Bhubaneswar: One of the five baby orangutans quarantined at Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar has developed fever, prompting authorities to step up monitoring its health condition.
The rare animals, which are not native to India, have been kept at Nandankanan after being rescued from a forest in Baleshwar district on September 8. Authorities are on alert over the health condition of the animals.
Stating that one of the babies had been showing high body temperature since Sunday, officials said the animal was being administered medicines to control the fever. Veterinarians at the zoo are closely monitoring the animal’s condition and providing round-the-clock care, they said.
The other four orangutans are healthy and responding normally, officials said, adding that separate arrangements have been made for the orangutans.
Sources said the quarantine enclosure at the zoo has recently become relatively crowded following the arrival of 58 new animals. However, separate arrangements have been made for the orangutans. Special mosquito nets have been installed in their temperature-controlled room.
Experts said the fever could be due to stress, fatigue or a sudden change in the environment. It will take some time for the babies to get acclimated to the prevailing environment. The orangutans normally live in rainforest atmosphere.
According to Aditya Acharya, head of the Centre for Wildlife Health at Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), high body temperature in orangutans is monitored like that in humans. The animal suffering from high body temperature is also given less food than normal, he said.
Meanwhile, the Odisha government has formed a five-member technical committee to oversee the care of the five baby orangutans.
The panel will assess issues related to the welfare and upkeep of the rescued animals and provide technical inputs for their proper care, according to an order.
The committee may also consult or co-opt experts and organisations of national and international repute whenever required, it said.
Chief Wildlife Warden and PCCF (Wildlife) P K Jha said three caretakers and doctors had been engaged round-the-clock to monitor the health of the babies.
He said the caretakers were taking proper care of the orangutans and feeding them every two hours as advised by animal health experts.
The animals are being fed milk every two hours, along with apple and banana fluids and boiled potatoes at regular intervals, according to a dietary chart prepared by experts.
The orangutans have also been provided soft toys and swings and are made to listen to music to help keep them stress-free, officials said.
It may be recalled that the five baby orangutans were rescued from Bichitrapur forest in Bhograi block of Balasore district on September 8 and housed at the Nandankanan Zoo quarantine facility the same night.
Meanwhile, the Odisha Police’s Special Task Force (STF) and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) have intensified their investigation into the alleged international wildlife smuggling involved in the case.
