Young Orangutans in the Canopy
In Young Orangutans in the Canopy, narrator Sir David Attenborough follows a young orangutan as he learns survival skills from his mother in the dense forests of Indonesia. The youngster begins to explore the high canopy for food, including termites and mangos, while navigating the dangers of the forest. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
Lesson Express
Q: How do the younger orangutans learn how to find food in the rainforest?
A: The young orangutans stay with their mothers for years learning from her.
Q: How does the mother orangutan help her young climb?
A: She lingers to look after him, and she lets him use her body as a bridge when there is a large gap between branches.
Q: How long does the orangutan stay with its mother?
A: The orangutan childhood is the longest, besides ours. He will stay with his mother until he is seven years old.