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Why separation is so devastating for orangutan mothers and infants

15 november 2017.

The bond between an orangutan mother, who raises her offspring single-handedly, and her young is one of the strongest in nature.

By Animals Asia’s Animal Welfare Director Dave Neale

Scientific studies have shown time and again that early childhood is the most important period of development in a human’s life. The early experiences of an infant, shaped in large part by the influence and behaviour of their mother, will have an impact on the rest of their lives.

And so it is for orangutans, too.

Orangutan mothers are single parents and the bond between an orangutan mother and her young is one of the strongest in nature. The mothers stay with their young for six to eight years, teaching them where to find food, what and how to eat, how to avoid predators and the technique for building a sleeping nest. 

Female orangutans are also known to “visit” their mothers until they reach the age of 15 or 16, demonstrating the extraordinary strength of the mother-infant bond. Primatologists believe orangutans have such long “childhoods” because there is so much that they need to learn before they can live alone successfully.

After the birth of an orangutan infant, physical stress, diseases and variations in maternal behaviour - such as the frequency of licking, grooming and nursing - can all contribute to the altered neurological development of the baby.

This is why it is crucial for all animals under human care, including those in captivity, to be in a stress-free environment which allows them to behave as they would naturally when they have their young.

It is also crucial for offspring to remain with their mother for as long as they would in the wild, to ensure they have the best chance of developing physiologically and psychologically.

Too often in our work at Animals Asia, we have seen young animals ripped away from their mothers in the wild, to be sold as exotic pets or made to perform in tourist attractions.

In the past decade, the global craze for selfies with wildlife has become an ever-increasing threat to animals, especially infants who are considered to be “cuter” and more photogenic than adults.

Even if a mother is not killed by poachers to capture her young, in captivity she is likely to be deprived of the chance to bond with her offspring.

Because it disrupts the relationship between mother and infant, artificial rearing often results in animals who may be difficult to place in a group or lack the skills for normal behaviour.

Rearing females in isolation can also be harmful to their future maternal behaviour as they are likely to be less attentive to their future offspring. Separation also has a devastating impact on the mother that loses her baby.

Like us, orangutans raise their young with love and care, and in doing so they help them to develop into well-adjusted young adults with the skills needed to thrive within their own environment and communities.

The importance of the mother-infant bond can never be underestimated, and we must do all we can to prevent this bond from being broken for all animals, both wild and captive.

How orangutan mothers help their offspring learn

Lecturer, Birmingham City University

Disclosure statement

Damien Neadle receives funding from the British Academy/Leverhulme.

Birmingham City University provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK.

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We have always known that orangutans infants are very dependent on their mothers in their early years. But it turns out that orangutan mothers also change their own behaviour to help their children learn and become independent as quickly as possible.

Primate culture has fascinated many of us who study animal behaviour since we learned back in the 1990s how chimpanzee behaviour varies across Africa. This discovery gave rise to the possibility that apes might have their own “culture”, something that was once considered to be the definition of humanity. Since then, we have tried to draw comparisons between learning methods used by our offspring and those exhibited by apes.

So-called proactive teaching, where a learner is deliberately taught by a parent – usually by demonstration – is less common in humans than we might think, outside of formal education. Instead, we learn by copying the actions of our parents to allow us to replicate these behaviours in our own lives.

In contrast, the great apes – orangutans, gorillas, chimps and bonobos – learn by using an intriguing mix of individual learning through play and non-copying social learning , such as enhancement – when an object (or location) becomes more interesting to one ape because they have seen another ape using it.

A helping hand from mum

Orangutans have an interesting social life. In contrast to the rest of the great apes, they live semi-solitary existences , and for the first eight years of their life are dependent on their mothers . Through support, mum can help them to acquire the skills needed to survive and thrive in their canopy habitat in the forests of Borneo and Sumatra, Indonesia.

For example, they need to learn how to move between the trees in the same way that their mothers do. Orangutans appear to learn adult-type movement by about age seven. This is after years of assistance from mum , which is tailored to the infant’s level of development, as well as a good amount of individual exploration through play .

Orangutans have a complex and varied diet and the food sources they rely on appear to follow almost no pattern. But through trial and error, and a bit of help from mum, young orangutans learn how to exploit the forest for food. They also routinely use tools to access high-reward fruits, such as the neesia, and these skills do not develop overnight.

Why infants beg for food

So, if we are to find formal evidence in apes of human-like teaching – by demonstration and copying – then orangutans are probably the apes to watch. That was the logic behind a recent study on infant learning through “solicitation” – that’s when a young, inexperienced ape begs or asks for food from their mother to help them learn what and how to eat.

Researchers wanted to investigate the effect of various factors, including the offspring’s age and the complexity of food on a mother orangutan’s behaviour towards her young offspring. Food complexity was measured by the number of steps it took to process the food item before it could be ingested – from simply plucking and eating leaves to complicated tool use on the neesia fruit. The researchers followed 27 immature orangutans in Sumatra for more than 4,000 hours over a four-year period and recorded the conditions surrounding the 1,390 solicitation attempts they observed.

Despite the infants’ best attempts, the researchers found that mother orangutans were less likely to share food with them in the first year or so of their life when they were weaning, meaning the success of food solicitation was low.

However, after the infant began to consume solid food, their attempts became far more successful with a sharp increase in the number of times their mother agreed to share food. Then, as the infants grew older, their requests for food started to get less successful again. After the offspring reached the age of five, the rate of maternal assistance took a bit of a nosedive, most extremely in the case of more complex foods such as the neesia fruit or the meat of small invertebrates.

As their offspring grew older, Sumatran orangutan mothers seemed to become less willing to help them eat. The researchers suggest this could be due to the mother changing her behaviour to provide the correct level of guidance required for the infant to become independent as quickly as possible.

They liken this to scaffolding in humans, where parents will initially provide a child with lots of support in the early stages of learning a skill but then that support is gradually withdrawn until the infant is operating independently. But, the researchers don’t assume that what they observed in orangutans is intentional in the same way as human teaching is.

The orangutan mother’s change in behaviour might provide an evolutionary advantage. They only reproduce again once their current offspring has gained a large degree of independence – so, the faster this happens, the more offspring can be reared. Those mothers who are more tolerant and helpful, with offspring potentially gaining independence earlier, can reproduce more.

The authors do not imply that this is a conscious choice on the part of the mothers, as that cannot be known from the study. And as we do not know if it is intentional, we cannot say that it is evidence of human-like teaching. However, it’s an interesting development in the research surrounding social learning and culture in orangutans as it suggests that mothers play a more active role in developing the feeding skills of their immature offspring than previously assumed.

Rather than trying to apply our human labels to other species, we should simply learn to understand and celebrate the different form of culture that we observe in our closest living relatives. It is for this reason, and many others besides, that we must all do everything in our power to conserve these amazing animals.

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Meet the Animals

Physical description.

Orangutans have long, sparse orange or reddish hair unequally distributed over their bodies. They have large jaws and flattened noses in concave faces.

Orangutans are the largest arboreal mammals and are very well adapted to life in the trees, with arms much longer than their legs. They have grasping hands and feet with long curved fingers and toes. They have distinctive fingerprints and no visible external tails.

You can typically tell male and female orangutans apart by looking at them. Males and females have flabby throat sacs, which become very large in adult males. Adult males have deep chests and much longer body hair than females do. Males also typically develop large cheek pads, which demonstrate genetic fitness and amplify their long calls.

Orangutans can brachiate — swing hand over hand — but they normally move cautiously through large trees by climbing and walking. This allows them to distribute their weight among the branches. Orangutans' hands make them graceful and swift while swinging, but it makes walking on the ground very slow and awkward.

Orangutans sometimes travel on the ground when going long distances because appropriate sized branches may not always be available. When on the ground, they use all four limbs, supporting themselves on the sides of clenched fists, or occasionally walk on upright on two legs. Orangutans also come down if there is a need to find food and water elsewhere, for example, if there is a drought or fire.

It can be difficult to tell Sumatran and Bornean orangutans apart. Generally, Sumatran orangutans are lighter in color, have longer body hair and less pendulous throat sacs than Bornean orangutans, but the only reliable way to tell the difference between Sumatran and Bornean orangutans is by looking at their chromosomes.

Wild adult females weigh between 80 and 120 pounds (36 and 54 kilograms), while wild adult males weigh 170 and 220 pounds (77 and 100 kilograms). Animals in zoos tend to be 50 to 100 pounds (23 to 45 kilograms) heavier due to a consistent supply of high quality food.

Native Habitat

Orangutans live on the Indonesian island of Sumatra and in both the Malaysian and Indonesian portions of the island of Borneo. They are highly arboreal and live in all levels of the forest, from floor to canopy. Habitats range from peat swamp forests near sea level to mountainous forests almost a mile (1.6 kilometers) above sea level. As humans have moved into the lower elevations — the orangutan's original habitat — orangutans have moved up the mountainsides.

The median life expectancy for male Bornean orangutans is about 27 years and for male Sumatran orangutans is about 25 years. The median life expectancy for female Sumatran orangutans is about 32 years. There is not enough available data on the life expectancy of female Bornean orangutans.

Communication

Orangutans are more solitary than other great apes and do not have as complicated a vocal repertoire as some of the more gregarious primates. Orangutans rely more on facial expressions and body language to communicate. Among the vocalizations they use are kiss-squeak and belching vocalizations when they are upset, and a loud, deep long call used typically by males for long-distance communication.

This long call resonates in the male's enlarged throat sac and echoes through the forest. It is used to locate and advertise the male's presence to females or warn other males away. It can be heard a kilometer or more away (more than half a mile). Certain vocalizations such as nest smacks and throat scrapes are considered cultural and are found in some populations of wild orangutans but not in others.

Food/Eating Habits

Orangutans eat primarily fruit and play an important role dispersing seeds through defecation. Although they spend a majority of their total foraging time feeding on fruits whenever they are available, orangutans also eat insects and flowers, and during times of fruit scarcity, fall back on a variety of other types of food, including inner bark, leaves, and other vegetation. Orangutans have also been observed eating mineral-rich soil, bird eggs and, occasionally, small mammals such as rats and slow lorises. Orangutans get water from a variety of sources, including tree holes and leaves that fill with water during the rainy season.

When water is difficult to reach, orangutans chew leaves to make a pulpy sponge to soak up the water. Orangutans in some wild populations modify small sticks, which they hold in their lips while probing in tree trunks for food such as honey. Orangutans exhibit a variety of geographically variable innovative behaviors, some of which are considered cultural. Among these behaviors are certain forms of tool-use, including the modification of sticks by a population of Sumatran orangutans to open Neesia fruits and more efficiently harvest their seeds.

Orangutans have a long period of infant dependency (weaning around age six or seven) with exceptionally long inter-birth intervals (at least eight years in Sumatran orangutans and a little bit shorter in Bornean orangutans). This may be at least partially due to diet. Mothers teach their infants what food to eat, where to find that food, in which trees and during which seasons. Young orangutans must learn about hundreds of varieties of fruit, where to find them seasonally and how to open them.

In the morning, the orangutans at the Zoo are often fed together. Food items are cut up and spread over a wide area. In the afternoon, individuals are separated so each animal gets its share of preferred food items. In the morning, the animals are given greens, green beans, carrots, broccoli and primate chow. In the evening, they are given bananas, apples, primate chow, greens and a selection of other fruits and vegetables. Forage items placed in hay for the orangutans include air-popped popcorn, diced fruits and veggies, beans and sunflower seeds. Browse (fresh tree trimmings) is given daily.

Sleep Habits

Orangutans typically build sleeping nests above the ground in various positions of one or more trees. They usually build and sleep in a fresh nest each night, but they will sometimes re-enter or rebuild an older nest. They will also sometimes nap in a less carefully constructed day nest.

Social Structure

Orangutans live semi-solitary lives in the wild. While they are the most solitary of the great apes, it should be noted that orangutans are highly social and exhibit social tolerance during times of high fruit abundance when they come together in aggregations known as parties.

Adult females travel through the forest with their dependent offspring. Females do not live in tight social groups, but they are familiar with and have relationships with other females in the area. Adult males have large home ranges that overlap those of multiple females. Males typically range alone except when they mate with females, forming consortships that last up to several weeks. Males may also join other orangutans of various sexes and ages in feeding aggregations. Individuals within a certain range appear to know others and interact comfortably when they encounter each other.

Flanged males (males with flanges, also known as cheek pads) use long calls to attract females and to discourage the approach of other males. Throat sacs add resonance to long calls, which are specific to individual males. Orangutans of all ages and sexes give kiss squeak vocalizations, engage in branch-shaking displays and sometimes even uproot dead trees when confronted by unknown individuals or when they are not habituated to the presence of human observers. In zoos, displays consist of throwing around tubs and other objects.

Orangutans' social structure is connected to the distribution of food resources, primarily fruit. Orangutans spread out to get enough to eat throughout the year. Because they exhibit high social tolerance, orangutans are quite adaptable to living together when food is plentiful and when there is adequate housing space, such as at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. Animals will segregate themselves as needed, and as males mature, they may become more territorial and often must be housed separately.

Reproduction and Development

Orangutans usually have a single baby, and twins are rare. Gestation is seven-and-a-half to eight-and-a-half months. From birth, orangutan infants cling to their mothers as they maneuver through the trees. The orangutan has the longest period of dependence on the mother of any other land-dwelling animal, including humans. Infant orangutans can nurse until they are six to seven years old. However, weaning is highly variable, depending on the mother. It is thought that weaning occurs sooner if food is abundant and the infant can switch to solids.

A female will only have a baby about every seven to nine years, resulting in only four to five babies in her lifetime. The inter-birth interval is somewhat longer in Sumatran orangutans than it is in Bornean orangutans; researchers are still trying to determine why this is the case.

After reaching adolescence at four or five years, these animals become increasingly independent of their mothers. Sexual maturity for males and females in zoos is around six years, although it can take up to 10 years or more for a wild female to mature and longer than that for males. Females may stay with their mothers until they are well into their teens, allowing them to observe mothering skills as they watch their younger siblings being raised. Physical maturity, especially in males, may not be reached for several years after sexual maturity.

The presence of a fully mature dominant male may suppress secondary sexual characteristics (long hair, face pads, beards and enlarged throat sacs) in other less dominant males, and, in some cases, a wild male orangutan may never develop cheek pads. This suppression of secondary sexual characteristic does not, however, suppress his fertility, and it has been shown that unflanged male orangutans are as successful in siring offspring as fully flanged males.

Most animals copulate only when the female is ovulating, but orangutans may copulate daily during several-day long consortships in the wild or when housed together socially in zoos. Research indicates that ovulating females seek out adult males for copulation. Females and males usually mate willingly, but sometimes a male will pursue a female and forcibly copulate with her. Both are natural behaviors for wild and zoo orangutans.

Conservation Efforts

Bornean, Sumatran and Tapanuli orangutans are critically endangered.

The risk of extinction for the critically endangered Bornean orangutan is very high. Their population levels have dropped more than 50 percent over the past 60 years, and their habitat has declined by over 80 percent in the past 20 years. The total population of wild Bornean orangutans is estimated to be approximately 70,000-100,000 individuals. On Sumatra, the orangutan population is approximately 13,800 individuals. The Tapanuli orangutan populations is approximately 800 individuals.

The inaccessibility of much of their range, poor visibility in dense forests and the nature of the animals makes it difficult to survey with precision. Sumatran orangutans are listed among the 25 most endangered primates in the world and Bornean, Sumatran and Tapanuli orangutans are in imminent danger of going extinct. Population numbers of Sumatran orangutans have declined over 80 percent in the past 75 years, and it is projected that this decline will continue. Loss of habitat is a major threat to orangutans, with many living outside of protected areas and, as a result, at greater risk of losing their habitat to logging and land clearings.

One of the most serious threats to orangutan viability is the unsustainable practice of timber extraction in Indonesia and Malaysia. Habitat destruction and the subsequent degradation, either from commercial timber harvesting or conversion of land to agriculture (particularly palm oil), poses a very serious threat to these arboreal apes. Moreover, the illegal pet trade is booming in Southeast Asia and infant orangutans are very popular pets. The low density, small population size and increasing pressure on their habitat, coupled with certain factors of orangutan behavioral ecology including diet, low reproductive rates, slow maturation and the longest inter-birth interval of any land-based mammal, make the orangutan extremely vulnerable to extinction in the near future if threats are not minimized.

Another significant threat to orangutan survival is hunting for meat and capture of wild orangutans for sale into the pet trade. This practice is closely tied to what is called swidden agriculture: as locals burn fires to clear forested areas, orangutans within those areas flee from the conflagration and are captured for meat or sale.

International guidelines and laws protect orangutans. Notably, the World Conservation Union has developed criteria to identify threatened species and published the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), under which trade in orangutans or orangutan parts is illegal. There are also national laws and programs to protect orangutans. Unfortunately, compliance and enforcement remain problematic.

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Ape Taxon Advisory Group (AZA Ape TAG) has supported conservation initiatives such as anti-poaching patrols and law enforcement, additional research and support from zoos, improved management of protected areas and support of sanctuaries, and increased community involvement to help protect apes.

Recognizing the growing threat of unsustainably grown palm oil, in early 2014, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) assembled a multi-institutional task force to examine issues related to palm oil production and to develop an AZA position statement. In September 2014, the board of the AZA adopted an official position on palm oil. After adopting this position, the AZA then joined the Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) in order to represent the views of its member institutions with key stakeholder in the palm oil industry and to advocate for environmentally sustainable production.

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The Great Ape House and Think Tank are home to seven orangutans: Kiko, Kyle, Bonnie, Iris, Batang, Lucy and Redd. The orangutans are highly social but semi-solitary in the wild, so they live in small, flexible social groups at the Zoo. The two males, Kiko and Kyle, are not housed together, but the females have the flexibility to choose which group to join. The older orangutans at the Zoo are hybrids of Bornean (Pongo pygmaeus) and Sumatran (Pongo abelii) orangutans—they have one Bornean parent and one Sumatran parent. Orangutans are managed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan (SSP), which seeks to maintain a genetically diverse, and healthy population of both Bornean and Sumatran orangutans.

Kiko  is an adult male hybrid orangutan. Weighing in at 230 pounds, he is easily recognizable by his large cheekpads and long hair. Kiko routinely brachiates (swings hand over hand) on the O-Line and can be impatient if keepers don’t move quickly enough to his liking. He was born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in 1987.

Kyle  is an adult male Bornean orangutan. Like the Zoo’s other male orangutan, Kiko, Kyle sports large cheekpads and long hair. Kyle is bold, playful and seeks attention from his keepers and the other orangutans. He was born at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in December 1996 and came to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in 2004 as part of the Bornean Orangutan Species Survival Plan.

Lucy  is an adult female hybrid orangutan. The oldest of the Zoo’s orangutans, Lucy often delights visitors by sitting up at the glass. She is the only orangutan that chooses not to travel the O-Line. Lucy was born at the Zoo in 1973.

Bonnie is an adult female hybrid orangutan. Bonnie travels the O-Line frequently, but unlike most of the other orangutans, she usually does not choose to quickly cross from one end to the other, but instead likes to sit on top of one of the towers and watch the crowds down below. She has had one offspring, Kiko. Bonnie was born at the Rio Grande Zoo in 1976 and arrived at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in 1980.

Iris  is an adult female hybrid orangutan. She’s charismatic and can be quite silly and playful, but also quite stubborn at times. She is the star of several cognitive research programs and enjoys participating in daily research demonstrations at Think Tank. She was born at the Zoo on April 15, 1987, and was named after the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) because of her birth date.

Batang  is an adult female Bornean orangutan. She has pale skin on her face, especially around her eyes and mouth, and is smaller in stature than the Zoo’s other female orangutans. Batang tends to be very social; she enjoys spending a few days with some of the orangutans, then switches groups, spending a few days with the other orangutans. Batang was born in December 1996 at the Lincoln Park Zoo and came to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in 2004 as part of the Bornean Orangutan Species Survival Plan (SSP).  

Redd  is the first Bornean orangutan born at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in 25 years. He was born Sept. 12, 2016 to mother Batang and father Kyle. Zoo staff selected the name “Redd” for the male infant; orangutans are known as the “red ape.”

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In Orangutan Parenting, the Kids Can Get Their Own Dinner

Orangutan mothers will teach their young to forage for food — then cut them off when they are old enough to know better, new research shows.

By Nicholas Bakalar

Young orangutans seem much like human toddlers: amiable, endearing, lovable. But unlike human kids, when their mothers say no, they don’t whine and argue.

Orangutan mothers teach their young how to forage for food, adjusting their tactics depending on the age of the child and the complexity of the food-gathering technique. And they know exactly when a child is old enough to know better.

A new study , published this month in Scientific Reports, describes 21 juvenile orangutans living with their mothers in a forest on the west coast of Aceh Province in Sumatra. The researchers recorded 1,390 incidents of juveniles soliciting food from their mothers, usually just by grabbing it out of the mother’s hands. The mothers tolerate this — but only up to a point.

“No one has done much work on this, and no one had data like this for Sumatran orangutans,” said David P. Watts, a professor of anthropology at Yale who has published widely on primate behavior but was not involved in this study. “The whole topic of how young primates learn what they need to eat — people haven’t studied it very much.”

Orangutans stay with their mothers for eight or nine years, longer than almost any mammal except humans. But the time is not wasted: During this period they learn how to recognize, gather and process more than 200 food items.

Foods like leaves and flowers are easy to find and ready-to-eat. But for most fruits, a large portion of their diets, orangutans must know when they are ripe, which parts are edible and how to extract them. And some foods involve using tools: Getting honey out of a beehive, for example, requires the selection and design of a proper stick, and long practice in perfecting the skill to use it.

An orangutan is 8 years old before it has built the basic knowledge to feed itself, and as old as 12 before it has mastered the most complex food-finding and preparation techniques.

The researchers found that the older the child, and the easier the food is to find and prepare, the less likely the mothers are willing to share. Mothers let younger children grab almost any food, and allow even older offspring to take food that is hard to find. But if an older juvenile tries to grab flowers — easy to find and eat — she won’t let it, essentially telling the child that it is old enough to find its own.

The best and rarest foods — the meat of small primates, squirrels and civets that orangutans sometimes hunt — are willingly shared with children of any age.

Orangutan mothers are patient, and orangutan young are generally docile and compliant. If a mother doesn’t want to share, she just turns away, or gets into a position where the child can’t reach the food. No slapping, no yelling, no drama — but the young one gets the message.

“We know that people and orangutans have role models who adjust their behavior according to the needs of the pupil,” said Caroline Schuppli, the lead author of the study. “In humans, adults do this proactively; in orangs, the initiative comes from the kid — they need to ask for the food.”

Dr. Schuppli, a research group leader at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Konstanz, Germany, said that human children are surrounded by enthusiastic teachers — not only their parents, but also extended family and an entire educational system based mainly on active teaching.

“If you think about what a kid needs to learn — it’s well beyond their imagination, beyond what they could actively ask for,” she said. “But with orangutans it’s quite a bit simpler.”

Are some orangutans better teachers than others? No one knows.

“We would need to show that some orangutan mothers have kids who learn faster,” Dr. Schuppli said. “If a mother shares more, do her kids learn faster? We don’t know. We don’t have the right type of data to test if this is the case.”

In any animal research, and perhaps especially with primates, there is a danger of anthropomorphizing — attributing human characteristics or behavior to animals without good evidence. Dr. Schuppli tries to resist the impulse.

“The data we collect is descriptive first, and the interpretation comes later,” she said. “We analyze the data, based on our hypotheses. But every great ape researcher has moments when he connects what he sees to the behavior of humans.”

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5 Interesting Orangutan Mother Facts

• Frankie Onizuka
• May 9, 2021

Today is Mother’s Day in the United States. To celebrate, here are 5 of the most interesting facts about orangutan mothers that you might not know.

Photo retrieved from SOCP

1. Female orangutans can have twins, though it is very rare.

2. Orangutan children have the longest childhood dependence on their mother of any animal in the world.

Photo retrieved from nationalgeographic.com / photograph by Erin Vogel

3. Orangutan mothers nurse their babies until they are about 6 years old.

4. Female orangutan offspring can stay with their mothers in their teens so that they can pick up mothering skills by watching their mother raise younger siblings.

5. Wild orangutan mothers are single parents and have a very close relationship with their offspring.

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Get To Know The Orangutan

Nicknamed, the Guardians of the Forest, the Orangutan is one of the most remarkable and intelligent primates on our planet.

Picture this: deep in the lush, vibrant jungles of Indonesia and Malaysia, there’s a creature with a wise gaze, a gentle demeanor, and an impressive ability to swing from tree to tree with the grace of a seasoned acrobat.

Ready to learn more about our orange-haired cousins?

What is the Orangutan?

Orangutans, whose name literally translates to “person of the forest” in Malay, are the world’s largest tree-dwelling mammals.

They’re the philosophers of the animal kingdom, spending a lot of their time chilling out, munching on fruit, and contemplating the complexities of the forest (or so we like to imagine). But don’t let their laid-back lifestyle fool you; these creatures are critically important to their ecosystem and are incredibly intelligent.

There are two main species to talk about: the Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) and the Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii). Each has its own unique quirks, habitat preferences, and conservation status.

The Bornean kind is more widespread but both species face significant threats from human activity. And if you’re picturing a third type, the Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis), you’re ahead of the curve. Discovered not too long ago, these rare creatures remind us of how much there is still to learn about our world.

What Do Orangutans Look Like?

Imagine the coolest, most laid-back dude you know. Now, give him a thick, reddish-brown coat of hair, long arms capable of reaching fruit from the furthest branches, and expressive, thoughtful eyes that seem to peer into your soul. That’s your orangutan.

Males are particularly striking, with large, cheeky flaps that make them look like the elders of the forest. These flaps aren’t just for show; they play a role in attracting mates and making their calls sound more impressive. Females, on the other hand, are more petite but equally as fascinating, with a gentleness and intelligence that shine through in their interactions with their young.

Orangutans have a distinctive body shape, with a robust torso and incredibly long arms – we’re talking arms that can span up to 7 feet from fingertip to fingertip on the big males. This adaptation is perfect for their arboreal lifestyle, enabling them to navigate the forest canopy with ease. Their hands and feet are equally adapted for life in the trees, with hook-like fingers and toes that grip branches securely as they swing through their leafy domain.

How Big Are Orangutans?

When it comes to size, orangutans really know how to bring their A-game. Adult males can be quite the heavyweights, tipping the scales at around 220 pounds (100 kilograms), and standing about 4.5 feet (1.4 meters) tall when upright. Females, on the other hand, are a bit more on the petite side, usually weighing around half as much as the males.

But it’s not just their weight that’s impressive. Remember those long arms we talked about? They’re not just for show. The arm span of a fully grown male can reach up to 7 feet (over 2 meters) from fingertip to fingertip. That’s like being able to dunk a basketball without even jumping – if orangutans were into that sort of thing.

Orangutan Skin

Beneath their thick, reddish-brown hair, orangutans sport quite sensitive skin. Their skin is a muted shade of grey or black, which might not be visible unless you’re up close and personal (not recommended without expert supervision, by the way).

This skin plays a crucial role, not just in protecting their body but also in regulating their temperature, especially in the humid, tropical climate they call home.

Orangutan Teeth

Let’s talk about those pearly whites (or not so pearly, depending on their diet and age).

Orangutans have a set of 32 teeth, much like us humans. But their dental layout is designed to chow down on a variety of forest fare, from fruits to leaves, and even the occasional insect or two.

The most striking feature? Their canines. These teeth can be pretty intimidating, especially in males, and they’re used for more than just eating – they’re a key part of displays of dominance and mate attraction.

Arms & Hands

Orangutans could easily win any tree-climbing contest. Their arms are not only long but also incredibly strong, allowing them to swing from branch to branch with the grace of a gymnast. These long arms are complemented by their unique hands, which are almost as versatile as ours.

Their fingers are long and curved, perfect for grasping branches and picking fruit. But it’s their thumbs that are really interesting – they’re opposable, just like ours, giving them the ability to handle objects with precision.

Their feet are equally adapted for their arboreal lifestyle, with toes that function almost like a second set of hands. This dexterity allows them to navigate the complex architecture of the forest canopy, making them masters of their environment.

Orangutan Colouration

The orangutan’s coat is a masterpiece of nature, a vivid tapestry that blends perfectly with the sun-dappled environment of the rainforest. Ranging from a deep, rusty red to a softer, more muted auburn, their fur not only provides them with camouflage but also a bit of flair.

The coloration varies between the two species, with Sumatran orangutans typically sporting a lighter shade compared to their Bornean counterparts.

This colouration isn’t just for show; it plays a crucial role in regulating their temperature and protecting their skin from the harsh tropical sun.

What Do Orangutans Eat?

If you ever find yourself dining with an orangutan, be prepared for a fruit-heavy feast. These guys are frugivores at heart, with a sweet tooth for figs, lychees, and durians, making up a significant portion of their diet. But it’s not all sweet treats; they also munch on leaves, bark, and occasionally insects or small vertebrates for a protein kick.

Orangutans are known to be picky eaters, selecting only the ripest and most nutritious fruits. This discerning taste has a larger purpose, as it helps in seed dispersal, promoting forest regeneration. So, in a way, orangutans are the unsung gardeners of the rainforest, ensuring the health and diversity of their habitat.

Orangutan Social Structure

Think of orangutans as the introverts of the primate world. They value their alone time, with adult males and females usually living solitary lives, except for mothers with their young. This isn’t to say they’re antisocial; their paths often cross, leading to interactions that range from friendly to competitive, especially among males.

The bond between a mother and her offspring is the cornerstone of orangutan society. Mothers are incredibly nurturing, caring for their young for up to eight years, teaching them the essential skills for survival in the canopy. This prolonged childhood—one of the longest in the animal kingdom—is crucial for learning the complex navigation and foraging skills needed in their vast forest home.

Male orangutans, on the other hand, lead a more solitary existence, with their social interactions often revolving around access to fertile females or disputes over territory. It’s in these moments that the depth of their social intelligence is revealed, navigating the delicate balance between competition and coexistence.

How Do Orangutans Reproduce?

Orangutan romance is a slow dance, marked by patience and rare encounters. Females reach sexual maturity around the age of 12, while males can be late bloomers, not fully maturing until their late teens. Unlike many other animals, orangutans don’t have a specific breeding season; they mate year-round.

The courtship, if you can call it that, is relatively straightforward, often initiated by females who signal their readiness to receptive males. What follows is a brief but meaningful encounter, leading to a gestation period of about 8.5 months. Mothers then embark on the journey of raising their offspring alone, dedicating years to their young’s education in the ways of the forest.

A mother orangutan’s dedication is unparalleled. She will care for her offspring for up to eight years, teaching them vital survival skills such as foraging, nest building, and tree climbing. This extended childhood is crucial for orangutans, given the complexity of their arboreal habitat and the depth of knowledge required to navigate it.

How Long Do Orangutans Live?

Orangutans boast impressive lifespans, particularly when shielded from the threats of predation and human impact. In the wild, they can live up to 40 years, though instances of orangutans reaching their 50s have been documented in captivity. This longevity is a testament to their robust nature and the complexity of the social and environmental knowledge they accumulate over the years.

Their long life contributes to the species’ slow reproductive rate, with females giving birth to a new offspring only every 7 to 8 years. This slow pace of population growth highlights the critical impact of habitat loss and hunting on their numbers, as recovering from population declines is a slow process for orangutans.

Is Orangutan Dangerous?

Despite their imposing size and strength, orangutans are generally not dangerous to humans. They are shy, reserved animals that prefer to avoid conflict. However, like any wild animal, they can become aggressive if they feel threatened, particularly if their space is invaded or if they’re competing for resources.

The perception of orangutans as dangerous likely stems from their sheer strength and the display behaviors of dominant males. However, these behaviors are mostly reserved for inter-species competition and rarely directed towards humans. It’s crucial to respect their space and remember that any aggressive behavior is primarily driven by fear or the need to protect themselves or their offspring.

Are Orangutans Territorial?

Orangutans are indeed territorial, but their approach to territory differs significantly from what we might expect. Adult males are the most territorial, establishing and defending areas that provide ample access to food and potential mates. These territories can overlap with those of females and less dominant males, leading to a complex mosaic of orangutan domains within the forest.

The concept of territory among orangutans is more fluid than rigid. Males announce their presence through loud, long calls that resonate through the forest, serving both to attract females and to deter rival males.

These vocal displays help maintain order and distance between individuals, reducing the need for physical confrontation. However, when encounters do occur, they can lead to tense standoffs or even physical altercations, although such instances are relatively rare.

How Fast Are Orangutans?

When it comes to speed, orangutans won’t be winning any sprints. Their movement through the trees is deliberate and measured, more about precision and grace than sheer speed.

In their arboreal highway, they can travel at speeds of up to 1 km/h (0.6 mph) when swinging or “brachiating” from branch to branch. On the ground, they’re capable of moving a bit faster, but they prefer to keep to the trees, where they are most adept and secure from predators.

This deliberate pace is a reflection of their lifestyle, focused on foraging for food and maintaining a low profile to avoid threats. Their strength lies in their ability to navigate the complex three-dimensional environment of the rainforest canopy, using their intelligence and dexterity to move efficiently and effectively.

Where Do Orangutans Live?

Orangutans are the epitome of tree-huggers, spending most of their lives in the dense, biodiverse rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. These forests provide everything they need, from the high canopies they sleep in to the bounty of fruit that forms the bulk of their diet.

The habitat of orangutans is as varied as it is vibrant, ranging from lowland rainforests to mountainous regions, peat swamps, and mangroves. Each environment offers a unique set of resources and challenges, shaping the behaviors and adaptations of orangutan populations. For instance, orangutans in Sumatra are known to use tools more frequently, a behavior that’s less commonly observed in their Bornean counterparts.

These rainforests are not just a home for orangutans; they’re a crucial part of the ecological balance, playing a vital role in carbon storage, climate regulation, and supporting a myriad of other species. The survival of orangutans is intrinsically linked to the health of these forests, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts to protect these irreplaceable ecosystems.

How Many Orangutans Are There in the Wild?

Orangutan populations have faced significant declines over the past few decades, primarily due to human activities. The Bornean orangutan is classified as Critically Endangered, with an estimated population of around 104,700 individuals.

The Sumatran orangutan is also Critically Endangered, with about 13,846 individuals remaining. The newly identified Tapanuli orangutan, residing in a limited area in Sumatra, is the most endangered of all, with fewer than 800 individuals.

These numbers, while stark, underscore the urgent need for conservation efforts. The slow reproductive rates of orangutans, combined with their dependence on large territories of forest, mean that their populations are particularly vulnerable to habitat destruction and fragmentation.

Are Orangutans Endangered?

Absolutely, orangutans are endangered, with each species facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. Their status as Critically Endangered highlights the severe impact of human activity on their populations and habitats. The primary threats to orangutans include deforestation for palm oil plantations, logging, mining, and human encroachment, all of which fragment their living spaces and reduce their access to food.

Illegal hunting and the pet trade also pose significant risks, with infants being particularly vulnerable when their mothers are killed. Climate change further exacerbates these threats, altering the orangutans’ habitats and affecting the availability of food resources.

Threats to Orangutans in the Wild

Orangutans face a myriad of threats in the wild, many of which are exacerbated by human activities. Deforestation is at the forefront, driven by the expansion of palm oil plantations, logging, and agricultural development. This not only destroys their habitat but also fragments it, isolating populations and making it difficult for them to find mates and access food.

Illegal hunting, whether for meat, traditional medicine, or the pet trade, further diminishes their numbers. Orangutans are slow to reproduce, and the loss of even a few individuals can have significant impacts on local populations. Additionally, human-orangutan conflict arises when these great apes venture into plantations or farms in search of food, leading to lethal retaliation by humans.

The effects of climate change, such as changes in fruiting seasons and extreme weather events, also pose indirect threats to orangutan survival by altering their habitat and food availability.

Where to See Orangutans in the Wild

For those yearning to witness orangutans in the wild, Borneo and Sumatra are your go-to destinations. These islands are the only places in the world where orangutans can be found in their natural habitat. Several national parks and wildlife reserves offer opportunities for ethically responsible orangutan sightings.

In Borneo, the Tanjung Puting National Park in Central Kalimantan is renowned for its orangutan conservation efforts and offers guided tours where visitors can observe these apes in the wild. The Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary in Sabah is another hotspot, known for its rich biodiversity, including a significant orangutan population.

Sumatra’s Gunung Leuser National Park is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts, offering the chance to spot not just orangutans but also other rare species like the Sumatran tiger and rhinoceros .

When planning a visit, opt for eco-friendly tours and accommodations that support local conservation efforts. Remember, the goal is to observe these magnificent creatures without disrupting their natural behaviors or habitat.

Tips for Spotting Orangutans

Spotting orangutans in the dense rainforest can be challenging, but a few tips can increase your chances of a memorable encounter:

• Go with a knowledgeable guide : Local guides know the forest and the orangutans’ habits, increasing your likelihood of sightings.
• Visit during fruiting season : Orangutans are more active and easier to spot when their favorite fruits are abundant.
• Early mornings and late afternoons : These are the times when orangutans are most active, foraging for food or building nests.
• Keep quiet and move slowly : Noise and rapid movements can startle orangutans and other wildlife, reducing your chances of sightings.
• Respect their space : Maintain a safe distance to avoid stressing the animals. Remember, we’re visitors in their home.

Facts about The Orangutan

• Highly Intelligent : Orangutans are known for their remarkable problem-solving skills and use of tools in the wild.
• Long Childhood : Orangutans have one of the longest childhood dependencies in the animal kingdom, with young relying on their mothers for up to eight years.
• Significant Contributors to Forest Regeneration : Through their diet, orangutans play a crucial role in seed dispersal, aiding in the growth of new forest areas.
• Unique Individuals : Just like humans, orangutans have distinct personalities, with some being more curious, bold, or shy than others.
• Communicative Creatures : Orangutans use a variety of sounds to communicate with one another, from grunts and calls to the distinctive “long call” of the male orangutan.

Myths about The Orangutan

• Orangutans are aggressive : In reality, orangutans are generally peaceful and solitary. Aggression is rare and usually a response to a perceived threat.
• They can be kept as pets : Orangutans are wild animals, not pets. Keeping them in captivity often leads to psychological stress and physical harm.
• All orangutans are the same : There are three distinct species of orangutans (Bornean, Sumatran, Tapanuli), each with unique characteristics and habitats.
• Orangutans live in trees because they can’t walk : While they are primarily arboreal, orangutans can walk on the ground but prefer the safety and resources available in the trees.

As we conclude our comprehensive dive into the world of orangutans, it’s clear that these creatures are not just fascinating subjects of study but also vital components of their ecosystems.

The survival of orangutans is intrinsically linked to the health of the rainforests they inhabit. By understanding more about their lives, threats, and the efforts to conserve them, we can all play a part in ensuring that future generations may also have the chance to be inspired by these incredible “people of the forest.”

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May 3, 2024

Witnessing Nature's Majesty: The Rare Sighting Of Giraffe Birth in Kruger

In the vast plains of Kruger National Park , where nature scripts its raw narratives, an extraordinary spectacle recently unfolded—a giraffe birth, captured by Johan Van Zyl, a seasoned guide with Wild Eye .

This event, not only highlights the unpredictable beauty of wildlife but also underscores the relentless perseverance of nature's beings.

Johan and his companions, on what began as a routine drive through the rugged terrain, were soon drawn into a life-changing event. They observed a lone female giraffe , her actions piquant with the unusual urgency of labor—a profound spectacle seldom witnessed in the open savannah. With seasoned intuition, they kept a respectful distance, ensuring their presence didn't distress the expectant mother.

The labor lasted between 45 minutes to an hour, a period during which the observers found themselves engulfed in a profound silence, punctuated only by the natural sounds of the wilderness. The culmination of this waiting game was breathtaking—the newborn calf made its dramatic entrance into the world from a height of approximately six feet, a testament to the harsh realities of life in the wild.

The Fragile First Moments

The newborn giraffe's first breath was a sight to behold, a moment of vulnerability and sheer wonder. As it struggled to its feet, the mother giraffe remained a vigilant sentinel, her eyes scanning for any signs of predators attracted by the scent of the afterbirth. This scene, stark in its primal intensity, was not just a demonstration of birth but a battle for survival from the very first moment.

Johan's recount of the event carries a tone of reverence and awe. "Witnessing the birth of a giraffe in such an open and unpredictable environment was a reminder of how delicate and yet how potent life can be," he shared. The balance of nature, always teetering on the edge of life and death, was palpable in every minute the team spent observing this miracle of life.

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Reflecting on the experience.

Witnessing such an event was profoundly moving, as Johan recalls.

"It's an intense reminder of the rawness of life here. You're seeing the very moment a new life starts, stark against the backdrop of the harsh savannah,".

This experience, shared globally via LatestSightings.com, highlights not just the wonder of nature but also the immediate bond formed between the mother and her newborn, crucial for the calf’s survival in its initial vulnerable hours.

Conservationists argue that each such event should serve as a rallying cry for wildlife protection. "It's a beautiful yet stark reminder of what we stand to lose," notes Dr. Amanda Hall, a conservation biologist specializing in African wildlife. "Each opportunity to witness such events should reinforce the urgency of our conservation efforts and the need to sustain the habitats that these creatures call home."

Watch the Full Video here:

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20 Stunning Tiger Photographs from Wildlife Photography Competition

May 1, 2024

Tiger Conservation and the Impact of Wildlife Photography

In the dimming light of the world's wild landscapes, the tiger moves with a silken grace, each step a testament to a legacy both ancient and increasingly threatened.

The " Remembering Wildlife " photography competition, a prestigious annual event, recently showcased 20 stunning images of tigers, each one capturing the stark beauty and raw survival of these magnificent creatures. But beyond their aesthetic allure, these images serve a deeper purpose: they are a clarion call for conservation.

A Portrait of Peril

There are only around 5,500 tigers left in the wild, and the big cat is listed as 'endangered' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

This stark statistic underpins the urgent narrative of tiger conservation. The dwindling numbers highlight a story of habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and illegal poaching that has left these majestic animals teetering on the brink of survival.

The Power of an Image

Photography, especially in the context of wildlife and conservation, does more than just document reality. It evokes emotion, provokes thought, and can drive action. The images from the "Remembering Wildlife" competition, set to be featured in the forthcoming book "Remembering Tigers," do just that.

They are not merely portraits but powerful tools in the fight for conservation. As we gaze into the eyes of these tigers through the lens of the world's best wildlife photographers, we are reminded of what is at stake.

The Winning Images:

Voices of Conservation

"The raw power and solemn dignity captured in these images remind us of our duty to these creatures," notes Dr. Jane Goodall, a primatologist and a fervent advocate for endangered species.

The photography serves as a poignant reminder of the beauty we stand to lose and the scientific and ethical imperatives to preserve it.

Tiger conservation is multifaceted, involving habitat protection, anti-poaching efforts, and community engagement. Countries like India , home to the largest number of wild tigers, have implemented successful conservation programs that have seen tiger populations begin to stabilize and even grow. The Global Tiger Forum, an inter-governmental international body, plays a crucial role in this by promoting the agenda of tiger conservation.

Conservation efforts also extend to improving the genetic diversity of tigers, combatting the illegal wildlife trade, and ensuring sustainable landscapes for their survival. Organizations like the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and local NGOs work tirelessly to mitigate human-tiger conflicts and promote coexistence.

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Despite these efforts, challenges abound. Habitat fragmentation, human encroachment, and climate change pose significant threats to tiger populations. Conservationists argue for a landscape approach to conservation, connecting protected areas and providing safe corridors for wildlife movement.

In addition, engaging local communities in conservation efforts is essential. By involving those who live closest to these creatures in the protection efforts, there is hope for a sustainable coexistence. "Community-led initiatives are crucial in the fight against poaching and habitat destruction," states a conservation expert from the field.

As we reflect on the stunning images from the "Remembering Wildlife" competition, let us not forget the underlying message they carry. Each photograph is not just a moment captured in time but a part of a larger story—a story that requires us to act, to care, and to participate in the conservation of our planet's remarkable wildlife.

Through informed discussion, dedicated conservation efforts, and a sustained will to change, we can hope to see a future where tigers continue to roam free in the wild. Let these images be a reminder and a motivation, for there is much work to be done, and the stakes are nothing less than the survival of one of the Earth's most iconic species.

How A Turtle’s Suffering Launched a War on Plastic Straws

Conservation

Rethinking Plastic: The Last Straw That Broke the Turtle’s Back

In 2015, a heart-wrenching video surfaced that would soon ripple across the globe, stirring an unprecedented environmental awakening. It featured a distressed olive ridley turtle, with a plastic straw lodged deeply in its nostril.

This video, captured by marine biologist Christine Figgener during a research trip off the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, did more than just showcase the plight of a single marine creature ; it ignited a worldwide campaign against plastic straws, urging people to reconsider their everyday plastic consumption habits.

The Incident That Sparked a Movement

The day was as ordinary as any in the field for Christine and her team. Their mission was simple—study and protect sea turtles—but what they encountered that day was anything but. The team spotted an unusual obstruction in a turtle’s nose, and upon closer examination, it turned out to be a common plastic straw.

The removal process, painstaking and bloody, was filmed by Figgener. The video, slightly over eight minutes long, captured the brutal reality faced by marine life due to human disregard for the environment. Upon its release on social media, the video instantly went viral, shared and watched by millions around the world, its raw and unfiltered nature opening the eyes of the public to the dire consequences of plastic pollution.

The Science of Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution has long been a scourge of the marine environment, impacting wildlife and ecosystems at an alarming rate. The statistics are stark—scientists estimate that over 8 billion kilograms of plastic waste enter the oceans each year, a number that only scratches the surface of the broader environmental degradation.

Marine animals, from the smallest plankton to the largest whales , are known to ingest plastic debris, mistaking it for food. This can lead to blockages, starvation, and ultimately, death. The video of the turtle highlighted this issue in a visceral way, connecting scientific data with the tangible agony of a living creature. It underscored a critical message: the abstract numbers and studies often cited in academic circles needed a relatable face to truly resonate with the general public and spur change.

Public Reaction and Media Influence

The impact of Figgener's video was amplified by its viral nature, which transcended geographical and cultural barriers to ignite a global conversation. Media outlets around the world picked up the story, each iteration highlighting the agony of the affected turtle and by extension, the silent suffering of countless other marine creatures.

Social platforms buzzed with discussions, shares, and retweets, each post increasing public awareness and sensitivity to the issue of plastic pollution. This widespread media coverage did not just raise awareness; it galvanized a collective call to action.

Educational institutions, environmental organizations, and influencers leveraged the video as a powerful teaching tool to illustrate the broader implications of disposable plastics on marine ecosystems.

The Rise of Anti-Plastic Campaigns

Spurred by the overwhelming public and media response, grassroots campaigns and large-scale movements against plastic pollution gained significant momentum. " The Last Plastic Straw " initiative, founded by Jackie Nuñez in 2011, experienced a surge in support, symbolizing a shift in public attitudes towards plastic use.

Across the globe, similar campaigns sprouted, each drawing inspiration from the distressing scenes in the video. These movements focused on reducing the reliance on single-use plastics, starting with straws but quickly expanding to include plastic bags, bottles, and packaging.

The campaigns varied in approach—some advocating for outright bans, others promoting alternatives such as metal, glass, or bamboo straws, and many educating the public on the importance of personal responsibility in environmental stewardship.

Legislative and Corporate Responses

The real testament to the video's impact was the swift legislative and corporate response that followed. Governments worldwide, prompted by public outcry and armed with undeniable visual evidence of the harm caused by plastic waste, began to implement stricter regulations on plastic use.

Over 30 countries have enacted some form of ban on single-use plastic items since 2015, reflecting a growing global consensus on the need for environmental regulation. Corporations, too, felt the pressure to adapt. Notable companies such as Starbucks, McDonald's, and Alaska Airlines announced plans to phase out plastic straws and other single-use plastics, replacing them with more sustainable alternatives.

These policy shifts and corporate changes signified a pivotal moment in the fight against plastic pollution, illustrating the power of public engagement driven by compelling visual storytelling.

The Effectiveness of Targeting Single-Use Plastics

While the campaign against plastic straws has symbolized the fight against plastic pollution, it also raised questions about the focus on this particular single-use item. Critics argue that while targeting straws may raise awareness, it potentially overshadows larger issues such as plastic packaging, the largest contributor to plastic waste. Nonetheless, the "straw ban" serves as a gateway to broader discussions about sustainable living and the necessity for comprehensive waste management solutions.

This targeted approach has proved effective in introducing the public to concepts of reduction and recycling, making it a valuable stepping stone in the broader environmental movement. The effectiveness of such campaigns is evident in the shift in consumer behavior and the growing popularity of reusable products, demonstrating a clear change in societal norms and values towards sustainability.

Despite the progress made, the fight against plastic pollution is far from over. Plastic consumption globally continues to rise, outpacing efforts to mitigate its environmental impact. The complexity of plastic recycling, coupled with economic incentives to produce virgin plastic, presents significant challenges.

Looking forward, the movement sparked by the turtle video must evolve into more comprehensive environmental strategies. These include enhancing recycling technologies, developing new biodegradable materials, and continuing to shift public and corporate behavior towards sustainability. International cooperation and stringent environmental policies will be crucial in addressing the global scale of plastic pollution.

The draft resolution by UN Member States to end plastic pollution by 2024 is a promising step, reflecting an international commitment to tackling this issue with the seriousness it demands.

The narrative of the turtle and the straw has inspired countless individuals to take action. From schoolchildren leading local beach clean-ups to entrepreneurs developing sustainable products, the ripple effects of the video are profound.

Spotlighting these personal stories not only humanizes the issue but also reinforces the impact that individual actions can have on global challenges.

Activists like Stephanie Muttillo, who successfully petitioned major corporations to change their policies, exemplify how grassroots activism can influence larger corporate practices and contribute to global environmental change.

The story of the distressed turtle has transcended its origins as a viral video to become a symbol of the environmental challenges and opportunities facing our global community. It serves as a poignant reminder that change often starts with a single, impactful moment—an image, a video, a narrative that touches hearts and stirs minds.

This story has undoubtedly been a catalyst for change, sparking a significant shift in how we view and handle plastic waste. As we continue to navigate the complexities of environmental conservation, the lessons learned from this movement will undoubtedly influence future strategies and inspire continued efforts to safeguard our planet.

Watch the full video here:

California’s Beaches Play Host To Moonlit Fish Orgies

April 22, 2024

The Moonlit Dance of the Grunion: California's Coastal Phenomenon

Under the glow of the full or new moon, a spectacle unfolds on the sandy shores of Southern California that could rival any scene from a blockbuster movie.

Imagine a scene straight out of a marine version of Mad Max —thousands of small, silvery fish, known as grunion, hurl themselves onto the beaches in a frenzied, nocturnal ritual that is as chaotic as it is captivating.

This isn't just any animal behavior; it's the grunion run, a mating dance dictated by lunar cycles and tides, where survival and reproduction intermingle on the sand.

What is The Grunion Run?

The grunion run is one of nature's most extraordinary reproductive events, where grunion emerge en masse on select Southern California beaches. This remarkable phenomenon occurs strictly under the darkness of the new or full moon, when tides are high enough to reach the upper stretches of sandy shores.

During these nocturnal events, female grunion ride the high tides up the beach, where they proceed to dig themselves tail-first into the sand to lay their eggs. Males follow suit, wrapping themselves around the females to fertilize the eggs externally. This synchronized dance ensures that the eggs are safely nestled in the wet sand, where they incubate for about ten days. The timing is crucial; the eggs must remain undisturbed until the next set of high tides, which will facilitate the hatching process and allow the newborn grunion to be swept into the ocean.

The grunion run is unique not just for its spectacle but for the precise environmental conditions it requires. The beaches where grunion spawn are often the same stretches popular with tourists and locals for recreational activities. This overlap makes the grunion particularly vulnerable to disturbances from human activity, such as beach grooming and pollution, which can endanger both the eggs laid in the sand and the adult fish during their spawning.

At the heart of understanding these unique creatures is a community-driven initiative led by Karen Martin, a seasoned scientist from Pepperdine University. Since 2002, over 5,000 volunteers, affectionately dubbed "grunion greeters," have played a pivotal role in gathering data about these fish at 50 designated beaches across California. Martin asserts, "We couldn't do it without them. There is no other way for us to get this kind of data. It's pretty remarkable, actually."

These citizen scientists are crucial because grunion, smart and elusive, defy traditional methods of population assessment. They dodge nets, ignore bait, and, as a result, remain somewhat of an enigma in terms of exact numbers. Their conservation status hangs in a precarious balance, underscored by a noticeable decline in their populations over the past decade due to beach erosion, light pollution, coastal development, and the indirect impacts of tourism and local activity.

Regulation and Preservation Efforts

Efforts to protect the grunion have a storied history, with initial regulations dating back to 1927 when the California Department of Fish and Wildlife first observed the grunion's vulnerability during their onshore spawning. The restrictions have evolved from banning certain fishing gear to implementing no-take seasons, extending from April through June, thanks to sustained advocacy and accumulated data from the grunion greeters.

These regulations have become more stringent over the years. For instance, in 2020, the fishing restrictions were further tightened, with limits set on how many grunion one could harvest even outside the no-take season, reflecting the growing concern over their declining numbers.

The Ripple Effect of Citizen Science

The data collected by the grunion greeters has not only informed regulatory changes but also fostered a broader awareness and appreciation for these marine creatures. The community's involvement has turned local residents into staunch defenders of the grunion, often educating others about the importance of adherence to the fishing regulations.

Karen Martin reflects on the transformation in perception towards citizen scientists, from skepticism to a valued partnership. "People are excited to know that they've made this sighting and that their knowledge is useful—that somebody cares about what they've seen," she says. This shift signifies a deeper societal connection to local wildlife and ecosystems, proving that community involvement in scientific endeavors can yield substantial environmental stewardship.

A Dance Worth Preserving

The grunion run is more than just a biological curiosity; it's a testament to the intricate ties between lunar cycles, marine life, and human interaction. As Southern California continues to grapple with the challenges of conservation and urban development, the fate of the grunion underscores the broader dialogue about our role in safeguarding not only these spectacular fish but also the delicate balance of the ecosystems they inhabit.

In essence, the dance of the grunion is a call to action—a reminder of the beauty and fragility of nature and our enduring responsibility to protect it. As we look towards the future, the ongoing collaboration between scientists, citizen volunteers, and policymakers will be crucial in ensuring that the grunion runs continue to enchant and educate future generations.

Source: BBC / Cover Image: Karen Martin

Get To Know The Macaw

April 19, 2024

Get to Know the Macaw: Facts, Myths and Photos

Ever marvel at the vibrance of a rainbow? Now, imagine that splashed across a lively creature with a personality as colorful as its feathers. Welcome to the world of macaws, those eye-popping birds that seem to have leaped straight out of a vivid dream into our reality.

These members of the parrot family are not just a feast for the eyes; they're intelligent, social, and full of quirks.

Stick around as we dive deep into what makes macaws truly spectacular—from their flamboyant feathers to their complex social lives. Ready to get up close and personal with nature’s own winged rainbows? Let’s fly right in!

What is the Macaw?

So, what exactly is a macaw? In the simplest terms, it's a type of parrot—a really large, really colorful parrot. But not just any parrot; macaws are like the celebrities of the parrot world, known for their striking colors and impressive size. These birds belong to the family Psittacidae , which includes all parrots, and they're predominantly found in Central and South America. The macaw family is pretty diverse, with about 19 species making up the group. Each species brings its own flair to the macaw lineup, ranging from the giant Hyacinth Macaw, stretching over three feet in length, to the more petite Hahn's macaw, which is just a fraction of the size.

Biologists and bird lovers get geeky about macaws not just because of their looks but because of their brains. These birds are known for their high intelligence and remarkable ability to mimic human speech, which makes them both fascinating and a bit of a handful as pets. They're deeply social creatures, which might explain their complex behaviors and why they seem so attuned to human emotions.

What do Macaws look like?

Imagine a bird that decided to wear the entire spectrum on its wings. Macaws are exactly that—bold and beautiful, with feathers that can make just about anyone’s jaw drop. They sport a range of colors, often vivid blues, reds, and yellows, which can vary widely between species. For instance, the Blue and Gold Macaw has a stunning azure back with a golden underbelly, while the Scarlet Macaw flaunts a brilliant red plumage with blue and yellow highlights.

But macaws aren't just about pretty faces (or feathers, in this case). They have large, curved beaks that seem almost oversized for their faces but are perfect for cracking nuts and seeds. Their beaks are as functional as they are symbolic, representing the adaptability and survival skills of these birds in the wild. Speaking of functionality, let's not overlook their eyes—sharp and penetrating, they reflect a keen intelligence that complements their striking looks.

Visual diversity is key among macaws, with each species having its own unique patterns and color blends. This not only makes them a subject of endless admiration but also an interesting topic for those keen on genetics and the environmental factors that influence avian aesthetics.

How Big are Macaws?

When it comes to size, macaws really stretch the spectrum. These birds are generally recognized as some of the largest members of the parrot family. The smallest species, like the Noble Macaw, might only reach about 12 inches in length, which is pretty petite for a parrot. On the other end of the scale, you've got the majestic Hyacinth Macaw, which can stretch up to 40 inches from beak to tail tip. That’s longer than some dogs!

A key thing to remember with macaws is that their size isn’t just for show. It plays a crucial role in their survival. Larger macaws, with their powerful wings and sturdy bodies, can travel long distances in search of food, mates, or nesting sites, which is essential in the vast habitats they occupy. So, when you see a macaw spreading its wings, it’s not just a beautiful sight—it’s a glimpse into a lifestyle crafted by nature to thrive in the wild.

Macaw Feathers and Colors

Ah, the colors! If there’s one thing you can’t ignore about macaws, it’s their stunning plumage. These birds are the living embodiment of a painter’s palette. Each species flaunts a unique blend of vibrant feathers that aren't just about beauty—they serve some pretty practical purposes too.

For starters, the bright colors help macaws communicate. In the dense rainforests they call home, these colors can be a major advantage for social interactions like attracting mates or warding off rivals. And let's not forget camouflage. Yes, those bright blues and greens can actually blend in well with the lush foliage and shadowy light of the rainforest, helping them stay hidden from predators.

The feather quality of macaws is also top-notch. These are tough, glossy feathers that can withstand the wear and tear of rainforest life. Plus, they’re waterproof, which is handy for a bird that lives in some of the wettest environments on earth.

Now, the beak—macaws' multi-tool. It’s not just there to make them look serious; it’s essential for their survival. The strong, curved beak of a macaw is a perfect example of nature’s engineering. It can crack open hard nuts and seeds, which make up a significant part of their diet, and it's delicate enough to handle softer fruits and berries.

But the macaw’s beak is more than just a nutcracker. It’s a climbing aid as well. These birds use their beaks to help them climb and hang from branches, almost like an extra limb. Imagine trying to scale a tree without hands, and you’ll get a sense of how ingenious this adaptation really is.

It’s fascinating to see how macaws use their beaks to interact with their environment, from feeding and climbing to grooming and even playing. Observing a macaw in action, using its beak to explore and manipulate objects, really highlights their curious and intelligent nature.

Macaw Claws

When you think about macaws, their claws might not be the first feature that springs to mind, but these tools are just as crucial as their beaks. Each macaw is equipped with four strong, sharp claws, arranged in a zygodactyl pattern—two toes pointing forward and two backward. This special arrangement is perfect for a lifestyle spent mostly among the trees.

Macaw claws are all about grip. Whether it’s clinging to a vertical tree trunk, hanging upside down to reach a tantalizing fruit, or simply perching securely as they sleep, these claws make it all possible. Their ability to grasp and hold is vital not only for feeding and mobility but also for interacting with other macaws and their environment.

The tail of a macaw isn’t just a trailing feather arrangement; it's a critical balance tool and a striking visual display. Long and pointed, macaw tails can often be nearly as long as the rest of their body. In flight, these tails are magnificent rudders, helping the birds steer and maneuver through their dense forest habitats with agility and grace.

On top of their functional importance, macaw tails add to the visual spectacle of the birds. During courtship displays, macaws will fan out their tails, showing off the brilliant colors and patterns to potential mates. The tail feathers, often a different color from the body, add an extra layer of allure to these already captivating creatures.

What Do Macaws Eat?

Diving into a macaw's diet is like exploring a tropical buffet. These birds are primarily herbivores, and they have quite the varied palate. Their diet mainly consists of nuts, fruits, and seeds, which they skillfully extract and consume using their powerful beaks. But macaws are also known to enjoy the occasional leaf, flower, and even insect or small reptile, adding some protein to their colorful diet.

Macaws have a particularly interesting relationship with "clay licks," natural riverbanks where the soil is rich in minerals. These birds will often gather in large numbers to eat the clay, which helps them detoxify any poisonous substances they might have ingested from unripe seeds or toxic fruits. This not only highlights their dietary diversity but also their remarkable adaptability to their environment.

The diet of a macaw can vary widely depending on the species and their natural habitat. For instance, the Scarlet Macaw might have a different dietary preference than the Blue and Gold Macaw, reflecting the ecological diversity of their respective environments.

Macaw Social Structure

Macaws are anything but loners; these birds are the social butterflies of the avian world. Typically, macaws live in flocks that can number from a few pairs to hundreds of birds, especially in popular feeding areas or at clay licks. This social arrangement helps them protect each other from predators and increases their efficiency in finding food.

The structure within a macaw flock is quite sophisticated. While they are communal and cooperative, there’s also a clear hierarchy, often determined by age, size, and temperament. Within the flock, macaws pair off into monogamous relationships that can last a lifetime. These pairs are rarely seen apart, whether they are foraging, flying, or resting. The bond between mated macaws is strong, characterized by mutual grooming and shared food, which helps strengthen their relationship and ensures cooperative parenting.

How do Macaws Reproduce?

Speaking of parenting, let's dive into the reproductive life of macaws. These birds don't start breeding until they are quite mature, often not until they are several years old. Once they form a pair, macaws are monogamous and will typically mate for life, which is a rarity in the animal kingdom.

The breeding season for macaws is usually aligned with the rainy season, when food is most abundant. This timing ensures that there are plenty of resources available for the demanding task of chick rearing. The female lays between two to four eggs per clutch, which she incubates for about 24 to 28 days. During this time, the male takes on the role of the protector and provider, bringing food to the nest and standing guard against any threats.

Macaw nests are typically found high up in the cavities of dead or dying trees. This elevated location helps protect the eggs and young chicks from ground-level predators. Once hatched, the chicks are entirely dependent on their parents for food and protection for up to three months, a period during which the parents are exceptionally attentive and busy.

How Long Do Macaws Live?

Macaws are among the longer-lived bird species, with lifespans that can extend well beyond 50 years in captivity. In the wild, however, their lifespan is usually shorter, often due to environmental pressures, disease, and predation, but it's not uncommon for a macaw to reach 30 to 35 years of age.

The longevity of macaws in captivity highlights the importance of long-term commitment when considering these birds as pets. Their extended lifespan also allows them to form lasting bonds with their human caregivers, often becoming a lifetime companion. The challenge, however, lies in ensuring that they receive appropriate mental and physical stimulation throughout their lives, as boredom and isolation can lead to behavioral issues in these intelligent creatures.

READ NEXT: GET TO KNOW THE AFRICAN FISH EAGLE

Are macaws territorial.

Macaws, with their sociable nature, may not seem the type to defend turf aggressively, but they do exhibit territorial behaviors, particularly around their nesting sites. During the breeding season, macaws can become quite protective of the area surrounding their nest. This territoriality ensures that they have enough space and resources to successfully raise their chicks.

Outside of the breeding season, macaws tend to be more gregarious and less concerned with territory, often seen mingling freely with other birds at communal feeding sites or clay licks. This adaptability in their social behavior highlights their intelligence and complex social dynamics, where the need for community often outweighs the instinct for territorial defense.

How Fast are Macaws?

When it comes to speed, macaws are no slouches. These birds are built for flying through the challenging landscapes of dense rainforests or open skies above the canopy. While exact speeds vary by species, macaws can reach flying speeds of up to 35 miles per hour. This swiftness allows them to travel long distances in search of food, mates, or new nesting sites, a necessity in the expansive habitats they occupy.

Macaws use their speed not just for efficient travel but also as a tactic to evade predators. Their agile flight, combined with bright, confusing color patterns, makes them a challenging target for would-be attackers. Additionally, their loud calls, which can be heard over long distances, help keep flock members in contact even when flying at high speeds.

Where do Macaws Live?

Macaws are native to a variety of habitats across Central and South America, with a range that spans from the dense Amazon rainforest to the drier savannah regions. These diverse environments influence the specific adaptations and behaviors of different macaw species. For example, while some macaws, like the Scarlet Macaw, thrive in humid, tropical rainforests, others, such as the Blue-throated Macaw, are found in more arid woodland areas.

The habitat of a macaw affects everything from its diet and social behavior to its reproductive strategies. Rainforest-dwelling macaws often benefit from a constant supply of various fruits and nuts, while those in drier areas might rely more on specific seasonal resources. This ecological diversity is crucial for the survival of different macaw species, allowing them to specialize and thrive in various environmental conditions.

How Many Macaws are There in the Wild?

Estimating the exact number of macaws in the wild can be challenging due to their wide distribution and the often inaccessible nature of their habitats. However, it's clear that the populations of many macaw species are under threat. The primary reasons include habitat loss, illegal pet trade, and environmental degradation. Species like the Spix's Macaw have seen populations plummet to the point of being declared extinct in the wild, only surviving due to intensive conservation and breeding programs.

For species that are still found in the wild, such as the Blue and Gold Macaw or the Scarlet Macaw, conservation efforts are crucial to maintaining their numbers. These efforts include habitat preservation, anti-poaching measures, and education campaigns aimed at local communities and potential pet buyers globally. While some macaw species maintain stable populations in large protected areas, others are rare and face ongoing risks from human activity.

Are Macaws Endangered?

Many macaw species are indeed listed as endangered or threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The varying degrees of threat depend largely on their habitat conditions and the impact of human activity. For instance, the Hyacinth Macaw is considered vulnerable due to its specific habitat needs and the illegal trade of exotic pets.

Conservation status not only highlights the risk these birds face but also the global responsibility to ensure their survival. International cooperation is needed, along with strict enforcement of wildlife trade laws and significant efforts to restore and protect macaw habitats. Thankfully, there are numerous success stories where conservation initiatives have stabilized or even increased macaw populations, showing that with concerted effort, positive change is possible.

Threats to Macaws in the Wild

The beautiful plumage and engaging personalities of macaws that make them so beloved are unfortunately also the reasons they are under threat. The illegal pet trade has a devastating impact on wild populations, as juvenile birds are often captured and sold on the black market. This not only reduces the number of individuals in the wild but also disrupts the social structure of macaw flocks, which can have broader ecological consequences.

Habitat destruction is another significant threat. As forests are cleared for agriculture or mining, macaws lose both their homes and their food sources. Climate change further exacerbates these challenges, altering the ecosystems macaws depend on for survival. Pollution, especially in the form of pesticides and heavy metals, can also poison these birds or their food supplies, leading to decreased fertility and higher mortality rates.

Where to See Macaws

If you're keen on seeing macaws in their natural habitat, there are several destinations where these magnificent birds can still be found flying freely. The Amazon rainforest across countries like Brazil, Peru, and Colombia offers vast tracts of untouched forests that are home to numerous macaw species. National parks and wildlife reserves often provide the best chances of sightings, with guided tours that help spot these colorful birds in the canopy.

Another excellent location is Costa Rica, particularly in areas like Corcovado National Park, where Scarlet Macaws are a common sight. Similarly, the Pantanal in Brazil is known for its large populations of Hyacinth Macaws, especially near conservation areas dedicated to this species. These trips not only offer the chance to see macaws but also support eco-tourism, which plays a crucial role in their conservation.

Tips for Spotting Macaws

Spotting macaws, while exciting, can be challenging due to their often elusive nature and the dense habitats they prefer. Here are some tips to increase your chances of a memorable encounter:

• Early Morning or Late Afternoon : Macaws are most active during these times, making them easier to spot as they feed and socialize.
• Listen for Their Calls : Macaws are noisy creatures. Their loud calls can help you locate them even before they are visible.
• Use Binoculars : A good pair of binoculars is essential to get a clear view of these birds as they often stay high in the treetops.
• Stay Near Fruit Trees : Macaws often visit specific trees that bear fruit, so these spots can be excellent for sightings.
• Be Patient : Like any wildlife spotting, seeing macaws requires patience. They are wild animals with their own routines and timetables.

Facts About the Macaw

• Macaws can eat some toxic seeds and unripe fruits that are harmful to other animals because clay from clay licks helps neutralize the toxins.
• The largest macaw species is the Hyacinth Macaw, which can grow up to 40 inches in length.
• Macaws have a strong sense of community, often seen preening each other, which helps strengthen their social bonds.
• They are known for their incredible memory, which is essential for recalling the locations of fruiting trees throughout their vast territory.
• Macaws can fly up to 35 miles per hour, using their powerful wings to navigate through and above the rainforest canopy.

Myths About the Macaw

• Myth : Macaws can talk like humans. Fact : While they can mimic human speech, they do not understand or communicate in human languages.
• Myth : All macaws are colorful. Fact : While most are vividly colored, some species have more subdued hues to blend into their environments better.
• Myth : Macaws live only in rainforests. Fact : Macaws inhabit a range of environments from rainforests to savannahs, depending on the species.
• Myth : Macaws eat only fruits. Fact : Their diet is diverse, including nuts, seeds, leaves, and occasionally insects and small animals.

Macaws are not just birds; they are a spectacular display of nature's brilliance, with their vivid colors, complex behaviors, and fascinating ecological roles. As we continue to encroach on their habitats, the responsibility to protect these magnificent creatures grows.

By supporting conservation efforts and responsible eco-tourism, we can help ensure that macaws continue to thrive in the wild. Witnessing a macaw in its natural setting is more than just a sighting; it’s an encounter with one of the planet’s most extraordinary creations, reminding us of the beauty and fragility of the world we share.

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Young orangutans learn survival skills from their mom

A new study led by the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Konstanz, Germany has analyzed the interaction between orangutan mothers and their infants in Sumatra, Indonesia. The researchers found that when orangutan mothers are foraging, they tailor their behavior to match the age and capacities of their offspring , thereby helping them to learn. 

According to the researchers, this study uncovered the first evidence yet of active involvement by orangutan mothers in their offspring’s learning of new skills.

“Immature orangutans acquire their feeding skills over several years, via social and independent learning,” wrote the study authors. “So far, it has remained uninvestigated to what extent orangutan mothers are actively involved in this learning process. We conclude that orangutan mothers have a more active role in the skill acquisition of their offspring than previously thought.”

During their infancy, orangutans must learn to recognize and process over 200 food items, many of which require several steps before they can be eaten. For instance, while most flowers and leaves require no previous processing, bark must be loosened from the trees and scraped with the teeth in order to access its nutritive parts. The most difficult foods, such as honey from bee hives, require even the use of tools such as sticks in order to consume it. 

According to the researchers, immature orangutans learn such complex skills by observing their mothers while they are eating. 

“It was puzzling that mothers always seemed so passive during these feeding interactions,” said study lead author Dr. Caroline Schuppli, an evolutionary biologist at the Max Plank Institute. “Mothers have so much time with their offspring, and maintain such a close connection, but they never appeared to be actively involved in the skill acquisition of their young.” 

However, by analyzing over 1,300 instances of immature orangutan’s food solicitation – asking or trying to obtain food from their mother – Dr. Schuppli and her colleagues have found that orangutan mothers do in fact respond to their offspring during feeding, and therefore facilitate learning opportunities. 

When their offspring solicit food, mothers usually adjust their “tolerance” according to their offspring’s age and how difficult the food item is to process.

“Our findings suggest that orangutan mothers are actively involved in their offspring’s skill learning,” Dr Schuppli said. “However, they do this in a reactive, rather than proactive way. Interestingly, there were very few incidents of active food sharing only. This means that orangutan immatures need to take the initiative during learning. This is very different from humans, where active teaching plays an important role and role models are much more proactive.”

The study is published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports.  

By Andrei Ionescu , Earth.com Staff Writer

Fact Animal

Facts About Animals

Orangutan Facts

Orangutan profile.

The orangutan (Pongo) is an omnivorous mammal with shaggy orange fur and a unique facial structure. “Orangutan” in Malay means “person of the forest”.

These highly intelligent animals have been found using tools in the wild and creating deep bonds with their young. There are three species of orangutan—the Bornean, the Sumatran, and the Tapanuli.

Orangutan Facts Overview

Orangutans are known as great apes , which are a family of primates including gorillas , chimpanzees and modern humans. They are native to rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia, but are now only found in small regions of Borneo and Sumatra.

Orangutans have proportionally very long arms , and short legs with reddish orange hair. Males are larger than females, growing up to 4 ft 6 and weighing 165 lbs (75kg). The smaller female is typically under 4 ft in height and weigh around 80 lbs (37 kg).

They are considered solitary , but social animals that spend most of their time in trees. Orangutan are omnivores that will diet on fruit, vegetation, insects and birds eggs.

Highly dependent on trees for food and movement, deforestation has lead to a significant decrease in orangutan numbers – sadly, all three species are considered critically endangered . Poaching has also contributed to this reduction.

It is estimated that over the past 75 years, there has been an elimination of over 80 percent in the Sumatran orangutan species. 1

Interesting Orangutan Facts

1. their arms are almost two times longer than their legs.

Adult orangutans have an arm span of almost 2.2 m (about 7 feet). Their extensive reach is perfect from swinging from branch to branch and reaching for hard-to-reach fruits.

When they stand up on their legs, their hands practically graze the ground. 2

2. Their throat sacs are used to communicate with other orangutans

Both female and male orangutans have throat sacs. The throat sacs of males will grow as they reach sexual maturity. These sacs help produce booming “long calls” that can be heard over a mile away.

They have a dual function—to scare of competing males and to attract potential mates. 3

3. They are the largest tree-dwelling animal

In general, orangutans spend the majority (more than 90 percent) of their waking hours up in trees.

Adult males can weigh more than twice that of females.

4. Males go through two stages of sexual maturity

There are two stages of sexual maturity for male orangutans—a subadult stage followed by an adult stage.

As they transition from the subadult to the adult, males develop the characteristic cheek pads, and their throat sacs get larger. Subadults also usually do not produce long calls.

5. Their feet double as hands

With opposable big toes, orangutans can grasp branches, fruits, and much more with their feet.

They closely resemble an extra set of hands.

6. They are one of the closest relatives to humans

Orangutans share almost 97% of their DNA with humans.

Following the chimp and the rhesus macaque, orangutans got their full genome sequenced. 4

7. Orangutans stay with their mothers for many years before venturing out on their own

Mothers have been observed staying with their young for up to eight years. During this time, the young learn how to forage for food, use tools, and efficiently navigate their surroundings.

8. They sleep in beds

At night, orangutans will make nests that function like mattresses up in trees.

These “beds” are formed using a combination of leaves and twigs. They will also sometimes make roof-like structures to help keep themselves dry during rainstorms.

9. Fruits make up a large part of their food

Fruits—such as figs, mangoes, and lychees—make up almost 60% of an orangutan’s daily menu.

There are hundreds of fruits available in their habitats. Orangutans have also been found munching on bark, insects, flowers, and, at times, even meat.

10. They only give birth once every seven or eight years

This is the longest period that has been documented among any land-dwelling animal.

It is likely due to the length of time young stay with their mothers before becoming independent.

11. Different species will spend varying amounts of time on the ground

Sumatran orangutans spend almost all of their time up in trees with males descending to the ground more often than females.

Bornean orangutans, on the other hand, spend more time on the forest floor.

12. Relative to other apes, they are less social

Chimpanzees and gorillas are known for their intricate social structures and hierarchies.

In contrast, orangutans are relatively solitary animals. Young will stay with their mothers, but adult males tend to live alone.

13. Males can get quite aggressive towards each other

Males reach maturity around 15 years. When another male is found wandering into their territory, they will often engage in vocal confrontations that can escalate into physical fights.

They will charge and bite each other until a victor is determined.

14. Organutan can laugh!

Orangutans show laughter-like vocalisations when wrestling, play fighting, chasing or tickling.

15. Orangutan are the only great ape found in Asia

Gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, and humans are all considered great apes.

Orangutans are the only great ape to originate from Asia. Gorillas and chimpanzees all come from Africa.

16. The third species was discovered very recently

The Tapanuli species was discovered in 2017.

It is estimated there are approximately 800 animals belonging to this species living in Northern Sumatra.

17. They are considered one of the most intelligent primates

Orangutans have been observed using tools to help forage for food, cross rivers, and even use leaves against their mouth to help amplify the noises they can make to intimidate rivals.

Various studies and experiments show that they cooperate with each other, play games and that an adult organutan had self awareness in a mirror test.

Orangutan Fact-File Summary

Scientific classification, fact sources & references.

• Bradford, Alina (2016). “ Facts About Orangutans ”. Live Science.
• “ Top 10 Facts About Orangutans ”. World Wildlife Fund.
• “ Orangutans ”. World Wildlife Fund.
• “ 10 Orangutan Facts! ”. National Geographic Kids.

May 2, 2016 by Morgan Pettersson

The campaign to fund the construction of a new Infant Orangutan Facility was launched in 2013 and spearheaded by Danielle St-Georges’ fiancé, Jeremy Nash, in order to honor her memory. Danielle St-Georges died of a very aggressive cancer shortly after she visited Borneo with one of OFI’s Eco Tour groups. We are proud to honor her memory.

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Orangutan moms are the primate champs of breast-feeding.

Jon Hamilton

An orangutan mother and her 11-month old infant in Borneo. Orangutans breast-feed offspring off and on for up to eight years. Tim Laman/Science Advances hide caption

An orangutan mother and her 11-month old infant in Borneo. Orangutans breast-feed offspring off and on for up to eight years.

When it comes to breast-feeding, orangutans are the champs.

Past studies of orangutans in the wild have found that mothers nurse their offspring for up to seven years, longer than any other primate.

But a new study of orangutan teeth suggests even that estimate is low, a team reports Wednesday in the journal Science Advances.

The study found evidence that during periods when fruit and other food became scarce, young orangutans would supplement their diet with breast milk. "And this pattern could last up until 8 or 9 years of age, which is very long," says Christine Austin , an author of the paper and a researcher in the department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai.

This late weaning is probably a survival strategy, says Tanya Smith , the study's lead author, who works at the Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution at Griffith University. "Having a long period of nursing may be a way for juveniles to learn the ins and outs of living in a challenging environment with limited and unpredictable food resources," she says.

Researchers have been uncertain about nursing behavior among wild orangutans because the animals are notoriously hard to study. They live solitary lives in the treetops of rainforests in Borneo and Sumatra.

So Austin and a team of researchers wondered whether they could obtain more detailed information by analyzing teeth from orangutans that had died.

"Teeth are like a biological hard drive that's recording what's happening in your body each day," Austin says.

Teeth have growth rings like a tree, which provide a timeline of an animal's life. And the researchers had shown that levels of barium in each ring indicate when an orangutan was consuming milk.

The team was able to obtain teeth from four orangutans that were shot decades ago. The teeth came from museums.

Barium levels showed that for the first 12 to 18 months, the young orangutans consumed only breast milk. Then they started adding other foods, primarily fruit.

But the animals appeared to resume nursing when other foods weren't plentiful. And that cyclical nursing pattern continued until the orangutans were approaching puberty.

Eight-plus years of nursing are much more than other primates get. Chimp mothers wean their young at about age 5. Gorilla moms stop nursing when their offspring are about 4.

And human babies rarely breast-feed after age 3, says Shara Bailey , a paleoanthropologist at New York University. "That's what makes humans weird," she says. "And it's certainly one of the reasons why our population is so successful as a species."

Switching babies to other food early in life allowed early human females to produce more offspring than other species, Bailey says.

But it's not clear when early weaning became common. It could have been nearly a million years ago, when humans are thought to have learned to control fire. Or it could have been just 10,000 years ago, when farming came along.

Scientists are hoping that by analyzing teeth, it may be possible to find out how long our human ancestors nursed.

"The potential is there to look now at Neanderthals, Homo erectus , Homo habilis , [and] Australopithicenes," Bailey says. And maybe, she says, "we can actually get an idea of when this very weird thing that characterizes humans occurred."

There's a catch, though.

In order to analyze a tooth, researchers need to slice it up. And museums are reluctant to damage some of their most prized fossils.

• breast-feeding

Gentle Orangutan Shares Incredible Moment With Human Mom And Baby

We're used to cooing over cute animal babies. But what happens when they feel the same way about us?

A video currently making the rounds captures a touching moment between a captive orangutan and a young human mother. The human mother sits close to the glass of the orangutan's enclosure, her human baby swaddled against her chest.

The orangutan is undeniably excited. She points at the baby to communicate with the human mother, and crouches down by the window to get a better look.

They lean their heads together, just inches away as they share a special moment with the human infant.

In the wild, orangutans are doting mothers, keeping their babies by their sides until they are up to 10 years old. Even after they gain independence, female orangutans will often come back to visit their mothers until they have children of their own. It's unclear if this orangutan ever had a baby of her own.

This video is a heartwarming reminder of just how much we share with our gentle cousins - but it's also a poignant invitation to rethink how we treat them in the wild and in captivity.

You can watch the full video below.

This story has been updated to include information about orangutans in the wild.

• Life & Culture
• Entertainment

How a team of Tampa doctors helped deliver baby orangutan at Busch Gardens

• Sharon Kennedy Wynne Times staff

TAMPA — Luna loved the ultrasound game.

The 26-year-old orangutan at Busch Gardens would come up to the mesh screening that separates the primates from the humans that care for them and happily present her belly.

Dr. Maria Spriggs, chief veterinarian at Busch Gardens, would use that play time to put an ultrasound probe on Luna’s belly and track the progress of her pregnancy.

“She really liked to eat the ultrasound gel. She thinks that’s really fun,” Spriggs said.

Luna gave birth to a female baby orangutan April 13 at the Tampa theme park. It was a rare, if not historic, event: There have only been 11 Cesarean sections in the past 20 years of orangutan births in American zoos, out of 139 births of the critically endangered species, according to the Association of Zoos & Aquariums.

A team of nearly two dozen medical professionals were called in for Luna’s delivery — not just veterinary but also human doctors who specialize in maternity and newborn care.

It warms our hearts to announce that Luna and Baby are reunited! 🦧 Stay tuned for more exciting updates on all of our social media platforms, and comment down below to celebrate this monumental moment with us! pic.twitter.com/d7jZQacDKS — Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (@BuschGardens) April 20, 2024

They recounted their stories of a remarkable day in the theme park’s Animal Care Center when they saved a baby using tools from the maternity ward.

Because humans and great apes are so alike in biology, the theme park called on Dr. Catherine Lynch, a well-regarded Tampa obstetrician-gynecologist, to look at the snapshots they were able to catch from ultrasounds.

On a visit in early April, she was alarmed. The baby was breech, lying bottom-down instead of head-down in the uterus. And, even more alarming, the umbilical chord was underneath her.

“If that had come out first, that would have been catastrophic to the baby,” cutting off her oxygen supply, Lynch said.

Lynch, who practices at Tampa General Hospital and also teaches medical students at the University of South Florida, has since the late 1990s assisted in monitoring the pregnant primates at Busch Gardens.

“They have a remarkably similar uterus” to humans, she said.

For safety’s sake, Spriggs couldn’t put her hand in the enclosure during ultrasounds, so the images were more like snapshots.

“That’s where partnering with Dr. Lynch at USF has been key to our prenatal monitoring, because she sees these images all the time,” Spriggs said.

Upon seeing the breech danger, Lynch scheduled a C-section, just like she would have with her human patients, timing it as close to the delivery date as possible.

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This wasn’t the doctor’s first great ape delivery.

Lynch, who is the wife of former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, has for decades helped with animal wellness checks, which are similar to a woman’s annual pelvic exam.

“Once you start to look at things with the ultrasound you go, ‘Yep, there’s the uterus.’ It looks the same,” Lynch said. “It’s very different from a pig uterus or a dog uterus.”

In 2003, she was called in to assist another orangutan. After 40 hours of labor, the delivery wasn’t making progress and the exhausted animal was moaning in distress.

“They sedated her and we assembled a team and we didn’t know whether the baby was going to be dead or alive,” Lynch said. They treated it like a typical C-section surgery, and delivered a healthy baby.

Two years after that, one of the park’s original gorillas had gotten pregnant, but was bleeding. Lynch identified it as placenta previa, which can cause severe bleeding during labor and can put mother and baby in danger. She again oversaw a successful C-section.

This year’s birth wasn’t even the first time Luna needed Lynch and Spriggs to get her through labor. Luna had a previous pregnancy in 2017, and appeared to be progressing well on her own while delivering the baby. But Lynch was called in when keepers noticed Luna was fully dilated and crowning, but seemed confused about what to do next for the delivery.

“So literally one of the keepers and I were down on the floor in the orangutan house demonstrating for her to grab her feet and reassure her that the baby was going to come out,” Lynch said. “We were down there showing her what to do and she mimicked what we did. And then the baby came out.

“So add ‘Doula to the Great Apes’ to my resume.”

They were hoping Luna would deliver normally again this time, but the baby didn’t change into the head-down position. Lynch showed up April 13 for an ultrasound check, expecting to schedule a C-section for the following Thursday. But Luna was extremely restless and agitated, her keepers said, a possible indication she was going into labor.

Lynch sounded the alarm and a team of anesthesia specialists from the University of Florida, obstetrics and neonatology teams from Tampa General Hospital and Busch Gardens veterinarians filled the park’s Animal Care Center.

Anesthesia was administered at 4:30 p.m. that Saturday for what would end up being 90 minutes of tension.

The medical specialists were divided into Team Luna, to take care of labor, delivery and recovery, and Team Baby, to take over after the birth. For the newborn, they had to get the heart rate, breathing and temperature in balance — and they had to wake the baby up, since the mother had been heavily sedated.

A C-section is a fairly quick surgery, Lynch said, though with the baby in the breech position it took a little wiggling to get her out of the mother’s cavity and through the incision, “especially when you have arms that are significantly longer than human arms.”

When the baby came out at 6:08 p.m., there was a spontaneous cheer in the operating room. The little one was handed off to Team Baby, while Team Luna took over dressing Luna’s wounds, using internal stitches so the orangutan wouldn’t be tempted to pick at them later.

Dr. Tara Randis, chief of USF’s Division of Neonatology who also practices at TGH, had her typical team of nurses and residents on hand that she would have for any high-risk pregnancy.

Because Luna had to be sedated, the baby emerged from the womb fully conked out. Though 3.4 pounds is small for a human baby, it is a normal size for an infant orangutan, Spriggs said. They suctioned out her airway because she was not breathing right away and put in a breathing tube. They gave her a shot in the leg, supplied by the veterinarians, to wake her up and reverse the anesthesia.

She was cold, so they wrapped her in warming blankets, monitored her heart rate and kept her breathing with the tube.

Then the baby performed that adorable reflex all newborns do: Her long fingers emerged from under the warming blankets and grasped the finger of her doctor. And since orangutans are five to seven times stronger than humans, Randis said: “That was one very strong grip.” The baby then kept reaching and grasping and grabbed the fingers of all three team members, who let out a cheer of their own.

The following days were spent healing both animals with the goal of getting them back together. The neonatologists stressed that “skin-to-skin” contact and nursing were critical in the bonding process.

Within a few days, mother and child were reunited and, in a heartwarming video posted on social media, Luna can be seen looming large over the tiny newborn, gently lifting her up out of a nest of hay and laying the baby on her shoulder. The baby immediately grips her mother’s long facial hair as Luna gently pats her back. They are bonding and doing well, her keepers report.

“It’s really remarkable how similar this is,” said Randis, who had never participated in a zoo exercise like this. “It reinforced how important the basic things we do to encourage bonding, care and attention are. That nursing, and recognizing the needs of both of them, is the most important part of what we do.”

Sharon Kennedy Wynne is a reporter covering events, things to do and family experiences through the region. Reach her at [email protected].

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• Environment

Orangutan Spotted Treating His Wound With a Medicinal Herb

The observation suggests “basic cognitive capacities…were present at the time of our last common ancestor.”, nicola davis.

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A mother Orangutan and her baby. Media Drum World/Zuma

This story was originally published by the Guardian and is reproduced here as part of the  Climate Desk   collaboration.

The high intelligence levels of orangutans have long been recognized, partly due to their practical skills such as using tools to crack nuts and forage for insects. But new research suggests the primate has another handy skill in its repertoire: applying medicinal herbs.

Researchers say they have observed a male Sumatran orangutan treating an open facial wound with sap and chewed leaves from a plant known to have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.

It is not the first time wild animals have been spotted self-medicating: Among other examples, Bornean orangutans have been seen rubbing their arms and legs with chewed leaves from a plant used by humans to treat sore muscles, while chimpanzees have been recorded chewing plants known to treat worm infections and applying insects to wounds.

However, the new discovery is the first time a wild animal has been observed treating open wounds with a substance known to have medicinal properties.

“In the chimpanzee case they used insects and unfortunately it was never found out whether these insects really promote wound healing. Whereas in our case, the orangutan used the plant, and this plant has known medical properties,” said Dr Caroline Schuppli, senior author of the research based at Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Germany.

The team say the findings offer insight into the origins of human wound care—the treatment of which was first mentioned in a medical manuscript dating to 2200 BC.

“It definitely shows that these basic cognitive capacities that you need to come up with a behavior like this…were present at the time of our last common ancestor most likely,” said Schuppli. “So that that reaches back very, very far.”

Writing in the journal Scientific Reports , Schuppli and colleagues report how they made the discovery while working in a research area of a protected rainforest in Indonesia.

The team describe how, while tracking a male Sumatran orangutan called Rakus, they noticed he had a fresh facial wound—probably the result of a scrap with another male. Three days later, Rakus was seen feeding on the stem and leaves of  Fibraurea tinctoria —a type of liana climbing vine.

Then he did something unexpected. “Thirteen minutes after Rakus had started feeding on the liana, he began chewing the leaves without swallowing them and using his fingers to apply the plant juice from his mouth directly on to his facial wound,” the researchers write.

Not only did Rakus repeat the actions, but shortly afterwards he smeared the entire wound with the chewed leaves until it was fully covered. Five days later the facial wound was closed, while within a few weeks it had healed, leaving only a small scar.

The team say the plant used by Rakus is known to contain substances with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, antioxidant, pain-killing and anticarcinogenic properties, among other attributes, while this and related liana species are used in traditional medicine “to treat various diseases, such as dysentery, diabetes and malaria.”

It remains unclear whether Rakus figured the process out for himself or learned it from another orangutan, although it has not been seen in any other individual.

Schuppli added that Rakus appeared to have used the plant intentionally. “It shows that he, to some extent, has the cognitive capacities that he needs to treat the wound with some medically active plants,” she said. “But we really don’t know how much he understands.” 

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In a first, an orangutan was seen treating his wound with a medicinal plant

An orangutan named Rakus hit a rough patch in the summer of 2022. 

Researchers heard a fight between male orangutans in the treetops of a rainforest in Sumatra, Indonesia; a day later, they spotted Rakus sporting a pink wound below his right eyelid. 

A chunk of flesh about the size and shape of a puzzle piece was missing. When Rakus, who is most likely in his 30s, belted out a long call, the researchers noticed another wound inside his mouth. 

Over the next several days, researchers followed Rakus at a distance — and saw something so surprising they wound up reporting it in great detail in the journal Scientific Reports. 

According to their study , published Thursday, Rakus was observed repeatedly chewing on the leaves of a particular liana plant over several days. The climbing vine is not a typical food for orangutans, but it is known to humans as a pain reliever. 

On at least one occasion, Rakus made a paste from the chewed leaves and applied it to his face. It’s the first time an animal has been seen applying medicine to a skin wound. 

“It’s the first documentation of external self-medication — the application of leaves, I would argue, as a poultice, like humans do to treat wounds and pains,” said Michael Huffman, an associate professor at the Wildlife Research Center at Kyoto University in Japan, who was not involved in the new study.

Rakus’ wound never showed signs of becoming infected, and it closed up within a week. 

The discovery is new evidence that orangutans are able to identify and use pain-relieving plants. A growing body of research suggests other animal species also self-medicate, with varying levels of sophistication. 

The researchers behind the study think that great apes’ ability to identify medicines and treat wounds could trace back to a shared ancestor with humans. 

New evidence that orangutans self-medicate

The discovery was possible only because Rakus spends his days in a protected area of rainforest called the Suaq Balimbing research area, in Indonesia’s Gunung Leuser National Park.

Researchers have been observing orangutans there since 1994. Today, about 150 call the area home. Rakus, who was first observed there in 2009, is either a resident or a frequent visitor. 

Scientists often follow an individual orangutan in the area from early morning — when it leaves its night nest — until it builds a new night nest about 12 hours later. 

“We don’t disturb the orangutan,” said an author of the new study, Isabelle Laumer, a primatologist and cognitive biologist at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Germany. “They completely tolerate us following them.” 

Laumer said that researchers had never before observed orangutans in the area self-medicating like Rakus did and that it was not clear how he developed the behavior. 

It’s possible Rakus learned to treat his wound through “individual innovation,” Laumer said, after he accidentally touched a finger to a wound with the pain-relieving leaf juice. Or he may have learned the behavior culturally, from other orangutans, early in life. 

Orangutans learn socially and have been shown to be capable with tools. They develop sophisticated knowledge of foods from their mothers. 

“They learn a lot about, for example, what types of fruit to eat, where to find them, when to find them, when they are ripe, how to process them,” Laumer said. “Some orangutans feed on up to 400 different plants. … This is quite some intensive knowledge that they actually need to acquire.”

Did humans learn about medicinal plants from animals?

Evidence of animal self-medication has mounted in recent decades. 

In the 1960s, the famous primatologist Jane Goodall noticed that chimpanzees in Tanzania were eating whole leaves from a plant later identified as a type of Aspilia shrub. Decades later, Huffman wrote a paper describing how a different population of chimpanzees ate the bitter pith of a particular daisy, but only rarely and when other behaviors suggested they were sick. 

Researchers think chimps developed such behaviors to treat or prevent parasites. 

In the 1990s and the 2000s, a flood of research identified additional examples of self-medication. 

A notable 2008 study of Bornean orangutans documented three females rubbing their bodies with a paste of chewed Dracaena cantleyi plant, which local Indigenous people use to address joint and bone pain. 

Huffman said he thinks all animal species self-medicate to some degree. Researchers have even documented the practice in insects. 

“It shows us that animals have control over their lives,” he said. “That they can behave in ways that are flexible, that are adaptive to certain circumstances that come down to their very survival.”

He theorized that ancient humans derived the ability to identify medicinal plants and substances from close observations of animals. 

“A lot of medicine that humans have used over in our history as a species have come from our close connection with nature and looking to other animals for advice and extrapolating from what we’ve learned,” Huffman said. “I don’t know of any plant that an animal has been documented to be using as medicine that isn’t also used by humans. And I think that it’s the humans who have learned from the animals.”

Laumer said her team’s findings — in a species that is 97% genetically similar to humans — could offer insight into how ancient primates developed their inclination to pursue medicines.

“It’s possible that our last common ancestor already showed similar forms of ointment behavior,” she said.

Laumer added that the new findings also show how much can be learned from orangutans, who are considered critically endangered. The rainforests where Sumatran orangutans live are vanishing as land is converted to agriculture and climate change intensifies wildfires. 

The latest estimates, from 2016, suggest fewer than 14,000 are left .

Evan Bush is a science reporter for NBC News. He can be reached at [email protected].

Orangutan seen using medicinal plants to heal a wound for first time ever

The observation provides a window into how our own ancestors may have developed their natural medicines.

Deep within an Indonesian rainforest, a team of research scientists recorded something that had never been captured before: a Sumatran orangutan they’d affectionately named Rakus carefully treating a nasty gash on his cheek with a plant proven to have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and antioxidant properties.

"Only a few days following this treatment, the terrible wound began healing and within a couple of days, it had closed completely," says Isabelle Laumer, a cognitive biologist and primatologist at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Germany and the lead author of a newly published study describing the event. "[This] is the first observation of a wild animal actually treating his wound precisely with a medical plant."

The observation offers a new perspective on natural healing methods and behaviors and where these inclinations may have originated.

“We often lose sight of the fact that modern medicine is derived from a very ancient system of knowledge that began millions of years ago in a variety of habitats about which our knowledge is only beginning to expand,” says Mary Ann Raghanti, a biological anthropologist and the chair of the anthropology department at Kent State University. “From an evolutionary point of view, this instance provides a window into how our own ancestors may have developed their natural pharmacy.”

The recorded event transpired during the summer of 2022, at the Suaq Balimbing research station within the Gunung Leuser National Park in Sumatra, Indonesia.

The rainforest surrounding the research center is home to the highest density of Sumatran orangutans on the planet. Their habitat has been increasingly destroyed by deforestation , however, requiring more and more of these otherwise solitary creatures to live closer and closer together. Estimates show   that only some 14,600 Sumatran orangutans still exist, and the species are considered critically endangered by the Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute in Washington DC.

Since 1994, these orangutans have resided in or frequented the protected forest around the research center. There, researchers carefully follow, monitor, and record the movements and behaviors of the primates in a non-invasive, observational manner.

"The animals are never disturbed, and, over the decades, have gotten used to having our teams nearby, so they've learned to ignore our presence and they live completely as wild beings," Laumer says.

By observing and sharing the extraordinary behaviors of critically endangered great apes, Laumer and her colleagues hope people realize just how special and human-like these creatures really are and inspire efforts to save them from extinction.

It’s a hope shared by other researchers in the fields of primatology, ethnobotany, and biological and evolutionary anthropology.

Rakus becomes wounded

Rakus has been living in and around the research center since 2009. One June morning in 2022, the researchers there observed that he had suffered a deep gash on his cheek under his right eye. Because he had wandered outside of the research area, no one witnessed how the injury occurred—though the researchers have two working hypotheses.

One is that Rakus fell from a tree and got hit by a branch on the way down. Because Sumatran orangutans spend about 98 percent of their time living, sleeping, and foraging in trees, Laumer says, and because some orangutans can reach up to 300 pounds (Rakus is likely closer to 200 pounds), they sometimes grab onto dead or dying branches that can't hold their weight and plummet 30 feet or more until other branches or the ground breaks their fall.

The other possibility is that Rakus was wounded during a fight with another orangutan. Laumer says that fights within this region of the rainforest are rare but can occur when males try to establish dominance. Rakus was between 30 and 32 years when the injury occurred, she explains, and had only recently developed his flanges—the prominent face cheek pads for which orangutans are known that develop due to an increase in testosterone during sexual maturation.

Laumer says the day before the wound was discovered, Rakus and other orangutans had been “long calling” from the trees—a behavior that frequently occurs when a male establishes dominance, something that also often indicates “fights may be going on.”

How Rakus treated the wound

Regardless of how the injury occurred, the team observed Rakus's wound continuing to fester "and appear quite ghastly" over the next few days, Laumer says. On the third day, the researchers observed him navigating to some climbing plants called   Akar Kuning—botanicals commonly used by humans as treatment for wounds and conditions such as dysentery, diabetes, and malaria.

The team watched Rakus seek out and then eat the plant, which itself was highly unusual behavior. "Our data shows this orangutan population only eats these plants 0.3 percent of the time," Laumer notes.

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If Rakus's wound had become infected or he had a fever, his consumption of this plant could have theoretically helped. It excited the team to consider that he may be using the plant for this purpose, though they were only speculating.

What happened next, however, seemed undeniably deliberate.

"We observed Rakus detach the leaves of the plant and chew them without swallowing," Laumer explains, referring to the Akar Kuning plant. "He then repeatedly put the liquid he extracted from the plant directly onto his wound."

He continued nursing the wound this way for seven minutes and then consumed more of the plant for about 30 minutes.

"It's important to note that he only put the plant's liquid precisely on the wound and he didn't rub it anywhere else on his body," Laumer emphasizes. Afterward, he placed a somewhat solid portion of the leaf over the area, "just like a wound poultice," she says. Incredibly, the next day the team observed him returning to eat the plant again. Three days later, the wound had closed and appeared to be healing nicely. Within a month, its scar was barely noticeable.

Kent State’s Raghanti calls the moment “a remarkable discovery,” but notes, “it isn’t exceptionally surprising given the intelligence of orangutans.”

How Rakus learned to treat a wound

Laumer agrees that these creatures possess exceptional intelligence, and says it makes it harder to speculate how Rakus could have known the plant would heal his face.  

"It could be that he was just feeding on the plant and then accidentally touched his wound with the hand that had been touching it and its pain-relieving properties were immediately felt so he applied it to the area again and again," she says.  

It's also possible that he'd been taught the behavior at a young age by his mother or another orangutan through a practice called peering.  

“A hallmark of primates, and particularly of great apes, is an extended juvenile period which facilitates an extraordinary amount of learning,” explains Raghanti. For their first seven to eight years, mother orangutans care for their offspring intensively, she says, so Rakus could have learned this from her. Migrant adult orangutans have also been observed engaging in peering, so he could have picked up the behavior later in life as well.  

It's also possible that the last common ancestor shard by humans and great apes followed some form of this behavior.

“This new finding highlights the resourcefulness and adaptive intelligence of these animals in their natural environment, contributing to our knowledge of animal behavior, medicinal plant use, and the potential evolutionary origins of human medicine,” says Ina Vandebroek, a noted ethnobotanist and senior lecturer at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica, who was not involved in the study.

Primates have used plants before, but differently

This isn't the first time wild primates have been observed chewing, swallowing, or associating with plants that have therapeutic properties.  

In the early 1960s, for instance, famed primatologist and anthropologist Jane Goodall first described the presence of whole leaves of therapeutic plants in the feces of chimpanzees in Tanzania. Since that time, other primate populations have been observed eating or using plants, insects, or other means to try and clean or soothe their wounds or other ailments.

Anne Pusey, a distinguished professor emerita of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University, says the practice of wild primates swallowing leaves to “trap gut parasites that are then expelled, or chewing plants with known medicinal properties during times of increased risk of disease,” are behaviors that are becoming increasingly well-documented. “But evidence like this for the tending of wounds with potentially biologically active materials is much more tenuous.”  

She acknowledges instances where other wild primates have wiped or cleaned their wounds with plants before, “but the leaves used in those instances were not identified.” She also cites recent research that shows chimpanzees in Gabon rubbing insects in wounds “as a fascinating but incomplete story because the insect and its properties have not yet been identified.”  

Rakus’s behavior “is important because the leaves used have well-known medicinal properties, the application process was long and deliberate, and the wound was seen to heal quite quickly,” she explains. “The fact that this has only been observed once in the study population leaves many questions unanswered about the origin of the behavior, but it adds to the idea that self-medication may have very deep evolutionary roots in our lineage.”

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Orangutan Instinctively Uses Plant to Treat Wound and Even Scientists Are Impressed

T alk about a cool story! CBS News shared some interesting news about an orangutan named Rakus who used a specific plant to treat a wound. The video was shared on Saturday, May 4th and it has people talking.

A researcher in Medan, Indonesia recorded Rakus back in 2022. The orangutan had an injury on his face - an open wound - that he knew needed to be treated. He sought out a specific plant that orangutans don't normally eat, but that people throughout Southeast Asia use to treat wounds. He chewed up the plant and then used his fingers to cover his wound with it, using the plant as an all-natural band-aid! 

Pretty incredible! How did Rakus know which plant to use? CBS News  commenters were also impressed. @KillianKane shared, "How do you think we learned it. Animals are known to eat certain things when sick  or even when they have worms, and it kills the worms." @Atlassian added, "This is basically like watching evolution real time!" 

Related: Busch Gardens in Tampa Welcomes Critically Endangered Baby Orangutan

More About the Research of Rakus

In CBS'  online article  they share, "Previous research has documented several species of great apes foraging for medicines in forests to heal themselves, but scientists hadn't yet seen an animal treat itself in this way." Researchers believe that the orangutan got the wound after fighting with another animal, but within a month of Rakus' treatment, his wound was fully healed! One researcher referred to it as self-medication since the orangutan only applied the to the wound and no other body part.

Although the researchers have been observing orangutans since 1994 in Indonesia's Gunung Leuser National Park this is the first time they've witnessed this behavior in orangutans, though other primates have been recorded using plants to treat themselves. The article gives these examples, " Chimpanzees in multiple locations have been observed chewing on the shoots of bitter-tasting plants to soothe their stomachs. Gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos swallow certain rough leaves whole to get rid of stomach parasites." 

Sadly, orangutans are currently  critically endangered . World Wildlife Fund explains that just a hundred years ago there were more than 230,000 orangutans in total  and that those numbers have rapidly declined leaving only 100,000 Bornean orangutans left. This decline is due the primates being hunted by humans for food, because the monkeys raid crops so they are killed, and to steal babies from mothers to sell into illegal pet trading rings. They also are experiencing a loss of habitat due to human expansion. Another reason is because of their slow reproduction rates - females only give birth every 6-8 years. 

Thankfully researchers, zoos, and conservation teams work diligently to share information about these animals to educate people about them and in efforts to save them. As Maya Angelou said, "When you know better you do better" and hopefully people will understand the importance of saving these orangutans and work to protect these animals so that they do not go extinct.

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May 1, 2024

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Baby orangutan born at Tampa's Busch Gardens via C-section is a rare feat

by Sharon Kennedy Wynne, Tampa Bay Times

Luna loved the ultrasound game. The 26-year-old orangutan at Busch Gardens would come up to the mesh screening that separates the primates from the humans that care for them and happily present her belly.

Dr. Maria Spriggs, chief veterinarian at Busch Gardens, would use that play time to put an ultrasound probe on Luna's belly and track the progress of her pregnancy.

"She really liked to eat the ultrasound gel. She thinks that's really fun," Spriggs said.

Luna gave birth to a female baby orangutan April 13 at the Tampa theme park. It was a rare—if not historic—event: There have only been 11 cesarean sections in the past 20 years of orangutan births in American zoos, out of 139 births of the critically endangered species, according to the Association of Zoos & Aquariums.

A team of nearly two dozen medical professionals were called in for Luna's delivery—not just veterinary but also human doctors who specialize in maternity and newborn care.

They recounted their stories of a remarkable day in the theme park's Animal Care Center when they saved a baby using tools from the maternity ward.

Because humans and great apes are so alike in biology, the theme park called on Dr. Catherine Lynch, a well-regarded Tampa obstetrician-gynecologist, to look at the snapshots they were able to catch from ultrasounds.

On a visit in early April, she was alarmed. The baby was breech, lying bottom-down instead of head-down in the uterus. And, even more alarming, the umbilical chord was underneath her.

"If that had come out first, that would have been catastrophic to the baby," cutting off her oxygen supply, Lynch said.

Lynch, who practices at Tampa General Hospital and also teaches medical students at the University of South Florida, has since the late 1990s assisted in monitoring the pregnant primates at Busch Gardens.

"They have a remarkably similar uterus" to humans, she said.

For safety's sake, Spriggs couldn't put her hand in the enclosure during ultrasounds, so the images were more like snapshots.

"That's where partnering with Dr. Lynch at USF has been key to our prenatal monitoring, because she sees these images all the time," Spriggs said.

Upon seeing the breech danger, Lynch scheduled a C-section, just like she would have with her human patients, timing it as close to the delivery date as possible.

This wasn't the doctor's first great ape delivery. Lynch, who is the wife of former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, has for decades helped with animal wellness checks, which are similar to a woman's annual pelvic exam.

"Once you start to look at things with the ultrasound you go, 'Yep, there's the uterus.' It looks the same," Lynch said. "It's very different from a pig uterus or a dog uterus."

In 2003, she was called in to assist another orangutan. After 40 hours of labor, the delivery wasn't making progress and the exhausted animal was moaning in distress.

"They sedated her and we assembled a team and we didn't know whether the baby was going to be dead or alive," Lynch said. They treated it like a typical C-section surgery, and delivered a healthy baby.

Two years after that, one of the park's original gorillas had gotten pregnant, but was bleeding. Lynch identified it as placenta previa, which can cause severe bleeding during labor and can put mother and baby in danger. She again oversaw a successful C-section.

This year's birth wasn't even the first time Luna needed Lynch and Spriggs to get her through labor. Luna had a previous pregnancy in 2017, and appeared to be progressing well on her own while delivering the baby. But Lynch was called in when keepers noticed Luna was fully dilated and crowning, but seemed confused about what to do next for the delivery.

"So literally one of the keepers and I were down on the floor in the orangutan house demonstrating for her to grab her feet and reassure her that the baby was going to come out," Lynch said. "We were down there showing her what to do and she mimicked what we did. And then the baby came out.

"So add 'Doula to the Great Apes' to my resume."

They were hoping Luna would deliver normally again this time, but the baby didn't change into the head-down position. Lynch showed up April 13 for an ultrasound check, expecting to schedule a C-section for the following Thursday. But Luna was extremely restless and agitated, her keepers said, a possible indication she was going into labor.

Lynch sounded the alarm and a team of anesthesia specialists from the University of Florida, obstetrics and neonatology teams from Tampa General Hospital and Busch Gardens veterinarians filled the park's Animal Care Center.

Anesthesia was administered at 4:30 p.m. that Saturday for what would end up being 90 minutes of tension.

The medical specialists were divided into Team Luna, to take care of labor, delivery and recovery, and Team Baby, to take over after the birth. For the newborn, they had to get the heart rate, breathing and temperature in balance—and they had to wake the baby up, since the mother had been heavily sedated.

A C-section is a fairly quick surgery, Lynch said, though with the baby in the breech position it took a little wiggling to get her out of the mother's cavity and through the incision, "especially when you have arms that are significantly longer than human arms."

When the baby came out at 6:08 p.m., there was a spontaneous cheer in the operating room. The little one was handed off to Team Baby, while Team Luna took over dressing Luna's wounds, using internal stitches so the orangutan wouldn't be tempted to pick at them later.

Dr. Tara Randis, chief of USF's Division of Neonatology who also practices at TGH, had her typical team of nurses and residents on hand that she would have for any high-risk pregnancy.

Because Luna had to be sedated, the baby emerged from the womb fully conked out. Though 3.4 pounds is small for a human baby, it is a normal size for an infant orangutan, Spriggs said. They suctioned out her airway because she was not breathing right away and put in a breathing tube. They gave her a shot in the leg, supplied by the veterinarians, to wake her up and reverse the anesthesia.

She was cold, so they wrapped her in warming blankets, monitored her heart rate and kept her breathing with the tube.

Then the baby performed that adorable reflex all newborns do: Her long fingers emerged from under the warming blankets and grasped the finger of her doctor. And since orangutans are five to seven times stronger than humans, Randis said, "That was one very strong grip." The baby then kept reaching and grasping and grabbed the fingers of all three team members, who let out a cheer of their own.

The following days were spent healing both animals with the goal of getting them back together. The neonatologists stressed that "skin-to-skin" contact and nursing were critical in the bonding process.

Within a few days, mother and child were reunited, and in a heartwarming video posted on social media, Luna can be seen looming large over the tiny newborn, gently lifting her up out of a nest of hay and laying the baby on her shoulder. The baby immediately grips her mother's long facial hair as Luna gently pats her back. They are bonding and doing well, her keepers report.

"It's really remarkable how similar this is," said Randis, who had never participated in a zoo exercise like this. "It reinforced how important the basic things we do to encourage bonding, care and attention are. That nursing, and recognizing the needs of both of them, is the most important part of what we do."

2024 Tampa Bay Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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