We all know that health and well-being are the keys to a good life. But ensuring this for more than 300 orangutans in rehabilitation is no small task and requires dedicated teamwork.
Each year, all orangutans at the Nyaru Menteng and Samboja Lestari Rehabilitation Centres undergo a thorough health check – an essential part of ensuring the health and well-being of the more than 300 orangutans in rehabilitation. The results from September’s check at Samboja Lestari were encouraging: overall, all the animals were in good condition.
Every year, this takes:
15 veterinarians
1,000 vitamin doses
70 bottles of antibiotics
225 anesthetic darts
75,000 surgical masks
.. and hundreds of X-ray images
Early detection of illness
The purpose of the yearly examinations is to closely monitor the health of the orangutans. Any individual showing signs of illness is immediately separated from the group to receive more intensive treatment and to prevent the spread of disease to others in the centres.
Demanding teamwork
The health check is time-consuming and requires considerable manpower from the medical team, animal welfare team, and care giver team.
The first step is sedation, often the trickiest part, since many orangutans get nervous at the sight of the equipment. Some may even react aggressively, but with treats, gentle distractions, and quick, coordinated work from the veterinary team, the process usually proceeds without problems.
Once the orangutan is safely sedated, the team must work together to carry the individual to the clinic. A task that requires multiple people due to the animals’ significant body weight.
At the rehabilitation centre’s clinic, the animals undergo blood tests, bronchoscopy of the airways and lungs, liver and kidney function tests, and screenings for diseases such as hepatitis, malaria, dengue, and tuberculosis. All of this ensures that even the smallest changes in health are detected in time.
Well-being for the future
Luckily, most of the orangutans showed good results, but a few – including Bagus, Combat, BoySopo, and Antony – required further treatment and were therefore moved to a special observation area within the centre.
Through these comprehensive medical examinations, the team at Samboja Lestari remains committed to safeguarding the health of every orangutan in rehabilitation. With good health and strength, these orangutans will have a better chance of returning to their true home: the forest