red List which is issued by the “International Union of for Conservation of Nature”.

Deforestation for palm oil production in Indonesia. * Source ;

Studies estimate that around the following numbers of Orangutans still live in the wild, all though becoming more encroached by human developments :

  • 45,000 – 70,000 Orangutans living in Borneo ;
  • 7,300 – 14,500 Orangutans living in Sumatra ;
  • Approx. 800 Orangutans living near Lake Toba ;

Luckily through the years rescue and conservation centers have been founded where for example orphans are cared for so that one day they can be released back into the wild.

Baby Primates Love Their Caretakers. * Source ;

Check out the Indonesian 5000 Rupiah from 1974 on my Youtube channel :