Orangutans yawn contagiously when they see others yawn
For the first time, contagious yawning has now also been found in a species that roams its territory mostly in solitude and is less frequently engaged in social interactions: the orangutan. Publication in Nature Scientific Reports by an international.....»»
Scientists unlock mysteries of orangutan communication
In a study published in PeerJ, scientists have revealed the intricate vocal patterns of Bornean orangutans, shedding new light on the complexities of their communication. Titled "Vocal Complexity in the Long Calls of Bornean Orangutans," the research.....»»
Report: There are no good or bad oil crops, only good and bad practices
When shopping, have you considered the social and environmental impacts of your vegetable oil purchases? Most products offer limited information on these effects. Labels like "No Palm Oil"—linked to environmental damage and threats to orangutans—.....»»
Malaysia plans to introduce "orangutan diplomacy": minister
Malaysia intends to gift orangutans to palm oil-purchasing countries as part of an initiative similar to China's panda diplomacy, the commodities minister said on Wednesday......»»
How touchscreens and eye trackers can tell us something about the dating life of orangutans
Aesthetic attraction plays a big role in orangutans' mate choice, behavioral biologist and Ph.D. candidate Tom Roth has observed. But to discover just how big that role is, more research is needed into the emotions of the great apes......»»
How food availability could catalyze cultural transmission in wild orangutans
The proverb "necessity is the mother of invention" has been used to describe the source from which our cultural evolution springs. After all, need in times of scarcity has forced humans to continually invent new technologies that have driven the rema.....»»
Audible yawns in a non-human species may convey important social information
Most of us are familiar with yawn contagion, which is the act of spontaneous yawning when someone nearby yawns, often but not always audibly. For humans, yawning can emanate from fatigue or boredom, and either seeing or hearing someone else yawn may.....»»
Orangutan male success not due to dominance alone, study finds
In primates, the biggest, bossiest males usually get to father the most offspring; and for a long time it was thought that this rule applied to orangutans too. Male orangutans openly compete; and it's the older males with hefty cheek pads, known as ".....»»
Killing still remains a threat to Bornean orangutans
University of Queensland research has found despite considerable conservation efforts, the illegal killing of critically endangered orangutans on Borneo may be an ongoing threat to the species......»»
Migrant orangutans learn which foods are good to eat by watching the locals, study shows
Orangutans are dependent on their mothers longer than any other non-human animal, nursing until they are at least six years old and living with her for up to three years more, learning how to find, choose, and process the exceedingly varied range of.....»»
Wildfire smoke threatens already endangered orangutans
For months following peatland wildfires in Borneo, the behavior and voices of critically endangered orangutans change, according to a new study led by a researcher from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology......»»
Here today, gone tomorrow: How humans lost their body hair
Orangutans, mice, and horses are covered with it, but humans aren't. Why we have significantly less body hair than most other mammals has long remained a mystery. But a first-of-its-kind comparison of genetic codes from 62 animals is beginning to tel.....»»
Orangutan communication sheds light on human speech origins
New research from The University of Warwick has revealed that orangutans, the most arboreal of the great apes, produce consonant-like calls more often and of greater variety than their African ground-dwelling cousins (gorillas, bonobos and chimpanzee.....»»
Orangutans: Could "half-Earth" conservation save the red ape?
Half-Earth is a proposal by the late naturalist and "father of biodiversity", EO Wilson. In its original context, it proposes that half of the Earth's surface should be designated a human-free nature reserve to preserve biodiversity......»»
Ecological continuity between orangutans and extinct ancestors highlights their dependence on intact rainforests
An international research team led by Prof. Hervé Bocherens of the Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Paleoenvironment at the University of Tübingen and his Ph.D. student Sophie G. Habinger has reconstructed the habitat of the ancestors of.....»»
M2 MacBook Pro review roundup: Good, but wait for the M2 MacBook Air
Apple's 13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 ships on Friday and early reviews have arrived with what appears to be a collective yawn.The 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar and M2 processorThe 13-inch MacBook Pro with an M2 processor was announced alongside t.....»»
Orangutans instinctively use hammers to strike and sharp stones to cut
Untrained, captive orangutans can complete two major steps in the sequence of stone tool use: striking rocks together and cutting using a sharp stone, according to a study by Alba Motes-Rodrigo at the University of Tübingen in Germany and colleagues.....»»
Orangutan mothers help offspring to learn
When it comes to motherhood, orangutans are animals of distinction. An orangutan mother will stay in close contact with her baby for up to nine years—longer than almost all mammals other than humans. Much like humans, orangutans rely on their mothe.....»»
Tourist selfies risk passing deadly viruses onto critically endangered orangutans
COVID-19 not only affects humans; our closest relatives, the great apes, are also at risk. A team of experts, including Oxford Brookes University researchers say that jungle trekkers could be risking the lives of Critically Endangered species of oran.....»»
Savannas challenge preconceived notions of chimpanzee behavior
While humans are able to survive in arid climates, great apes need swaths of lush forest in Africa (bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas) or Southeast Asia (orangutans) to thrive, except for some innovative savanna chimpanzees......»»
Testing times: Borneo orangutans get COVID swabs
Dozens of critically endangered orangutans in Malaysia have been tested for the coronavirus, with vets in protective suits undertaking the tricky task of giving the apes nasal swabs......»»