International Orangutan Day2026 · Date · History
Orangutan Foundation identifies International Orangutan Day on August 19 and uses the date for orangutan conservation awareness
About International Orangutan Day
International Orangutan Day is observed on August 19 as a global conservation-awareness day focused on orangutans and the protection of their habitats.
The observance is promoted by multiple conservation organizations rather than by a government or intergovernmental body.
Why International Orangutan Day matters
The day is intended to turn public attention toward orangutan conservation, habitat protection, rescue and rehabilitation work.
Because wildlife population estimates and threat assessments can change, factual conservation claims should be taken from current scientific or specialist conservation sources rather than repeated from undated observance copy.
History of International Orangutan Day
Orang Utan Republik Foundation says it co-created World Orangutan Events with partners to support International Orangutan Day and Orangutan Caring Week during 2014–2019.
Orangutan Conservancy documented an August 19 campaign involving more than 30 organizations in 2016, showing the observance’s multi-organization conservation character.
Orangutan Outreach currently maintains a dedicated August 19 campaign page, but available conservation histories do not establish one definitive original creator, inaugural edition or reason the date was selected.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Orang Utan Republik Foundation says World Orangutan Events was co-created with partners to support International Orangutan Day and Orangutan Caring Week from 2014 through 2019.
World Orangutan Events coalition
Orangutan Outreach
Orangutan Outreach currently maintains a dedicated International Orangutan Day campaign page and annual August 19 participation guidance; this does not imply exclusive ownership of the broader multi-organization observance.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
8 fields not established in reviewed sources
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
How to Observe International Orangutan Day
Learn about orangutans, their habitats and conservation challenges from current scientific and specialist conservation sources.
Support a reputable conservation, rescue or habitat-protection organization after checking its current programs and accountability information.
Use schools, workplaces or community groups for educational activities about rainforest conservation and responsible consumer choices.
Avoid repeating dramatic population or extinction claims unless they are current, sourced and species-specific.
International Orangutan Day Facts
International Orangutan Day is observed on August 19.
The observance is promoted by a network of conservation organizations rather than a government or UN body.
World Orangutan Events supported and coordinated International Orangutan Day activity during part of the 2010s.
Orangutan Outreach currently publishes an active International Orangutan Day campaign page.
Available conservation histories do not establish a definitive first edition or explain why August 19 was originally selected.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
Orang Utan Republik Foundation (opens in a new tab)
Orangutan Conservancy (opens in a new tab)
Orangutan Outreach (opens in a new tab)
Orangutan Foundation — International Orangutan Day (opens in a new tab)
Wildlife Conservation Awareness
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is International Orangutan Day?
19 August each year The documented recurrence rule is: 19 August.
Does International Orangutan Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is International Orangutan Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: Orangutan conservation community / international awareness. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes International Orangutan Day?
The documented basis is: Orangutan Foundation identifies International Orangutan Day on August 19 and uses the date for orangutan conservation awareness. Supporting evidence includes Orangutan Foundation — International Orangutan Day. The site does not infer a separate creator or founder unless reviewed evidence establishes one.
Is International Orangutan Day international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: Orangutan conservation community / international awareness. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-07.
When is International Orangutan Day?
It is observed on August 19 each year.
Who created International Orangutan Day?
Conservation sources document coalition stewardship and current campaign activity but do not establish one definitive original creator.
When did it begin?
Available conservation histories do not establish an unambiguous first edition. They do document World Orangutan Events support from 2014–2019 and multi-organization activity by 2016.
How can I participate responsibly?
Use current specialist sources to learn about orangutan conservation and support reputable habitat, rescue, rehabilitation or education programs.
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