Article 6
Topic: Animal Behavior
Author: Sindya N. Bhanoo
Date: October 22, 2012
This article informs the reader about the behavior of male orangutans to mate. Scientists found out that it is the males who navigate rivers and mountains and mate with females outside their local populations. Researchers also climbed trees to get hair samples from abandoned nests and used the hair, along with blood and fecal samples, to look at the ape's genealogy. There are only 6,600 orangutans left in Sumatra and genetics study reveals that their population is not as isolated. Sumatran orangutans build new nests each night to sleep in. By look at their mitochondrial DNA, they found out that orangutan females settle close to their mothers. Human activity like deforestation is still a threat to their development. Their region is well suited for palm oil plantations, and companies are eager to utilize this land for the orangutans.
I decided to choose this article to know more about the behavior of animals, especially orangutans. It is fascinating to know that they move places to find their mate, and scientists were able to find this out. It is also interesting that female orangutans stay close to their mothers, and that Sumatran orangutans build new nests each night to sleep in. It also concerns me that human actions like deforestation can threat their species because the trees that provide habitat for them are being cut down. Without trees, oxygen production will decrease too, and without oxygen, some animals will be die, leading to their extinction.
Author: Sindya N. Bhanoo
Date: October 22, 2012
This article informs the reader about the behavior of male orangutans to mate. Scientists found out that it is the males who navigate rivers and mountains and mate with females outside their local populations. Researchers also climbed trees to get hair samples from abandoned nests and used the hair, along with blood and fecal samples, to look at the ape's genealogy. There are only 6,600 orangutans left in Sumatra and genetics study reveals that their population is not as isolated. Sumatran orangutans build new nests each night to sleep in. By look at their mitochondrial DNA, they found out that orangutan females settle close to their mothers. Human activity like deforestation is still a threat to their development. Their region is well suited for palm oil plantations, and companies are eager to utilize this land for the orangutans.
I decided to choose this article to know more about the behavior of animals, especially orangutans. It is fascinating to know that they move places to find their mate, and scientists were able to find this out. It is also interesting that female orangutans stay close to their mothers, and that Sumatran orangutans build new nests each night to sleep in. It also concerns me that human actions like deforestation can threat their species because the trees that provide habitat for them are being cut down. Without trees, oxygen production will decrease too, and without oxygen, some animals will be die, leading to their extinction.