Orangutans are unique among great apes in their maturation
process. As male orangutans experience puberty, specialized
facial structures called "cheek pads" emerge, signaling sexual
maturity. For most males, this occurs around 10 to 12 years of
age, but maturity in orangutans housed with or near other adult
males can be suppressed. When this suppression occurs, the
development of these cheeks pads is delayed for up to 10 years,
and the animal remains in a sub-adult state. The precise
mechanisms of this suppression are not fully understood. Dr.
Melissa Thompson of the University of Mexico is working with Dr.
Cheryl Knott of Boston University to better characterize
orangutan development both in captivity and in the wild. Seneca
Park Zoo contributes to this project through collection of urine
samples from our male orangutan Denda. Zoo keepers have trained
Denda to urinate in a collection cup in exchange for a food
reward. These urine samples are then sent to Dr. Thompson who
analyzes the urine for concentrations