Male Orangutans Communicate Travel Plans to Females

(Image source: World Wildlife Fund) BY MATT MORENO Apes might not be booking plane tickets online or requesting off work, but a new study shows orangutans does have the ability to coordinate and communicate their travel plans. The study states orangutans will often communicate their travel plans to fellow orangutans, suggesting, "...wild orangutans do not simply live in the here and now, but can imagine a future and even announce their plans" according to one researcher. (Via Discovery) The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Zurich and was submitted to the scientific journal PLOS ONE. The researchers say the male orangutans will make long calls to others that usually last between one to two minutes. They're known to announce travel plans up to a day in advance. (Via Cincinnati Zoo) The study took five years to complete and says part of the reason male orangutans will often do this is to let females know where they're heading. The orangutang noises could be heard up to half a mile away. (Via BBC) RedOrbit points out this isn't the first study to reveal orangutans plan for their travels, but it's the first show HOW they prepare for their voyages in the wild. It's not known why orangutans make and announce travel plans in advance, but it's believed they do it to avoid rivals or search for mates. (Via San Diego Zoo) The researchers analyzed more than 200 calls made from 15 orangutans over the course of the study.