Bhubaneswar, Sept. 25: The five rescued orangutan infants undergoing care at Nandankanan Zoological Park are showing encouraging signs of recovery, with recent blood tests indicating an improvement in haemoglobin levels in two of the animals, zoo authorities said on Friday.
File_UDN
Veterinarians confirmed that all five infants are eating normally, remaining active, and displaying healthy behaviour while continuing to receive round-the-clock monitoring at the zoo’s quarantine facility.
As part of a routine health assessment, a Complete Blood Count (CBC) test was conducted on each infant. The results showed improved haemoglobin levels in two orangutans identified as M3 and F2. M3 has also received supportive injections to help raise its haemoglobin levels further.
Nandankanan Deputy Director Pradeep Mirase said the infants are being closely observed by veterinary teams, with treatment being adjusted according to their health requirements.
Expert recommendations
The recovery follows recent examinations by wildlife health specialists, including Dr. Abhijit Bhawal, Veterinary Officer at Delhi Zoo, and Dr. Sanath Krishna Mulia, Wildlife Veterinarian at the Wildlife Institute of India in Dehradun.
After reviewing the infants’ condition, the experts recommended gradually increasing their food intake, introducing additional dietary items, and administering antiparasitic medicines such as ivermectin or doramectin to reduce worm burden.
Earlier anaemia concerns
Previous health assessments had found that three of the five orangutan infants were suffering from anaemia, with one diagnosed with severe anaemia and two showing mild symptoms. Since then, the animals have been receiving supportive supplements and targeted veterinary care under the guidance of an expert committee.
The latest improvement in haemoglobin levels has been viewed as a positive development in their ongoing recovery.
Rescue and trafficking probe
The orangutan infants were rescued on September 8 after being spotted in the Rankotha Reserved Jhau Forest in Odisha’s Bhogarai area. They were subsequently shifted to Nandankanan Zoological Park, where they remain in quarantine under specialised care.
Authorities continue to investigate the suspected trafficking network and the circumstances that led to the endangered primates being abandoned in the forest.
Leave a Reply