title: Two cases of mother-infant cannibalism in orangutans.
abstract: Observations of ape cannibalism have to this point been limited to chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) where it is associated with infanticide and consumption by unrelated individuals (Watts and Mitani, Primates 41(4):357-365, 2000). Here we report for the first time observations of two unrelated female Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) cannibalizing the remains of their infants on different occasion, a behavior never before reported in any ape species. The two orangutans were wild-born rehabilitated individuals, and had been reintroduced to an area hosting a largely unregulated primate tourism industry and experienced restricted ranging conditions. Though it is possible that this is a strategy to regain energy and nutrients or a result of individual history, comparative data suggest that this is an aberrant behavior which may be linked to environmental stressors within the area.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Sciences and Law, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK. dave@orangutans-sos.org
authors.forename: David Fenwick
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Dellatore
authors.forename: Corri D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Waitt
authors.forename: Ivona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Foitova