Orangutans have the longest infant development period of all the great apes. It is commonly divided into three stages.
Infant (0-3 Years)
- Soon after birth, infants learn to use their fingers to grip onto their mothers’ chests. An infant's grip is extremely firm, capable of supporting its own body weight with just their hands.
- Two weeks following birth, infants usually have learned how to sit upright and use its hands.
- Babies begin eating soft fruit, in addition to nursing, at around three months of age. Initially mothers help prepare the solid food by grinding it up with their teeth, then giving it to their young to chew.
- Around two years of age, infants transition from hanging onto their mother's chest to riding on their backs.
Juvenile (3-7 Years)
- Mothers begin to wean (transition from nursing to solid foods) their young as juveniles, around three to four years of age.
- Increasing independence leads juveniles to sometimes travel alone.
- Juveniles no longer share their mothers' night nests and begin building their own. The juveniles' nests remain close to their mothers and are often in the same tree.
- At around four years of age, juveniles begin to climb and search for their own food.
Adolescent (7-10 Years)
- Upon gaining independence from their mothers, adolescent orangutans will often travel widely before settling in a permanent home range. Males will travel further from their mother's home range than females, who often establish adjacent home ranges.
- Female adolescents often stay with their mothers longer than males. If the mother has another baby, the female adolescent often helps her mother care for the infant, learning maternal behaviors.
- Females are considered adults with the birth of their first infant. This usually takes place beginning between 14 and 16 years of age. Males are considered adults with the emergence of cheek pads, a throat pouch, and a developed long call. This usually takes place as late as 19 or 20 years of age.
Infant (0-3 Years)
- Soon after birth, infants learn to use their fingers to grip onto their mothers’ chests. An infant's grip is extremely firm, capable of supporting its own body weight with just their hands.
- Two weeks following birth, infants usually have learned how to sit upright and use its hands.
- Babies begin eating soft fruit, in addition to nursing, at around three months of age. Initially mothers help prepare the solid food by grinding it up with their teeth, then giving it to their young to chew.
- Around two years of age, infants transition from hanging onto their mother's chest to riding on their backs.
Juvenile (3-7 Years)
- Mothers begin to wean (transition from nursing to solid foods) their young as juveniles, around three to four years of age.
- Increasing independence leads juveniles to sometimes travel alone.
- Juveniles no longer share their mothers' night nests and begin building their own. The juveniles' nests remain close to their mothers and are often in the same tree.
- At around four years of age, juveniles begin to climb and search for their own food.
Adolescent (7-10 Years)
- Upon gaining independence from their mothers, adolescent orangutans will often travel widely before settling in a permanent home range. Males will travel further from their mother's home range than females, who often establish adjacent home ranges.
- Female adolescents often stay with their mothers longer than males. If the mother has another baby, the female adolescent often helps her mother care for the infant, learning maternal behaviors.
- Females are considered adults with the birth of their first infant. This usually takes place beginning between 14 and 16 years of age. Males are considered adults with the emergence of cheek pads, a throat pouch, and a developed long call. This usually takes place as late as 19 or 20 years of age.
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