pH Analysis of Tapanuli Orangutan Diet

Abstract

Tapanuli orangutans are the newest and most endangered great ape species that have been known. Meanwhile, the pH values of Tapanuli orangutan diet is not available. Therefore, the aim of this study is to analysis the pH values of Tapanuli orangutan diet. The study was conducted from February to April 2019 at Camp Mayang, Batang Toru Research Station, North Sumatera. Next, foraging activity data were collected using focal animal sampling method. The pH values of diet sample were measured by MColorpHastTM as universal indicator of pH. SPSS 16.0 software was used in data processing. Data analysis was done with Shapiro-Wilk for normality test, while Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney for significant diferences test. In this study, five Tapanuli orangutans, two adolescent female and three adult female, have been followed. Fruits are their dominant food types. Camnosperma auriculatum fruits are their dominant diet during the observation. There is no significant differences between adolescent and adult female Tapanuli orangutans in the numbers of diet items at each pH values. On one hand, Tapanuli orangutan diets have pH values range between 3-7. On the other hand, Bornean and Sumatran orangutans prefer to eat fruits with range of pH values between 4-5.