Orangutan Cultures and the Evolution of Material Culture

2003/01/02 by Carel P. van Schaik, Marc Ancrenaz, Gwendolyn Borgen +6 · 9 citations
Psychology · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Primate Behavior and Ecology #Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior #Animal Behavior and Reproduction

paper · doi:10.1126/science.1078004

openalex publication_date 2003/01/02 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23

Abstract

Geographic variation in some aspects of chimpanzee behavior has been interpreted as evidence for culture. Here we document similar geographic variation in orangutan behaviors. Moreover, as expected under a cultural interpretation, we find a correlation between geographic distance and cultural difference, a correlation between the abundance of opportunities for social learning and the size of the local cultural repertoire, and no effect of habitat on the content of culture. Hence, great-ape cultures exist, and may have done so for at least 14 million years.

Citations

• Cultures in chimpanzees
• Procesimiento afines a la jurisdicción voluntaria: el proceso monitorio. El incidente de cuenta jurada
• CHARTING CULTURAL VARIATION IN CHIMPANZEES

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• The emergence of human uniqueness: Characters underlying behavioral modernity
• Population history, biogeography, and taxonomy of orangutans (Genus: Pongo) based on a population genetic meta-analysis of multiple loci
• A case of spontaneous acquisition of a human sound by an orangutan
• Orangutan leaf-carrying for nest-building: Toward unraveling cultural processes
• Orangutan [wikipedia]