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ORANGUTANS

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Orangutan
(Pongo spp.)

In the Malay language the word "orang" means "person." The word "hutan" means "of the forest." When combined they create orangutan or "person of the forest." A variety of forms of tool use have been recorded, such as using leaves as napkins or gloves, using items to extract insects from trees or seeds from spiny fruits, and making “kiss-squeak” noises with leaves or their hands. Scientists have documented that geographically separate orangutan populations show evidence of cultural variation in their behavior.

References
Shumaker, R. & Beck, B. (2003) Primates in Question. Smithsonian Institution Press: Washington, D.C.

Taxonomy credited to Groves, C. P. (2001) Primate Taxonomy. Smithsonian Institution Press: Washington, D.C.

Population numbers are from Butynski, T.M. (2001) Africa’s Great Apes. In: Great Apes and Humans: the Ethics of Coexistence. Beck, B., Stoinski, T.S., Hutchins, M., Maple, T.L., Norton, B., Rowan, A., Stevens, E.F. and Arluke, A. (eds.) Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. pp.3-56.

IUCN SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (2004) Orangutan Population & Habitat Viability Assessment Report, Jakarta, Indonesia.

van Schaik, Carel P., Ancrenaz, M., Borgen, G., Galdikas, B., Knett, C.D., Singleton, I., Suzuki, A., Utami, S.S., & Merrill, M. Orangutan Cultures and the Evolution of Material Culture. Science. Vol. 299. January 3, 2003

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