Orangutan News

Nantes - Major, believed to be the world's oldest reproductive orang-utan in captivity has died at a zoo in western France, aged 50.

Jakarta - Two months after Tori, the smoking orangutan was moved to an isolated island at the Solo Zoo in Indonesia to force her to quit the habit, she has given birth.

Sydney - A rally was held against Malaysia’s attempt to promote the benefits of palm oil. Palm oil plantations result in the deforestation of orangutan habitat.

Zoo officials at Taman Satwa Taru Jurug in Central Java are sending Tori the smoking orangutan to rehab so she can try to kick the habit.

Future schools might be using iPads to replace pen and paper exams. UK Cambridge International Examinations Board has piloted the idea in a mock exam. At the same time, orang-u-tans are using the touch screen device to aid communication in a US zoo.

Four paws, an animal rescue group based in Britain, recently saved a pregnant female orangutan and its daughter at the last minute from death, as knife-wielding bounty hunters closed in on the pair in Borneo.

A team from International Animal Rescue(IAR) in Indonesia have freed an orangutan that had been left chained to a balcony in Borneo.

There is hope yet for the orangutan in forest plantations and sustainably logged forests. Selectively logged forests and timber plantations can serve as habitat for orangutans, and populations of the ape may be more resilient than previously believed.

Wareham - An orangutan believed to be the fattest primate in Britain has been put on a diet and exercise program. At 100 kg (15 stone) Oshine weighs double her natural body weight.

Bangkok - Kickboxing may be Thailand's number one sport but orangutan boxing is fast becoming popular. Hundreds of spectators pay to see the apes beat each other with boxing gloves, while other apes in bikinis perform as round card girls and bell ringers.