Great Apes; Orangutans , Gorillas, Chimpanzees

Great Apes

Apes are primates. Most apes live in the tropical and subtropical regions of America, Africa and Asia. There are two groups of apes-the lesser apes and the great apes. The lesser apes include the gibbons and the siamangs. Gorillas, chimpanzees, baboons and orangutans are the great apes.

Orangutans

Orangutans are one of the grea apes known for their intelligence. They have a bulky body, long arms. short legs and no tail. Their hands and feet are quite similar to those of humans. Orangutans are omnivores that feed on plants, seeds, flowers and small mammals. They live mostly in trees and swing through them using a hand-over-hand motion, but are also able to walk upright for short distances. These animals have a highly developed ability to think and reason. They depend more on their vision than their sense of smell, and have a short, broad nose instead of a snout.

Gorillas

Gorillas live in central Africa. They are the largest apes and the wild male can weigh over 200 kg. Gorillas have two species; eastern and western, which are further divided into subspecies. Their bodies are coverd with thick dark hair except for the face, chest, palms and soles of the feet. They are shy and peaceful herbivores that feed on bamboo and leafy plants. They are very intelligent animals and use varied means of communication. A recent study by scientists has proved that gorillas use 'baby talk' gestures to communicate with their babies. Gorillas are endangered animals and their only natural enemies are humans.

 Chimpanzees

Chimpanzees are found in dense rainforests, open woodlands and broad grasslands of Africa. They feed on insects, eggs, fruits and even meet. Usually, chimpanzees are called 'chimps'. The colour of their face ranges from pink to black and their body is covered with long black hair. They either walk normally on all fours or swing from tree to tree. They use the technique of 'knuckle walking' - the soles of the feet and the back joints of fingers support their weight. They are very social animals and live in communities of up to 50 members.

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