In the wild, young orangutans usually stay with their mothers until they’re about eight years old or older. Orangutans have the longest childhood of the great apes because, when they grow up, they don’t have a troop around to give them more lessons. The solitary animals must learn all the lessons of finding fruit, building night nests, and other survival techniques before they set off on their own. Fruit trees are spread out over the rain forests where orangutans live, and they all flower and fruit at different times. So the youngsters learn a mental map of the forest layout and where ripe fruit is likely to be at any given time. They also learn to eat insects and birds’ eggs. At the San Diego Zoo the orangutans are offered cabbage, romaine lettuce, kale, carrots, yams, broccoli, bananas, apples, oranges, and grapes. Treats might include papaya, corn, turnip, onion, popcorn, raisins, peanut butter, and walnuts. The orangutan's motto is: food should never be boring!
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