International Animal Rescue’s team in Indonesia has rescued an infant orangutan of between one and two years old after being alerted to his existence by partners Flora and Fauna International (FFI). The infant, named Ujang, is in a poor condition, with a very pale skin colour and a bloated stomach. It is believed Ujang had been kept in captivity for about nine months and fed on rice and cassava because, according to his owner, he would not take fruit or milk.
Ujang was being kept by people in the Talak district of Ketapang, West Kalimantan. IAR’s team and members of FFI and the BKSDA (Natural Resources Conservation Agency) met with local village officials and then went straight to the home where the orangutan was being held. According to the farmer who was keeping Ujang, he had been found during a forest fire and was assumed to have been left behind or abandoned by his mother. The rescue was held up by the farmer who argued that he should be paid for keeping and caring for the orangutan for almost nine months. As a result, the rescue team had to return the following day with representatives from the BKSDA who explained that it was against the law to keep an endangered species like an orangutan and finally the rescue of Ujang was able to go ahead.
On arrival at IAR’s centre in Ketapang, the vets gave the baby a thorough health check. His body temperature was 35.9 ° C and weight 6.3 kg. Ujang was very stressed at being in different surroundings and refused fruit and milk. Because of his physical condition it was decided that the best thing would be for him to allowed to fast for a day. In accordance with the protocol for new arrivals, a blood sample was taken from Ujang to find out whether he has hepatitis or tuberculosis and conduct a complete haematology.