Rehabilitation

After illegally held orangutans are confiscated by the conservation authorities, they are brought to our Quarantine Centre, where they receive the necessary care to begin on the road to recovery.  Facilities at the centre include a fully equipped medical clinic, 20 quarantine isolation cages, an infant house for very young orangutans, three large socialization cages housing orangutans that have successfully passed their quarantine period and are preparing for release, and six long-term cages for those that for reasons of health or disability, cannot be released to the wild.

Unless emergency veterinary intervention is required, we first observe each orangutan very closely to assess general health condition and take a number of fecal or other non-invasive samples to check for parasites and other ailments. This initial “settling-in” period allows the orangutans to become familiar with and comfortable in their new environment with minimal stress. Very young infants still needing milk from a bottle are initially taken care of 24-hours a day by dedicated caretakers.  Once they are settled, we perform general health checks, which typically include:

• Chest x-rays to check for Tuberculosis and other bronchial problems

• Blood samples to test for Hepatitis A, B, and C, Herpes simplex virus, and routine blood tests

• PPD (Purified Protein Derivative) tests, a routine under-the-skin injection to test for Tuberculosis

• A full body check to ensure no injuries or air rifle pellets are present

• Weights, measures, and a full dental examination

After this initial health check, orangutans remain in an isolation period for a minimum of 90-days before being introduced to other orangutans, reducing risk of disease transmission. During this period, each individual undergoes two additional health checks prior to being introduced to other orangutans.

Quarantine center-Maxime Aliaga-88 Dr. Citra and Dr. Meuthya conducting a health check on a new intake orangutan
Quarantine center-Maxime Aliaga-9
Quarantine center-Maxime Aliaga-22
Clinic quarantine Mar 2011 – 1 The fully equipped veterinarian clinic at the SOCP Quarantine Centre
Large new enclosures built at the Quarantine Care Center for rescued orangutans by the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program, Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia The holding cages for our future Orangutan Haven residents
Jeane Gerster pics? – 21 Feeding with milk.
Tarris_Sumatra_11_2015_1019 A young orangutan on the "playground" at the Quarantine Centre.
Quarantine center-Maxime Aliaga-6 Large male facility at the SOCP quarantine

Routine Checks

Orangutans share approximately 97% of their DNA with humans and can catch and pass on the same illnesses and diseases that we can. Wild orangutans are generally healthy, but when captured and brought into captivity they readily contract diseases and parasites. In fact, every orangutan the SOCP has ever received has arrived with a very high parasite (intestinal worm) count, picked up during their time in captivity.

Luckily, parasites are relatively easily treated, but for these reasons we have to ensure that all of the orangutans are in excellent health and fully fit before they are released again to the wild, to minimize the risks of also releasing diseases and parasites into the new populations being established, and of infecting other wild primates already living there.

In addition to medical checks, all of the orangutans are:

  • Photographed (portrait and dentition)
  • Fingerprinted
  • Tattooed with an individual code number
  • Microchipped (with a unique code, injected under the skin)

These procedures ensure we can accurately identify and monitor the physical and behavioural health of every individual received, even after they have been successfully returned to the wild.

Quarantine center-Maxime Aliaga-31 SOCP vet Dr. Meuthya helping take care of an orphan orangutan
A 2 year old, orphaned orangutan is microchipped, tattooed and finger printed at a quarantine centre outside Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia, 26th April 2012. The two year old was confiscated from a small village on the edge of the Tripa peat forest, 20 April 2012. This is the second rescue this week highlighting the need for urgent action to prevent local extinction. The confiscation team and police arrived at the scene at 10:45am today and identified the young orangutan immediately, tied to a small shop. Specialist orangutan veterinarian drh Yenny Saraswati of the SOCP promptly conducted a health inspection of the young orangutan. The condition of this young male is not good, he is suffering from malnutrition, his skin is bad, and he has a wound from where he has been tied with a rope. We will provide medical treatment, monitor his condition, then release him in a healthy forest. Photo: Paul Hilton Fingerprinting and tattooing
Sandra Hoyn – 28 Blood sampling
IMG_0225 On-site major surgery
A critically endangered Sumatran orangutan infant (Pongo abelii) who was rescued from illegal pet traders after his mother was killed, is now safe in the arms of its keeper at the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program's Care Center in Medan, where he needs to live until he is old enough to be released safely back into the wild, Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia
Quarantine center-Maxime Aliaga-2

Socialization

Once fit and healthy, orangutans are gradually introduced to others of a similar age. This stage in the SOCP process is a very rewarding one. Often, this is the first time rescued orangutans see a conspecific since their capture from the wild and the death of their mother.  Often they seem to gain a new sparkle in their eyes and renewed enthusiasm for life.

This socialization period allows orangutans to learn to interact with each other, learning species-typical behaviours once again, after having only known humans for the duration of their time in captivity. Introductions are done slowly and are closely monitored by quarantine staff, ensuring that no potentially dangerous behaviors are taking place. Additionally, orangutan groups are provided with daily enrichment and spend time in the trees in one of our 3 on-site forest school areas, all of which aims to encourage wild behaviors, such as nest-building and foraging. Each orangutan is closely monitored on a daily basis, and once orangutans reach age 5-6, our team begins to decide who is ready for reintroduction back into the forest. This decision is made on a number of factors, including health and agility level, as well as the number of natural behaviours that are displayed.

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