The Orangutans: Their Evolution, Behavior, and Future

by Gisela Kaplan, Leslie J. Rogers

In this eye-opening book, two experts on animal communication paint a compassionate picture of the species of great apes that behaves most like us. Blending the work of other scientists with their own extensive research in orangutan behavior, Kaplan and Rogers give rare insight into the lives, and the plight, of these peaceful, intelligent creatures. They provide an amazing account of orangutan behaviors, from their remarkable mothering skills to their ways of communication. Interspersed throughout are charming tales of some of the orangutans the authors have met and befriended. The authors also discuss the uncertain fate of these gentle forest dwellers, whose jungle habitat is visibly dwindling day by day. Illustrated throughout, The Orangutans is the first book to focus entirely on these remarkable primates and their relationship to humans in the evolutionary tree.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals

200 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Dyfan Dyfans Dyfanson]

This was so devastating

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Orangutans they are just like Homo Sapiens and other species. They do evoluted from millions of years ago. They shared an ancestor 2 / 5 million years ago and went extenct because of the climate change. More seasonal accurated, wetter and wormer places appeared. Deciduous forests took a place  on evergreen ones.
Orangutans have been migrated from Asian mainland crossing the land bridge to Borneo and Sumatra. This land bridge used to exist million of years ago 2. But not anymore because of the rapidly change od the shape of the land.
The strong dietary adaptability was a good reason to help orangutans from going extinct after their migrant to the new land.
The Genetic difference between more than one separate population refer to the differences of the inherent genes. Genes are passed on from generation to another .carrying the information that influence the individual develop and function . If the differences accured only in one generation or two. It will not be enough to make the different species and make the two different species separate from each other and be able not to produce new offspring with each other
Scientists came with a conclusion that when whales diverged from mammals. That when the time that used as a reference point to start the molecular clock.
Because Mitochondrial DNA accumulated mutations faster than nuclear DNA. Then Mitochondrial DNA is better for comparing populations that may have been separated for relatively short periods of time
They are a mix from enginers by building a nest on the trees and tool using and from an acrobatic because of the brain development of the way they managed to move heavy weight on the trees
We can differ champanzees from Gorillas from orangutans not by who is more intelegnce but by how much problem they can solve
Great apes are farther removed from us than any suphisticated birds. Great apes may learn how to use sign language. But birds can actually talk like human say. But we still don't know the right ability of the great apes

[Stephanie Froebel · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful introduction to the complex life of orangutans. This is a good book to start with if you want to go more into the science and conservation of orangutans, spanning from behavior, learning, evolution, and more. The authors do a wonderful job at incorporating nuance into their discussion, weighing different views and findings.

I wish more people found an interest in science-based books like this. For this, to only have 13 reviews is a shame for such dedicated writing and research.

This is only the beginning for me and my look into orangutans. Very exciting and promising.

[Sheena James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very articulate indeed. It has a romantic tone, but scientific in another way. I gained full inspiration from this book. Very lovely, and sad but happy as well. You would want to meet an orang-utan, by reading this.