Orangutan moms and babies have a very close relationship. Offspring remain with their mothers for seven to eight years. They nurse for at least three years. They slowly become more independent and learn what kind of food to eat from their mother. In this photo, two-year-old Heidi is exploring on her own and learning to maneuver through the vines and trees more and more each day.
Clearing of the forest for Palm Oil Plantations in Asia is leaving many animals like the orangutan without homes and food. To learn more about what products to avoid which are made through Palm Oil Plantations and how you can help orangutans, go to
www.orangutan.org/
A portion of the proceeds help animal conservation.
Gibbon Finds A Friend, was an Awards Finalist for Children's Non-Fiction by the Best Book Awards. It is the third book in the Wild Animal Survival Series