- Science
- Global
Orangutans breastfeed for six and a half years, the longest among mammals
- May 29, 2026 at 3:20 PM
- 6 views
Orangutans have one of the slowest life histories among mammals, and a new study now shows just how long orangutan mothers continue to breastfeed their offspring. An international team has demonstrated that wild orangutan juveniles keep consuming their mother's milk continuously until at least six and a half years of age, confirming one of the longest breastfeeding periods known among mammals.
Originally published at Phys.org