Orangutans

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cranial characteristics.
There is a great deal of individual variety in the orangutan. "Each
orang-utan had a distinct personality and in dealing with such highly
intelligent animals in captivity, the keeper's knowledge of the individual was
probably more important than the knowledge of the overall behaviour patterns "
(Markham, 1980). Orangutan males, however, appear to be totally intolerant of
one another, especially the Borneo males who are even aggressive towards females
and infants. Male orangutans' participation in social groups is limited to
sexual "consortship" with females. However, the Sumatran males tend to stay with
females for a longer period of time usually until the birth of the infant.
They may stay longer with their partner because of the presence of large
predators absent in the Borneo habitat. The orangutan has a menstrual cycle of
29-30 days, menstruation lasting 3-4 days. The Gestation period lasts slightly
less than nine months. Offspring pass through ...

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