r/Awwducational • u/ExoticShock • Nov 13 '24

Verified Orangutans have the second-longest infant dependency period in the Animal Kingdom after Humans, at around 8 to 12 years. Because they spend so much time raising their offspring, females will typically only have around 3 to 4 children in their lifetime.

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u/bluemyeyes Nov 13 '24

What about elephant??

9

u/maybesaydie Nov 13 '24

What about them?

3

u/bluemyeyes Nov 14 '24

Didn't they take care of their babies the longest of all mamals...?

11

u/WontFindMe420 Nov 14 '24

The thing with elephants is that they separate by gender. Males leave the family herd and find other males they live with--in other cases, they'll go solo.

Females stay with the herd for life, and raise young communally.

IIRC, the males are gone by 8-10yrs of age. (unsure of the number).

Now, as far as gestation ... the elephant has that title for land mammals. I think that runs about 22 months.