Since 2007, a variety of projects by students and researchers of the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior (Germany), Universitas Nasional (Indonesia), University of Zürich (Switzerland), University of Warwick (United Kingdom), Institut Pertanian Bogor (Indonesia), the University of Birmingham (United Kingdom) and the University of Utrecht (Netherlands) have been conducted at Suaq.

2024

Development of ranging competence in juvenile Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) at the Suaq Balimbing Research Station in the Gunung Leuser National Park

Development of ranging competence in juvenile Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) at the Suaq Balimbing Research Station in the Gunung Leuser National Park
Project leader: Cinta Ningtuyas (MSc student, Universitas Nasional Jakarta (UNAS), Indonesia)
Project staff:

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Insect feeding behavior of Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) at the Suaq Balimbing research area in the Gunung Leuser National Park

Insect feeding behavior of Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) at the Suaq Balimbing research area in the Gunung Leuser National Park
Project leader: Dhandi Angura (BSc student, Universitas Nasional Jakarta (UNAS), Indonesia)
Project staff:

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Maternal style and its consistency in wild Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii)

Maternal style and its consistency in wild Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii)
Project leader: Mera van Koseveld (MSc student, Development and Evolution of Cognition Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior, Germany)
Project staff:

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Immigrant orangutan males as cultural vectors & the evolution of tolerance vs. xenophobia

On the origin of cultural diversity: Immigrant orangutan males as cultural vectors and the evolution of tolerance vs. xenophobia
Project leader: Julia Mörchen, PhD Student, Department of Anthropology, University of Zürich, Switzerland & MPI for Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Leipzig, Germany
Project staff:

Marie Padberg (Student, University of Zürich AIM, Switzerland)
Nora Slania (Student, University of Zürich AIM, Switzerland)
Frances Luhn (Student, University of Zürich AIM, Switzerland)
Jacinthe Grima (Student, University of Zürich AIM, Switzerland)

This study investigates the role of socially transmitted knowledge between local females and immigrant unflanged males.

2023

Ecology, nutrition and diversity of the gut microbiota of Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) at the Suaq Balimbing research station, Gunung Leuser National Park, South Aceh

Ecology, nutrition and diversity of the gut microbiota of Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) at the Suaq Balimbing research station, Gunung Leuser National Park, South Aceh
Project leader: Arif Rahman, (MSc student, Universitas Nasional Jakarta (UNAS), Indonesia)
Project staff:

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The development of ranging skills and social learning in immature Sumatran orangutans

The development of ranging skills and social learning in immature Sumatran orangutans
Project leader: Emma Lokuciejewski (PhD student, Development and Evolution of Cognition Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior, Germany)
Project staff:

Karlijn van Heijst (Research assistant, Development and Evolution of Cognition Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior, Germany)

Muhdaril Adha (Research assistant, Development and Evolution of Cognition Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior, Germany)

One of the major challenges that juvenile orangutans face when the start leaving their mothers is learning where and when they can find food.

2022

The relationship between fruit bearing trees fluctuation and daily range in adult Sumatran orangutans at the Suaq Balimbing research station, Gunung Leuser National Park, South Aceh

The relationship between fruit bearing trees fluctuation and daily range in adult Sumatran orangutans at the Suaq Balimbing research station, Gunung Leuser National Park, South Aceh
Project leader: Tazkia Umaira Aprilla (BSc student, Universitas Nasional Jakarta (UNAS), Indonesia)
Project staff:

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Development of individual home range exploration of adolescent Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) at the Suaq Balimbing research area in the Gunung Leuser National Park

Development of individual home range exploration of adolescent Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) at the Suaq Balimbing research area in the Gunung Leuser National Park
Project leader: Deana Perawati, (MSc student, Universitas Nasional Jakarta (UNAS), Indonesia)
Project staff:

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Feeding Behaviour and Energy Intake of adult male Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abelii)

Feeding Behaviour and Energy Intake of adult male Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo Abelii)
Project leader: Tri Rahmaeti (MSc student, Universitas Nasional Jakarta (UNAS), Indonesia)
Project staff:

Noah Atkin (Student, University of Zürich, Switzerland)
Natalie Oliver-Caldwell (Student, University of Zürich, Switzerland)

With this project, we aim to compare caloric intakes and nutrient compositions of the diets of different age-sex classes, in particular adult males.

2021

The connection between fruit availability and the presence of new orangutan (Pongo abelii) nests at the Suaq Balimbing research area in the Gunung Leuser National Park.

The connection between fruit availability and the presence of new orangutan (Pongo abelii) nests at the Suaq Balimbing research area in the Gunung Leuser National Park.
Project leader: Eggi Septian (BSc student, Universitas Nasional Jakarta (UNAS), Indonesia)
Project staff:

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Fröhlich 2021

Multimodal communication in orangutans: redundancy versus complementarity
Project leader: Dr. Marlen Fröhlich (Postdoctoral researcher, AIM University of Zürich, CH)
Project staff:

This projects aims to investigate the function and ontogeny of multimodal communication in wild and captive orangutans.

2020

Kunz, B. 2020

Begging for and sharing information - Orangtan infant begging behavior and maternal response in feeding skill acquisition
Project leader: Belinda Kunz, MSc Student, Univeristy of Zürich, Switzerland
Project staff:

MasterThesis_BKunz_2020.pdf

Kunz, J. 2020

Male-female relationships - from friendship to coercion
Project leader: Julia Kunz (PhD student, AIM University of Zürich)
Project staff:

Sofia Vilela (Volunteer)

Dissertation_J.Kunz_2020-1.pdf

2019

Reukauf 2019

Male affiliative relationships in Sumatran orang-utans – Why do unflanged males form temporary associations?
Project leader: Joshua Reukauf, MSc Student, University of Zürich
Project staff:

MasterThesis_JReukauf_2019.pdf

Al-Kautasar 2019

Feeding behavior and food species in male Sumatran oarangutans (Pongo abelii)
Project leader: Muhammad Ridho Al-Kautasar, BSc Student, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Indonesia
Project staff:

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Musdarlia 2019

Feeding behavior and food species in Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii)
Project leader: Helvi Musdarlia MSc Student, Universitas Nasional, Indonesia
Project staff:

Muhammad Ridho Al-Kautasar, BSc Student, Universitas Syiha Kuala, Indonesia

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Wassmer 2019

How to be the new guy? Strategies of unflanged Sumatran orangutans to cope with their new environment after dispersal
Project leader: Olivia Wassmer, MSc Student, Univeristy of Zürich, Switzerland
Project staff:

MasterThesis_OliviaWassmer_2019.pdf

Ehmann 2019

The development of social interest in Sumatran orang-utans over age & sex
Project leader: Beatrice Ehmann, MSc Student, Univeristy of Zürich, Switzerland
Project staff:

MasterThesis_BEhmann_2019.pdf

The development of cognition and curiosity in immature orangutans

The development of cognition and curiosity in immature orangutans
Project leader: Dr. Caroline Schuppli (Postdoctoral researcher, AIM University of Zürich, CH)
Project staff:

Anais van Cauwenberghe (MSc student, AIM University of Zürich & University of Utrecht)
Chigusa Renata Keller (Student, AIM University of Zürich)
Lara Nellissen (Student, AIM University of Zürich)
Luz Carvajal (Student, AIM University of Zürich)

With this project, we investigate how differences in opportunities for social learning affect the cognivie development of immatures and later skill sets.

2018

Hayward 2018

Long calls of flanged male orangutans (Pongo spp.) reveal geographic variation in competition behaviour
Project leader: Steven Hayward (MSc Student, AIM, University of Zürich, CH)
Project staff:

Master’s_Thesis_S.Hayward_2018

The development of cognition and curiosity in immature orangutans

The development of cognition and curiosity in immature orangutans
Project leader: Dr. Caroline Schuppli (Postdoctoral researcher, AIM University of Zürich, CH)
Project staff:

Anais van Cauwenberghe (MSc student, AIM University of Zürich & University of Utrecht)
Chigusa Renata Keller (Student, AIM University of Zürich)
Lara Nellissen (Student, AIM University of Zürich)
Luz Carvajal (Student, AIM University of Zürich)

With this project, we investigate how differences in opportunities for social learning affect the cognivie development of immatures and later skill sets.

2017

van Cauwenberghe 2017

Factors influencing the cognitive development of infant Sumatran orangutans in Suaq Balimbing, Aceh Selatan, Indonesia
Project leader: Anais van Cauwenberghe (MSc Thesis, Utrech University, NE & AIM, Univeristy of Zürich, CH)
Project staff:

Master’s_Thesis_A.vanCauwenberghe_2017

2016

Schuppli 2016

Testing the cultural intelligence hypothesis in wild orangutans
Project leader: Caroline Schuppli (PhD student, AIM, University of Zürich, CH)
Project staff:

Paula Willi, Benjamin Nolan, Maximilian Kölbl, Kevin Lee, Eric Balke

Dissertation_CSchuppli_2017–

2014

Lenzi 2014

Reproductive success and paternity concentration in wild male orangutans (genus Pongo)
Project leader: Ivan Lenzi (MSc Student, AIM, University of Zürich, CH)
Project staff:

Master’s_Thesis_I.Lenzi_2014

Kunz 2014

Ontogeny and variability of play behaviour in wild immature Bornean (Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii) and Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii)
Project leader: Julia Kunz (MSc Student, AIM, University of Zürich, CH)
Project staff:

Master’s_Thesis_J.Kunz

Conradie 2014

Long call playback experiments on female Sumatran orang-utans
Project leader: Christiaan Conradie (MSc Student, AIM, University of Zürich, CH)
Project staff:

Thesis download

Falkner 2014

Mother-Offspring Conflict in Orangutans: Disentangling different contexts of mother-offspring conflict in Sumatran and Bornean orangutans
Project leader: Sonja Falkner (MSc Student, AIM, University of Zürich, CH)
Project staff:

Master’sThesis_S.Falkner_2015

2011

Villioth 2011

Nesting positions and chemical properties of nesting material in relation to mosquito avoidance in Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii)
Project leader: Jakob Villioth (MSc Student, AIM, University of Zürich, CH)
Project staff:

Master’s_Thesis_J.Villioth_2011

Schuppli 2011

Skill learning in wild immature Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii)
Project leader: Caroline Schuppli (MSc Student, AIM, University of Zürich, CH)
Project staff:

Master’s_Thesis_C.Schuppli_2012

Manduell 2011

Habitat variation and its influence on the locomotor ecology of wild orangutans
Project leader: Kirsten Manduell (PhD Student, University of Birmingham, UK)
Project staff:

Thesis download

Rinsma 2011

Orangutans speaking for themselves: A closer inspection on variation in the acoustic repertoire of wild Sumatran orangutan
Project leader: Wiebe Rinsma (MSc Student, University of Utrecht, NE)
Project staff:

Thesis download

2009

Meulman 2009

Wild orangutan tool use: New Insights in Human Evolution
Project leader: Ellen Meulman (PhD Student, AIM, University of Zürich, CH)
Project staff:

Dissertation_E.Meulman_2013

Haryati 2009

Perbandingan analisis habitat dan preferensi pakan buah di hutan rawa Stasiun Penelitian Suaq Balimbing, TNGL
Project leader: Sri Haryati (PhD Student, Univeritas Nasional, IDN & University of Zürich, CH)
Project staff:

Thesis download

Gibson 2009

Cognitive and cultural aspects of nest building in wild orangutans
Project leader: Andrea Gibson (PhD Student, AIM, University of Zürich, CH)
Project staff:

Thesis download

2008

Forss 2008

Social learning and independent exploration in immature Sumatran Orangutans (Pongo abelii)
Project leader: Sofia Forss (MSc Student, AIM, University of Zürich, CH)
Project staff:

Master’s_Thesis_S.Forss_2009

Nater 2008

Phylogeography and population structure of the Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abelii)
Project leader: Alexander Nater (PhD Student, AIM, University of Zürich, CH)
Project staff:

Thesis download