Desilets has described the three great apes as such: “If you give a chimpanzee a screwdriver, he’ll break it; if you give a gorilla a screwdriver, he’ll toss it over his shoulder; but if you give an orangutan a screwdriver, he’ll open up his cage and walk away.”. Sumatran orangutans are known to form closer social bonds than their Bornean sister species. Tasikoki has 2 resident orangutans, Bento and Is, and they are a full time job on their own. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Want to know new findings in Zoology? Orangutans have been featured in literature and art since at least the 18th century, particularly in works which comment … Once they finally venture out on their own, orangutans continue to develop their resourcefulness, putting the … Efforts to measure the intelligence of apes -- our closest living relatives -- have shown them to have remarkable thinking abilities. Tasikoki has 2 resident orangutans, Bento and Is, and they are a full time job on their own. One captive orangutan was taught how to chip a stone hand-axe. This How Smart Are Orangutans? Lu Gao shares some amazing facts about these incredibly intelligent great apes from Asia. The question is why are they so smart. ← How smart are orangutans? Create and share a new lesson based on this one. Chantek had not only learned the power of a word—that people were quick to give in for a bathroom break—but had also learned how to lie. But it’s not just their striking red hair that makes orangutans unique among our great ape cousins. Like humans, orangutans… Continue Reading. Along with humans, orangutans belong to the Hominidae family tree, which stretches back 14 million years. Yet just how smart and inventive they can be continues to surprise us. But orangutan intelligence goes far beyond jungle survival. The IUCN Red List classifies both orangutan species as critically endangered. Why do you think thi... 3 bizarre (and delightful) ancient theories about bird migration. Lu Gao shares some amazing facts about these incredibly intelligent great apes from Asia. Orangutans (genus Pongo) are great apes native to Indonesia and Malaysia.They are found in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra, but during the Pleistocene they ranged throughout Southeast Asia and South China.Classified in the genus Pongo, orangutans were originally considered to be one species.From 1996, they were divided into two species: the Bornean orangutan (P. pygmaeus, with … In fact, they are susceptible to human diseases like tuberculosis and hepatitis B, and also are candidates for cardiovascular disease in their later years. The experiences of the researchers at Camp Leakey also helps flesh out the orangutan intelligence profile. Orangutans live on two different large islands, Borneo and Sumatra. Your name and responses will be shared with TED Ed. Want a daily email of lesson plans that span all subjects and age groups? Aside from the fact that in the wild orangutan moms actually teach their offspring things (like nest building and foods not to eat), they can also watch people and learn how to accomplish such tasks as sawing wood, applying insect repellent, use soap, and adopt language (like miming or sign language—orangutans don’t have the physical ability to speak like we do). Sumatran Orangutans are only found throughout the northern parts of the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. Much like humans, orangutans learn by watching. They use a variety of sophisticated tools and construct elaborate sleeping nests each night from branches and foliage. It is thought, therefore, that they consist of two different species. Lets see what make Orangutans so special! Orangutans are among the smartest creatures on Earth. Established in 1971, the camp is in Borneo, one of two native habitats of orangutans (the other being Sumatra). But it’s not just their striking red hair that makes orangutans unique among our great ape cousins. By the age of four, Chantek was improvising words when he couldn’t find or didn’t know the right one. Chimpanzees can count and add numbers. In lab experiments, scientists have found that, when given a choice between tools, orangutans and chimpanzees chose the correct tool to get a reward an hour later. Do we have to mention how smart this Orangutan is? Even Vitaly himself seems like he is really surprised by the response! Tasikoki has 2 resident orangutans, Bento and Is, and they are a full time job on their own. Reading the list of what those hairy apes can learn might make you feel like not-such-a-great ape. They, like people, aren’t always born with the answers—but these creatures are sensational learners. Orangutans are so Smart, that it seems Sad, when a Mother abandons her little one. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Teachers, save “ATW Indonesia - How smart are orangutans?” to assign it to your class. Lets see what make Orangutans so special! TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. The male ape did this by hanging over the water from a tree branch and stabbing a long pole … Features of an Orangutang Educate Yourself - Orangutangs have orange- reddish hair - They're 7 times stronger than a human - Some orangutans have throat sacs which make their voices project louder and farther Orangutangs aren't the only animals at risk Making Is and Bento Work for Their Food. In the wild orangutans would spend about 70-80% of their time searching for food. If you’ve ever watched the orangutan in action, you might sense these primates are not just zoo animals—and you’re right, as they share almost 97 percent of the same genetic material as humans. Of all primates, humans have the heaviest brain by far, averaging 1,250 g. Second comes the gorilla with a brain weight of approximately 500 g. Thanks for another Educational, as well as thought provoking Hub. Then again, maybe we really don’t want to know what they know…. Orangutans share 97% similar DNA with humans, and their name means “person of the forest” in Malay. They also display remarkable foresight , planning , and cognition . A Malay word for “person of the forest”, the Sumatran Orangutans are one of mans closest relatives on the planet, and around the size of a large human child being. They have to be challenged on a daily basis and kept active, so they don’t get bored in their enclosure. But it’s not just their striking red hair that makes orangutans unique among our great ape cousins. This video really does show how smart Orangutans can really be! Along with humans, orangutans belong to the Much like ourselves, young orangutans involuntarily mimic the facial expressions and emotions of their playmates, with behaviors that closely parallel human smiling and laughter. This is absolutely amazing! Click Register if you need to create a free TED-Ed account. not just their striking red hair that makes orangutans unique among our great ape cousins. Orangutans belong to the Hominidae family tree, like humans. Does great ape sociality have anything to do with it? Along with humans, orangutans belong to the Hominidae family tree, which stretches back 14 million years. That guy running for President…. Despite their differences, both orangutan species are threatened with extinction. Like other high primates (chimpanzees, gorillas, you), orangutans use tools. How smart are Orangutans? Measuring intelligence is really subjective: Remember that guy who cut you off in traffic for no apparent reason? Orangutans are among the few animal species with a sense of self. Video is suitable for 6th - 12th Grade. Research in controlled environments has shown that orangutans are self-aware, being one of the few species to recognize their own reflections . There are two listening comprehension exercises (gap-fill and True/False) and a vocabulary exercise (crossword puzzle). Tasikoki has 2 resident orangutans, Bento and Is, and they are a full time job on their own. One of the most important reasons to even have intelligence is to get something out of it, or to get out of potentially problematic situations—and orangutans do this well. Gorillas, for example, are able to communicate with sign language. Here’s a popular video making the web rounds right now: An orangutan laughs at a magic trick: This orangutan may have been fooled by this trick, but the facts are, orangutans are no fools. They have to be challenged on a daily basis and kept active, so they don’t get bored in their enclosure. They have to be challenged on a daily basis and kept active, so they don’t get bored in their enclosure. There may be distinctive cultures within populations. These apes are very smart with a thinking process that is comparable to the rest of the ape species. Hominidae family tree, which stretches back 14 million years. Then again, maybe we really don’t want to know what they know… Answer to: How smart are orangutans? If you have already logged into ted.com click Log In to verify your authentication. B/W copy and Answer Key provided. On paper, about as smart as a three-to-four-year-old child. Cincinnati Zoo • How smart are orangutans? out of all the Apes, but where does the intelligence of an Orangutan rank? They use tools in their everyday lives to live more efficiently. To track your work across TED-Ed over time, Register or Login instead. Just how smart are they. Making Is and Bento Work for Their Food. But orangutan intelligence goes far beyond jungle survival. Plus you'll find some surprising information about how smart orangutans are, and the ways they communicate and socialize with each other. You cannot help but to smile as the ape throws a treat back to it's new friend! Discover video-based lessons organized by age/subject, 30 Quests to celebrate, explore and connect with nature, Discover articles and updates from TED-Ed, Students can create talks on their own, in class or at home, Learn how educators in your community can give their own TED-style talks, Nominate educators or animators to work with TED-Ed, Donate to support TED-Ed’s non-profit mission. They have to be challenged on a daily basis and kept active, so they don’t get bored in their enclosure. So how smart is an orangutan? They turn branches into fly swatters and back scratchers, construct umbrellas when it rains, make gloves from leafy pads, and even use leaves as bandages to dress their wounds. As they grow up, orangutans also develop a complex set of cooperative social skills by interacting with their peers and siblings. On paper, about as smart as a three-to-four-year-old child. Bornean orangutans have darker hair, wider faces, are slightly larger, and are more likely to move on the ground than Sumatran orangutans. They recognize themselves in mirrors. They are also very smart: they perform as well as chimpanzees and gorillas in tests of cognitive ability. Who knew that apes such as this one could make such good friends? The apes' learning abilities have been studied extensively. ----- Our mission is informing people correctly. They are smarter than some other primates - in fact one of the smarter species of primate. A study of orangutans by Carel van Schaik, a Dutch primatologist at Duke University, found them capable of tasks well beyond chimpanzees’ abilities — such as using leaves to make rain hats and leak proof roofs over their sleeping nests. Lu Gao shares some amazing facts about these incredibly intelligent great apes from Asia. Tool Usage Of Orangutans. Newsletter. There are two main types of orangutan; the Sumatran and the Bornean and they are both from Asia. by Josin Tharian October 10, 2016, 6:02 am 1.7k Views. So how smart is an orangutan? This video was also made on the basis of these guidelines.