Did you know that orangutans make pillows for themselves… inside of their nests? No? Well, I bet you knew that they are masters at umbrella making, right? Or that they greet each other differently depending on what group they’re a part of? For more wonder and sense of connection to an ancient ancestor, read on!
To be real with you, I didn’t have a clue about those things either. (Pillows? Really?) But researchers have been following these great apes and have recently reported some fascinating discoveries about their habits that seem rather familiar to our own.
So without further ado, let’s swing into this edition of Saturday’s Around the World and head into Borneo (the third largest island in the world) 1 to hang out with some of our closest relatives.
Source: Jami Tarris
Orangutans can only be found living in two areas of the world: the islands of Sumatra and Borneo in Southeast Asia. So chances are high that you haven’t had the chance to interact with these amazing creatures outside of an enclosure.
This short documentary below, Person of the Forest, was directed by Melissa Lesh and Tim Laman and is set against the gorgeous scenery of Gunung Palung National Park in Borneo. This beautiful film gives us a fresh look into the everyday lives and traditions of these apes that we share 97% of our DNA with! 2
Actually, we’re more connected to orangutans than just through our DNA…
Two words: Palm oil.
They briefly spoke about the devastating effects that this industry has had on the orangutan population in the video above, but do you know why this is? Palm oil is put into everything! To learn about some of the ways you can make better choices in your purchases check out this article.
Make the World Better with Your Next Run to the Grocery Store!
How can you help save the world without actually having to change your life much? It’s easy! We’ll show you how.
Read Article Watch Video Listen to PodcastHelp from the Sky!
The organization, Orangutan Nest Watch, employs a drone-based approach to protect the limited habitat the endangered orangutans have available. The organization flies drones over a spread of forest and collects images that they’ve uploaded to a public site where you can indicate if we think one of their nests are present. (Aside from being super helpful, it’s actually quite a fun way to spend a few moments!) 4
Finally, here’s a quick synopsis of their work!
Stay open to new possibilities!
- Sam
“No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.” — Albert Einstein
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Notes:
- “Borneo.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 17 Oct. 2016. Web. 15 May 2018. <https://www.britannica.com/place/Borneo-island-Pacific-Ocean>. ↩
- “NIH-funded Scientists Publish Orangutan Genome Sequence.” National Institutes of Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 08 Sept. 2015. Web. 14 May 2018. <https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-funded-scientists-publish-orangutan-genome-sequence>. ↩
- “Person of the Forest in Vimeo Staff Picks.” Vimeo. Melissa Lesh, 21 Apr. 2018. Web. 10 May 2018. <https://vimeo.com/channels/staffpicks/265900469>. ↩
- Whittaker, Sarah. “Researchers Need Help to Save Orangutans With Drones.” Drone Below. N.p., 22 Mar. 2018. Web. 15 May 2018. <https://dronebelow.com/2018/03/22/orangutan-nest-watch/>. ↩
- “Orangutan Nest Watch.” Vimeo. Matt Jarvis, 12 May 2018. Web. 15 May 2018. <https://vimeo.com/258662456>. ↩
