Orangutans are the largest arboreal mammal in the world, living and sleeping in trees. They travel with ease through the canopy, rarely descending to the forest floor. They are wholly dependent on tropical rain forests for their survival. In 1900, there were about 315,000 orangutans in the world. Today, only a few biologically viable populations remain. Primarily, their diet consists of fruit, although they eat leaves, seeds, tree bark, plant bulbs, tender plant shoots, and flowers.

Orangutans are the slowest breeding of all primates, having the longest interbirth interval of all landbased mammals almost 8 years. After a gestation period of 81/2 months, the female will have her first baby at age 12 15. She will give birth to about 3 babies in her lifetime of 50 years or more. Mothers care for their young until age 8 or nine, when they are encouraged to go off on their own.

As forests are clearcut on a massive scale, the number of orangutans killed and the number of infants making their way into captivity or rehabilitation centers is increasing. Perhaps their ability to adapt to human nurturing is a silent call for help. Perhaps we should heed their call.