ORANGUTANS

Infancy is the period from birth to five years of age and is the time when the baby chimp is dependent on the mother for everything, including milk and transportation. Childhood lasts from the age of five to the age of seven; these juveniles are still closely associated with their mothers, but are learning a bit of independence. Early adolescence is from eight to ten years of age in females. They tend to still stick close to their mothers, but are beginning to show signs of sexual development. Males are early adolescents from eight to twelve years and are beginning to spend a bit more time with the adult males. Late adolescence lasts from 13 to 15 years of age in males and from 11 to 13 or 14 years in females. During this period adolescent males will spend most of their time with adult males and sexually active females. Late adolescent females begin to show more regular signs of sexual maturity.

Females are considered mature from around the age of 14 or 15 until they are around 33; this is the time period during which females will raise most of their young. Males reach maturity around 16 years of age and remain so until they are around 33 years of age. After this, both males and females are considered beyond their prime.