Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Why are orangutans so like us?

Chimps are meant to be our nearest relative, yet from whistling for fun to coming top in the IQ stakes, orang-utans seem even more like humans (Image: F1 Online / Rex)
Chimps are meant to be our nearest relative, yet from whistling for fun to coming top in the IQ stakes, orangutans seem even more like humans.

Of the three great apes - orangutans, gorillas and chimpanzees - orangutans have always proved the most difficult to study in the wild. Reaching their habitat is arduous and dangerous because of the humidity and the heat, and the terrain they favor is often infested with leeches, mosquitoes, snakes, crocodiles, and in Sumatra, tigers.

A related editorial: We stand to lose that most human of apes

at

1 comment:

  1. redapesMarch 12, 2009 at 12:34 AM

    Orangutans are critically endangered in the wild. I'd like to invite you and your readers to visit the Orangutan Outreach website to learn more about them and see how you can help them!

    Maybe you'd like to adopt a baby?

    Best wishes, Rich

    Richard Zimmerman
    Director, Orangutan Outreach
    http://redapes.org
    Reach out and save the orangutans!
    Facebook Cause: http://causes.com/redapes

    ReplyDelete