Foraging skill learning of immature Tapanuli orangutans at Camp Mayang Research Station, North Sumatra.

Abstract

One of the most important skills to learn during postnatal development period is foraging skill. It is apply to orangutans’ need in their complex foraging niche, broad diets, and highly fluctuating food availability in the natural habitat. Study about this behavior in Tapanuli orangutans (Pongo tapanuliensis) has never been described yet. Therefore, the aim of this study was to observe the foraging skill learning of immature Tapanuli orangutans at Camp Mayang Research Station, North Sumatera. I did the observation with focal animal sampling of immature individual and its mother as references. Data analysis was performed using Kruskal Wallis test and corrected with False Discover Rate. I found that the infant had high independency on social feeding behavior toward its mother, high similarity of diet repertoires and food processing steps with the mother. Moreover, the infant still depended on the mother to find feeding patches and travelling through the forest. The results indicated that foraging skill learning of infant Tapanuli orangutan happened vertically, from the mother to the infant.