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Bornean orangutan geophagy: analysis of ingested and control soils

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Abstract

Geophagy among orangutans is the most poorly documented in contrast to the knowledge of soil-eating practices of other great ape species. Observations of soil consumption by orangutans in the Sungai Wain Forest Preserve (Wanariset) of Borneo are presented, along with physico-mineral–chemical analyses of the ingested soil in an effort to understand what might stimulate the activity. The consumed soils are: light colored, not excessively weathered by normal standards, higher in the clay size fraction relative to controls, and are comprised of a mix of clay minerals without any specificity of 1:1, 2:1 and/or 2:1:1 (Si:Al) species. The geophagic soils contain chlorides below detection limits, effectively eliminating salt as a stimulus. Soil chemical and geochemical analyses confirm that orangutans prefer soils with pH levels near or above 4.0, while controls are consistently lower (pH = 3.5–4.0), a considerable difference in acidity for at least four out of six soils consumed. Geochemical analysis shows Al, Fe and K are high in the consumed vs control samples; higher Al follows from higher clay percentages in the consumed earth. Iron and K may play physiological roles, but Fe is mostly in the ferrous form (Fe+2) and may not be readily taken up by the animals. The preferential choice of consumed samples, with pH above 4.0 and higher clay contents, may promote a more beneficial intestinal environment.

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Acknowledgments

This research was carried out with funding from Quaternary Surveys, Toronto and a minor research grant from York University to WCM. We thank Anne Russon (York University) for collecting the samples and making them available to us for analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Quaternary Surveys, 26 Thornhill Ave., Thornhill, ON, L4J 1J4, Canada

    William C. Mahaney

  2. Department of Geography, York University, 4700 Keele St., North York, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada

    William C. Mahaney & Joan Voros

  3. Department of Anthropology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada

    Ronald G. V. Hancock

  4. The Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada

    Susan Aufreiter

  5. MWM Consulting, 182 Gough Ave., Toronto, ON, M4K 3P1, Canada

    Michael W. Milner

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  1. William C. Mahaney
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Correspondence to William C. Mahaney.

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Mahaney, W.C., Hancock, R.G.V., Aufreiter, S. et al. Bornean orangutan geophagy: analysis of ingested and control soils. Environ Geochem Health 38, 51–64 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-015-9678-z

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