Publication details
Two cases of mother-infant cannibalism in orangutans
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2009 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Primates |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Web | http://www.springerlink.com/content/b5835l2648720420/ |
| Field | Zoology |
| Keywords | Cannibalism; Orangutan; Reintroduction; Stress; Primate tourism; PONGO-PYGMAEUS; CHIMPANZEES; REHABILITATION; UGANDA; ABELII |
| Description | Observations of ape cannibalism have to this point been limited to chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) where it is associated with infanticide and consumption by unrelated individuals (Watts and Mitani, Primates 41(4):357-365, 2000). Here we report for the first time observations of two unrelated female Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) cannibalizing the remains of their infants on different occasion, a behavior never before reported in any ape species. The two orangutans were wild-born rehabilitated individuals, and had been reintroduced to an area hosting a largely unregulated primate tourism industry and experienced restricted ranging conditions. Though it is possible that this is a strategy to regain energy and nutrients or a result of individual history, comparative data suggest that this is an aberrant behavior which may be linked to environmental stressors within the area. |
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