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New Study Reveals Orangutans Breastfeed for Unprecedented Duration

A recent study highlights that orangutan mothers breastfeed their young for six and a half years, marking the longest duration among mammals and emphasizing their unique life history.

Editorial StaffMay 29, 20261 MIN READ

Orangutans are known for having one of the slowest life histories among mammals, and a new study sheds light on this aspect of their development.

The research indicates that wild orangutan juveniles breastfeed for an impressive six and a half years, which is the longest breastfeeding period recorded in the animal kingdom.

This finding underscores the distinctive reproductive strategies of orangutans and contributes to our understanding of mammalian parenting.