Rescued baby orangutans undergo health check after one develops fever in quarantine

A technical committee appointed by Odisha's principal chief conservator of forests (Wildlife) conducted physical examinations of five infant orangutans on Tuesday, a week after the animals were rescued from Balasore district and placed under quarantine at Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar. The six-member team of health experts visited the quarantine area to assess all five primates after one developed elevated body temperature.

Fever triggers expert intervention

Zoo officials reported that one of the baby orangutans had registered a high body temperature since the preceding two days and was receiving medication. The animal had first shown symptoms of fever, prompting veterinarians to begin treatment before the committee's inspection. Following their examination and discussions, the technical committee will submit its observations to the forest department.

According to a bulletin issued by Nandankanan Zoological Park authorities, the body temperatures of all five infant orangutans ranged between 98 and 99 degrees Fahrenheit at the time of the check-up. An official stated that all five animals appeared stable, were accepting feed normally, and showed improved activity levels.

Round-the-clock monitoring in place

Veterinarians at the zoological park are maintaining continuous surveillance of the primates' health and providing care throughout the day and night, according to zoo officials. The facility has installed special mosquito nets and created a temperature-controlled environment specifically for the rescued orangutans.

Aditya Acharya, head of the Centre for Wildlife Health at Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, explained that elevated body temperature in orangutans is monitored using protocols similar to those for humans. Paracetamol-based medication is typically administered to manage high body temperature in these primates, he said.

Specialized diet and ongoing investigation

The animals are being fed milk at two-hour intervals, supplemented with apple and banana fluids and boiled potatoes served at regular intervals, following a dietary chart designed by specialists. The Odisha government established a five-member technical committee to supervise the care of the orangutans after their rescue.

The five baby orangutans, species normally found in the wild only in Borneo and Sumatra, were rescued on September 8, triggering an investigation into suspected trafficking. A joint probe by the Odisha Police's Special Task Force and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau into alleged international wildlife smuggling has so far yielded no visible breakthrough, an official said.

Source: The Hindu