Two cases of mother–infant cannibalism in orangutans

Observations of ape cannibalism have to this point been limited to chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes ) where it is associated with infanticide and consumption by unrelated individuals (Watts and Mitani, Primates 41(4):357–365, 2000 ). Here we report for the first time observations of two unrelated femal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Primates 2009-07, Vol.50 (3), p.277-281
Main Authors: Dellatore, David Fenwick, Waitt, Corri D., Foitova, Ivona
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal Ecology
Animal populations
Animals
Babies
Behavioral Sciences
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Cannibalism
Environmental stress
Evolutionary Biology
Female
Females
Habitats
Indonesia
Infants
Life Sciences
Monkeys & apes
Observation
Pan troglodytes
Pongo abelii
Pongo pygmaeus - physiology
Primates
Short Communication
Zoology
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Summary:Observations of ape cannibalism have to this point been limited to chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes ) where it is associated with infanticide and consumption by unrelated individuals (Watts and Mitani, Primates 41(4):357–365, 2000 ). Here we report for the first time observations of two unrelated female Sumatran orangutans ( Pongo abelii ) cannibalizing the remains of their infants on different occasion, a behavior never before reported in any ape species. The two orangutans were wild-born rehabilitated individuals, and had been reintroduced to an area hosting a largely unregulated primate tourism industry and experienced restricted ranging conditions. Though it is possible that this is a strategy to regain energy and nutrients or a result of individual history, comparative data suggest that this is an aberrant behavior which may be linked to environmental stressors within the area.
ISSN:0032-8332
1610-7365
DOI:10.1007/s10329-009-0142-5