Since we've been at Duke, we've been wanting to visit the primate center, and the other day we finally got our chance. There, we saw all different kinds of monkeys and discovered how fascinating they are. Most of all, we liked the orangutans because of their name and appearance. We especially fell in love with one of them who kept giving us attention and possibly flirting with us. We plan to return soon to visit him.
The All About Orangutans website says that the word orangutan means "man of the forest." Orangutans' habitat are the trees of southeast Asia. They use their longs arms to swing from tree to tree. Orangutans have a large head and a large body, but are only 2/3 the size of a gorilla. Their body is mostly covered with long hair that is reddish-brown. They are similar to humans because they share the same senses and capabilities.
For more information about orangutans, please visit the following websites.
| Orangutans | Gorillas | |
|---|---|---|
| Hair | Redish-brown | Brownish |
| Thumb | Opposable | Opposable |
| Male Weight | 200 lbs | 400 lbs |
| Life Style | Life Span |
|---|---|
| Captivity | 50 years |
| Wild | 30-45 years |