'Language' of orangutans is decoded
Orangutans communicate intelligently using an unspoken language of gestures, research has shown.
Two scientists from the University of St Andrews in Scotland observed 28 orangutans at Twycross Zoo in the UK, Apenheul Primate Park in the Netherlands, and Durrell Wildlife Trust in Jersey. They identified 40 frequently-used signals.
These were employed repeatedly to send messages such as "I want to play", "give it to me", "go away", "follow me", or "stop doing that". "Play" gestures involved a range of clowning antics, including back rolls, placing objects on the head, and blowing raspberries.