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Parental Influences On The Behavior Of A Juvenile Bornean Orangutan (Pongo Pygmaeus), Raechel Mcumber, Sarah Robarts, Gregory B. Cunningham

The Review: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Research

Here we discuss the influence of the mother and father on the behaviors of a juvenile Bornean Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus). This species is known for being solitary and asocial, in that males and females do not live together, while living in their natural environment. However, adults are usually housed together in zoo settings. We observed a juvenile and both of her parents in their zoo enclosure and recorded the play and parentally influenced behaviors, such as swinging and eating, performed by the juvenile. It was found that the juvenile played and performed parentally influenced behaviors significantly more while in …