1488326400


Houston Museum of Natural Science

Nutrition and Wild Orangutans: Insights Into Human Health by Erin Vogel

Wednesday, Mar. 1, 2017 – Wednesday, Mar. 1, 2017

06:30 PM
US/Central

While nutrition has been recognized as critical to health in humans and other primates, we lack a basic understanding of primate nutritional strategies affect the energetics and health of wild primates. Orangutans have been recognized as a useful energetic model for human evolution because they share several adaptations with humans, including the propensity to store fat and utilize fat reserves when food is scarce. Studying wild orangutans offers a unique opportunity to integrate metabolic physiology and health with foraging in an ecological context, providing a natural experiment to examine the multi-dimensional relationships of nutrition, energetics, and health. Primate dietary ecologist, Dr. Erin Vogel, will discuss how information from diet, behavior, and physiology can help us understand how orangutans are adapted for survival in Borneo's forests and shed light on the current obesity epidemic in modern day humans.

Cosponsored by The Leakey Foundation.

HOURS & ADMISSION

  • Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (last entry at 4:30 pm)
    Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm (last entry at 5:30 pm)
    Free Tuesdays (not available on Feb. 20 or May 7, 2024), 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm (last entry at 7:30 pm)
    Holiday hours may differ. Please check www.hmns.org/visit/hours-and-pricing for information.
  • Members $12, Tickets $18

Directions & Parking

  • Paid Parking
  • Street Parking
  • Parking is available in our 6-story garage located on Caroline just south of Hermann Drive. The parking garage is $10 for museum members and $30 for all others. Some free parking is available near the Museum entrance and in Hermann Park. Click here for details.

Special Offers / Dining

Our dining program features two locations serving up a broad range of cuisine—everything from hamburgers to artisan sandwiches.

Please note: Food and beverages are not allowed inside the Museum exhibit halls or theaters.

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