While Chimps are 99% DNA doubles to the human species, scientists have just announced that the red-haired Orangutan comes in second at 97%. This study marks the first time that scientists have ever unraveled the endangered Orangutan species' genetic code. Orangutan is a combination of two Malay words which mean "forest man or forest people".
There are only about fifty-seven thousand wild orangutans left in the world, living in Borneo and the island of
Sumatra. Due to deforestation, these numbers continue to dwindle.
Thirteen million DNA variations were studied by scientists, with apes from both locations, discovering that the two species split off 400,000 years ago (more recent than they thought). Some sections of DNA were closer to humans than of chimp DNA.
Current research shows that humans and chimps shared a common ancestor five to seven million years ago.
To see an Orangtan up close, there loads of fun to watch at the zoo. At the
Philadelphia Zoo, for instance, you'll likely find the older female Sumatran orangutan Tua shying away from visitors beneath a blanket, while baby orangutan Batu plays pranks by trying to continuously yank the blanket off the female. Orangutan's have also attempted to draw in captivity. An orangutan will live ten years longer on average in a zoo, than in the wild. The average life span of an orangutan is forty years old.
Orangutan's can recognize themselves in a mirror and can also learn sign language.
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