A Helping Hand for Orangutans

This photo illustrates the gentle and calm nature of orangutans. The little male had a thorn deeply embedded in his back, discovered after he repeatedly pointed to the affected area. A veterinarian for Orangutan Foundation International and her assistant had to cut into the orangutan's skin to remove the thorn, but the youngster knew he was being helped and sat calmly the entire time! The photo is a touching illustration of the orangutan's intelligence. They are also very different from their noisy, more volatile great ape cousin - the chimpanzee ( as well as the many cats and dogs I've taken to vets over the years.) I had my hand on the orangutan's shoulder for comfort, and my husband happened to take this picture as the orangutan reached out and placed his hand on mine. It truly was a moment of trust and silent communication between species. Thank you for taking the time to read this story among all the wonderful products on Zazzle!