Why do orangutans leave the trees? Terrestrial behavior among wild Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii) at Tuanan, Central Kalimantan

American Journal of Primatology
Alison AshburyMaria A van Noordwijk

Abstract

Orangutans (genus Pongo) are the largest arboreal mammals, but Bornean orangutans (P. pygmaeus spp.) also spend time on the ground. Here, we investigate ground use among orangutans using 32,000 hr of direct focal animal observations from a well-habituated wild population of Bornean orangutans (P. p. wurmbii) living in a closed-canopy swamp forest at Tuanan, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Ground use did not change with increasing observation time of well-habituated individuals, suggesting it was not an artifact of observer presence. Flanged males spent the most time on the ground (ca. 5% of active time), weaned immatures the least (around 1%). Females and immatures descended mainly to feed, especially on termites, whereas flanged males traveled more while on the ground. Flanged males may travel more inconspicuously, and perhaps also faster, when moving on the ground. In addition, orangutans engaged in ground-specific behavior, including drinking from and bathing in swamp pools. Supplementary records from 20 ground-level camera traps, totaling 3986 trap days, confirmed the observed age-sex biases in ground use at Tuanan. We conclude that ground use is a natural part of the Bornean orangutan behavioral repertoire, however it remai...Continue Reading

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Citations

Oct 22, 2016·Journal of Human Evolution·Sandra A HeldstabKarin Isler
Mar 27, 2018·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Karen B Strier
Jul 22, 2018·Primates; Journal of Primatology·Susan M CheyneDavid A Ehlers Smith
Mar 7, 2021·Current Biology : CB·Herman PontzerStephen R Ross
Apr 13, 2021·The Anatomical Record : Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology·Christine M HarperAdam D Sylvester
Aug 27, 2021·Journal of Human Evolution·Christine M HarperAdam D Sylvester

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