One of the biggest privileges of being a primatologist is spending time in remote locations with monkeys and apes, living near these animals in their habitats and experiencing their daily lives. …
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IMAGE: A male orangutan eating non-fruit vegetation instead of the fruit orangutans prefer on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. view more
Credit: Kristana Parinters Makur/Tuanan Orangutan Research Project
Wild orangutans are known for their ability to survive food shortages, but scientists have made a surprising finding that highlights the need to protect the habitat of these critically endangered primates, which face rapid habitat destruction and threats linked to climate change.
Scientists found that the muscle mass of orangutans on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia was significantly lower when less fruit was available. That s remarkable because orangutans are thought to be especially good at storing and using fat for energy, according a Rutgers-led study in the journal