The
IAR centre in Ketapang has been a hive of activity in the last few
weeks in preparation
for the big orangutan move. Last week four of our largest
female orangutans Mona, Huta, Mely and Cinta were moved from their housing at the old transit
centre in Ketapang City to the newly built IAR rehabilitation site in Sungai
Awan. This is
a considerable change for the girls since they have been housed at the transit
centre in Ketapang
for several years. However with the construction of the new Rescue and Rehabilitation
Centre well under way animals are being moved in stages from their old housing to
the new site. While most of the younger individuals have already been
moved to the forested rehabilitation area, it is now time to start moving the
larger orangutans. Orangutans are known for their strength and ingenuity,
they are the escape artist of the great apes, so special care
needs to go into their enclosure preparation to ensure
the areas are orangutan proof. The cages at the old centre are deteriorating with age, leaving the staff
with the daunting task of trying to weld away rust as fast as tropical rain
creates it. Thankfully when our handyman Dade comes to repair cages with his
welding gear, he becomes great enrichment for the orangutans to watch!
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| Mely relaxes in her hammock! |
The
first step to their freedom was to move the four girls into the quarantine enclosure
in Sungai Awan, which requires a general anaesthetic and a truck ride to their
new home situated half an hour out of Ketapang. The quarantine enclosures at the
new centre have been refreshed with new cage enrichment and a fresh coat of
paint thanks to the Great Project volunteers, along with shiny new locks put in place that
should keep Mona one of our craftiest females at bay. When selecting which group of the large orangutans
should be moved from transit first, Mona’s group was at the top of the list. The
artful Mona had years ago been the mastermind behind an escape from her cage
where she took three of her cage mates with her to raid the food room!
Clever
Mona was first up for an anaesthetic as she can be the most suspicious of
unusual events. Mona was anaesthetized by blow dart, while Cinta, Huta and Mely
were very accommodating and all accepted hand injections of anesthesia through
the bars. The girls were thankfully very co-operative, gently going to sleep, giving
us smooth anaesthetics with rapid recoveries in their transport crates.
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| The blow dart is sometimes the safest way to sedate these large animals |
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| Christine thoroughly examines the mouth for teeth issues |
Anaesthetics
provided a golden opportunity for the vet team to get close enough to each of
the girls to give a full physical exam and collect any samples needed for
health and genetics. Our team of veterinary staff and animal caretakers all worked
like a synchronised sports team to get all the procedures done efficiently in a
minimal amount of time. This is no mean feat considering it involved collecting
blood samples, tracheal washes, hair samples, dental records, and growth
measurements while giving a full general physical exam, taking x-rays and
maintaining a smooth anaesthesia, all within half an hour. After this flurry of activity the girls woke
up from their unusual sleep on piles of leaves in their transport cages. The crates were then loaded onto the back of
flatbed trucks and the girls were able to watch people driving alongside, as we
drove out of the town and into the rural area of the Sungai Awan Centre. They
all sat watching intently with their fingers laced through the bars and Cinta
moved leaves away to ensure she got a better view. The only hitch was a light
shower of rain on the last ride back to the centre which was quite amusing for
Cinta and Mely as they got to watch from their dry cages as the people and
equipment around them got soaking wet.
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| A rare chance for the vets to get up close with the adult orangutans |
On
arrival the girls all moved from their crates straight into their new cage and
made themselves comfortable swinging in the new hammocks and bails. Within no
time Mona was testing out every inch of the cage to exploit any weaknesses in
the handywork. It will take a while for them to adjust to the new surroundings
so we are providing lots of food, branches and enrichment to settle them in. The
day after being moved Mona took advantage of her new settings and used her keen
sense of timing to steal a cup of electrolytes off one of the new vets, but,
rather than destroy the cup, she rested herself against the cage door and
lazily used the cup of liquid to dunk her biscuits in. So she seems to be settling
in nicely so far.
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Photography by Thomas Burns
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