Our first rescue of the year
In cooperation with the Central Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), we recently carried out our first rescue mission of the year. An adult male orangutan needed our help.
We had received some information about this particular orangutan from local farmers before. But due to a lack of consistent reporting, our hands were tied. It was not until recently that we finally had enough information to rescue him.
We found the orangutan 40 kilometres away from our Nyaru Menteng Rehabilitation Centre in relatively good condition. He just seemed a bit overweight. However, when the veterinarian on the mission took his temperature, it appeared that he had a fever. The full examination revealed that he had broken the middle finger on his right hand and his lower canines at some point, but both were long healed. We decided to monitor him and repeat testing. Luckily, his body temperature returned to normal quickly, and the vets attributed the temporary and short spike to the stressful situation and the intense tropical heat accompanying the midday sun.
Like other adult orangutans we have helped to rescue in the past, the BKSDA team took care of the male and immediately translocated him to a safer forest. As he was showing natural behaviours and was physically healthy, rehabilitation was not necessary.
We hope he stays safe and enjoys his new home!