Orangutans Swing Through Trees Like Acrobats

The chances of falling and of dying may increase for the primates due to logging, which the scientists say is encroaching into the Sumatran orangutan's habitat. Nearby logging activities can cause already unstable tree branches to vibrate, for example.

Logging can also push these tree specialists into unsuitable territories, such as "areas of forest that do not have many of the foods they prefer or that already have large orangutan populations, but it might also mean that they are pushed into plantations, such as for palm oil, where they come into conflict with the farmers."

Demand for palm oil has dramatically increased in recent years, because it is a cheap alternative to once prevalent trans fats.

The Sumatran Orangutan Society points out that the public can take steps to save orangutans from extinction by avoiding timber products that have not been sustainably produced, using recycled paper, avoiding purchase of tropical hardwoods (like teak and mahogany), and by encouraging local markets to carry products using sustainable palm oil.

"Now that we know more about how they move through the trees and the unique way that they adapt to challenges in their environment, we can better understand their needs," Thorpe concluded. "This could help with reintroducing rescued animals to the forests and efforts to conserve their environment."

Related Links:

Sumatran Orangutan Society

HowStuffWorks.com: Rainforests

Orangutan Language Project