School students love to study orangutans. And, it’s really important they are given the opportunity to do this, and to gain an understanding of these incredible animals.
Today I thought I’d share some interesting facts about orangutans, many of which were first shared with my by students involved in the DeforestACTION program.
The term orangutan translates in English to ‘the People of the Forest’. This isn’t just some token term used for convenience. Orangutans are a lot more like us than most people think. For example, did you know:
- Like humans, orangutans create and use tools designed to complete complex jobs – they even create umbrellas from leaves when it’s raining
- They have all the same senses as humans including excellent colour vision, touch, taste, hearing and smell
- They have thousands of facial expressions, including readable micro-expressions with the same number of facial muscles that create them as humans
- They exhibit all the same emotions including love, anger, joy, sadness, elation, depression
- They form lasting friendships and diverse relationships
- They can learn to count, , learn colors and solve multi-layered (complex) problems
- Orangutans have the same number of hairs as humans. Their hair is much thicker, and grows much longer all over than ours, but placement and number of folicles is much the same
- They have the same bloody types – scientists believe we will soon be able to share organs with orangutans -note the use of the word share – not “take”
- Orangutans have 32 teeth, the same number as humans
- They are Susceptible to human diseases and ailments, and respond to many human medications
- Orangutans have a very similar cultural development process to humans, passing certain innovations, learnings and behaviors down through generations, just as we do
- Female orangutans engage in social grooming more often than males – no comment
- They have the same gestation period as humans, and infants are nursed by their mothers for up to six years, and can stay with them into their teens
- Baby orangutans cry when they’re hungry or when they need their mothers just like baby humans
- Orangutans have the same average lifespan as humans who do not have access to modern medical intervention
- They go through a period of ‘sexual maturity’ very similar to puberty in humans, and females become fertile at roughly the same age as humans
What do you think it will take before we as a species are capable of recognizing their unique and important similarities, and ‘assign’ them similar basic rights? I’d love to hear your thoughts?
Aside from the fact orangutans are majestic, wonderful and truly inspiring beings, they are also crucial to the success of the rainforest eco-system. Orangutans are a ‘keystone species” – which means they have a disproportionately large effect on other life they share the forest with.
They are the largest tree dwelling animal on earth, spreading seeds, biodiversity, fertilizer and macrobiotics essential for the development of rich rainforest. If we take them out of the equation, the eco-system will be seriously harmed.
In the last century, 92% of the orangutans have been killed by humans.
They are butchered to make way for palm oil plantations. Mothers are shot (often in the eyes) so the babies can be stolen and sold for illegal wildlife trades (babies are small enough to transport and can’t fight back). They are left homeless through deforestation, and they are tortured and abused in rotten cages, circuses, and even shaved and used for pornography and prostitution.
If you want to make a difference, visit www.deforestaction.org. Empower your students to learn about, and take action to help the orangutan and keep them in the forests where they belong.
That the Orangutan is an animal of the human form, inside as well as outside: That he has the human intelligence, as much as can be expected in an animal living without civility or arts: That he has a disposition of mind, mild, docile, and humane: That he has the sentiments and affections peculiar to our species, such as the sense of modesty, of honour, and of justice; and likewise an attachment of love and friendship to one individual, so strong in some instances, that the one friend will not survive the other.
Lord Monboddo, 1774
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