Bornean orang-utans suffer from protein, as well as energy, deficits

A recent paper published by Dr Erin Vogel and colleagues in Biology Letters (freely downloadable here) illustrates the challenge that Bornean orang-utans in Gunung Palung National Park, West Kalimantan face to meet their protein requirements. Earlier work in Gunung Palung (Knott, 1998) and by OuTrop scientists in Sabangau (Harrison et al., 2010) demonstrated that these animals frequently suffer from energy shortfalls, but this is the first paper to demonstrate that similar challenges exist in meeting protein needs, although the orangutans in this study appeared to narrowly avoid severe protein deficits that might lead to tissue wasting. This finding is important, as protein is essential for the growth and maintenance of bodily tissues. Inadequate dietary protein may therefore limit reproductive potential and the ability of orang-utans to withstand human disturbance, including climate change.