Preferensi Penggunaan Alat Gerak Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) pada Aktivitas Makan di Pusat Primata Schmutzer

Abstract

Feeding activity is one of the orangutan behavior which is needed to determine the usage of its hand preferences. Limb usage preferences is related to the asymmetrical reflection or lateralized of brain usage. Each hand is controlled by the opposite hemisphere of the brain. This research addressed to determine limb usage preferences of orangutan during feeding activity. The object of this research was nine Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) with different age and sex. Feeding activity was divided into two categories, i.e. Reaching for food (RFF) and Taking food to the mouth (TFM). The postures of orangutan were distinguished into five classifications, i.e. sit, pronograde stand, orthograde stand, suspend, and lie. The dominance of right or left handedness was analysed using z-test. Orangutans more common performed unimanual feeding than two limb feeding. Three orangutans showed right handedness during RFF and TFM activities. Two limb feeding (hand-hand or hand-foot combination) was performed by adult orangutans. Sit was the posture most common during feeding activity.