Sumatran Orangutans Showcase New Skills: Fishing Honey, Scooping Fruit Pulp
Orangutans in Sumatra have demonstrated remarkable adaptability, adding two new skills to their repertoire: scooping pulpy food from razor-sharp fruits and fishing honey from tiny termite nests. These behaviours, passed down to their offspring, offer valuable insights into human cultural evolution, according to scientists.
Orangutans, known for their complex tool use, have expanded their skillset. In Sumatra, they've learned to carefully scoop out the pulpy flesh from the sharp, spiky fruits of the Durio zibethinus tree, a feat previously thought unique to humans. This behaviour is passed down to their young, indicating cultural transmission.
In another impressive display, these great apes have started fishing honey from tiny termite nests. They use a tool, often a stick, to reach into the nest and extract the sweet reward. This behaviour, too, is learned from their elders, showcasing their ability to adapt and innovate.
These new behaviours in Sumatran orangutans provide further evidence of their sophisticated problem-solving skills and cultural learning. By observing these great apes, scientists gain insights into the origins of human cultural behaviours, highlighting our shared evolutionary history.
