Research roundup ⭐

A recent study has explored whether orangutans perceive and respond differently to male and female humans. This research is important because, although most wild orangutans will never encounter humans, those in captive or semi-wild environments do interact with humans regularly. The study suggests that orangutans might have different reactions based on the gender of the human involved. For example, they may feel more comfortable with one gender over the other, or their behaviour might change depending on whether they interact with a male or female caregiver. Understanding these subtle dynamics can help us develop better strategies for supporting orangutan wellbeing at Sepilok.

Surrounded by a diverse range of luscious flora, the orangutans in the Sepilok-Kabili Reserve have access to a vast variety of plants which our team have observed them eating, sleeping on, using as tools and even to heal! Research documenting the use of natural remedies to self-medicate in wild orangutans was published in 2008 and 2017 but this behaviour had not been recorded on film until recently, when a wild Sumatran orangutan called Rakus was filmed chewing leaves and applying the residue to a wound on his face. The plant used, a species of Liana, is known to have healing properties that reduce pain, swelling and the risk of infection. This is the first documented case of active wound treatment by a wild animal and will provide new insights into the origins of our own wound care.

This review paper looks at the effects of monoculture (the practice of growing one crop species in a field at a time) on endangered and critically endangered great apes and the things that need to change if we want to save these incredible species from extinction. Published in Frontiers in Conservation Science by Erik Meijaard et al, 2023