Orangutans are great apes native to the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. Three species in the genus Pongo are recognised. The most arboreal of the great apes, orangutans spend most of their time in trees. They have proportionally long arms and short legs and their hair is reddish-brown. Adult males may develop distinctive cheek pads or flanges and make long calls that attract females and intimidate rivals. Orangutans are generally solitary, with most social bonds occurring between mothers and their dependent offspring. The apes eat mainly fruit, but also vegetation, bark, honey, insects and bird eggs. Among the most intelligent primates, orangutans use a variety of sophisticated tools and construct elaborate sleeping nests each night from branches and foliage. The illegal pet trade, poaching, and habitat destruction for palm oil cultivation have caused severe declines in the populations and ranges of all three species.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orangutan
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1759:
Seven Years' War: At the Battle of Lagos, British ships, having damaged several French vessels the previous day, pursued the remainder of the fleet to Lagos, Portugal, and continued the battle there in violation of Portuguese neutrality. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Lagos
1934:
A referendum supported the recent merging of the posts of Chancellor and President of Germany, consolidating Adolf Hitler's assumption of supreme power. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1934_German_referendum
1981:
Two U.S. Navy F-14 Tomcats shot down two Libyan Su-22 Fitters during military exercises over the Gulf of Sidra. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Sidra_incident_%281981%29
2005:
Thunderstorms in southern Ontario, Canada, spawned at least three tornadoes that caused over C$500 million in damage. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Ontario_tornado_outbreak_of_2005
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
humanitarian: Concerned with people's welfare, and the alleviation of suffering; compassionate, humane. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/humanitarian
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
Great wits are sure to madness near allied, And thin partitions do their bounds divide. --John Dryden https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Dryden