WFL 61: Why Knowing When Orangutan’s Lose Their Baby Teeth May Help Protect Them In The Wild

The Toronto Zoo participated in a long-term study to observe when their young Sumatran orangutans would lose their baby teeth. The data collection was part of a larger study across many zoos in North America to provide more information surrounding the age range at which the primates lose their teeth. The purpose of the study was to help scientists better protect orangutans in the wild. By getting this data from zoo populations, it helps researchers better understand and rehabilitate wild orangutans who do not have known birth dates. Amanda Carroll, Zookeeper at the Toronto Zoo, sits down with me to discuss the study and how behavioural husbandry played an important role in collecting the data.