One of my ALL-TIME favorite animals is the orangutan. These “red apes” are one of our closest living relatives. After recently observing a mother and baby I found out that they even act like us too! For instance: Did you know that mosquitoes bother orangutans just like they do humans and they will use branches like fly swatters to swish them away?
Just like a young child, this orangutan was enjoying himself by playing with this bottle cap (don’t worry; it was given to him as enrichment by his keepers). *** Did you know that baby orangutans cry when they’re hungry, whimper when they’re hurt and smile at their mothers?
In captivity, for security and comfort, orangutans will even cover themselves up with a blanket!*** Did you know that in the wild when it rains or the sun is hot an orangutan will hold a leafy branch or two over its head to protect itself from getting wet or overheated?
Orangutans are primarily arboreal and spend the majority of their lives up in the trees. *** Did you know that an orangutan arms can have a reach of more than 8 feet!? At this time orangutans can still be found swinging around the trees in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra.
For more information about orangutans please visit www.stlzoo.org