"Kaplan, who also specializes in psychology, and Rogers, a biologist and neuroethologist, delve into the heart of orangutan behavior and society. They describe in amazing detail how orangutans learn from each other, mother their young, and communicate. Blending their own extensive research with the work of other scientists in the field, they offer fresh insight into orangutans' emotions and the evolution of their brains. Kaplan and Rogers wrestle with a number of intriguing questions, from how orangutans cope with grief to whether they are conscious or self-aware. ". "The Orangutans is also a moving treatise describing the perilous future of these magnificent forest dwellers. The authors bring an extremely grounded perspective to the politically charged issue of saving the rainforests, a battleground where biologists and environmentalists fight industry and agriculture to preserve a sensitive ecosystem. They reveal the devastating effects on the habitat of orangutans - who live only on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo - of recent fires, droughts, and widespread floods. Driving home the danger we face of losing these extraordinary animals, they evaluate the best ways to protect orangutans in the wild and preserve our evolutionary heritage. "--BOOK JACKET.