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New Study Reveals Orangutans Breastfeed for Unprecedented Duration

A recent study highlights that orangutan mothers breastfeed their young for six and a half years, marking the longest duration among mammals and emphasizing their unique life history.

Editorial Staff · 2026-05-29 · 1 MIN READ

Orangutans are known for having one of the slowest life histories among mammals, and a new study sheds light on this aspect of their development.

The research indicates that wild orangutan juveniles breastfeed for an impressive six and a half years, which is the longest breastfeeding period recorded in the animal kingdom.

This finding underscores the distinctive reproductive strategies of orangutans and contributes to our understanding of mammalian parenting.