Malaria has hit the Nyaru Menteng Clinic with devastating results for the Orangutans.
Little Angely recently died of malaria.
Malaria is always a cause for concern at the Nyaru Menteng project and the team must be ever vigilant. In a project that was originally designed to care for only 100 orangutans, there are now more than 650 of them.
Malaria is a common occurrence and causes regular outbreaks amongst the youngsters. In such close quarters this means that, unlike conditions in the wild where orangutans can roam far and wide, disease can spread very quickly and sometimes without mercy.
When Orangutans get malaria they suffer in the same way as we do. They get headaches and severe ‘flu’-like symptoms. With quick treatment and TLC (lots of cuddles and paracetamol) they will usually get back to forest school within 3 weeks. Sometimes though, the malaria-carrying mosquitoes breed rapidly and out of control and this can lead to severe epidemics.
In January 2009, such an epidemic hit the sanctuary. More than 100 orangutans were infected. This was a difficult situation to deal with and the medical team worked day and night to contain the spread and treat each and every patient. Sadly, 10 young lives were lost to a complication called Cerebral Malaria, a condition that can turn a serious illness into a killer in less than 12 hours. Little Togel, pictured above, was amongst the casualties…
We know you appreciate that every orangutan life is precious. And when a life is lost, the need to protect and save every remaining life becomes even greater. It hurts to imagine a world without these intelligent, beautiful creatures, but that is what might happen if we do not do everything in our power to protect each and every individual that falls under our care.
With less than 40,000 of these apes left in the wild, the future of the orangutan in our world could be considered less than promising. But the team of medics and carers at Nyaru Menteng are working tirelessly to make sure such a scenario NEVER becomes real.
Malaria will always be a major cause of illness and a serious drain on resources– which is precisely why we need your help!
A donation to our appeal for medical supplies for the treatment of malaria will help the medical team manage the disease and protect precious orangutan lives.
Please donate now and help us protect young orangutan lives. Your donation can help fund the following much needed medical supplies:
A case of malaria drugs: $20
Malaria test kit: $40
Simple malaria case diagnosis and treatment: $90
Drugs for complicated case: $180
Complicated diagnosis and treatment malaria: $220
Infusion pump: $1000
Thank you so much,
Dr David Irons
Orangutan Medic, Nyaru Menteng
Lone Droscher Nielsen
Manager, Nyaru Menteng
Richard Zimmerman
Director, Orangutan Outreach
Please Donate : http://redapes.org/campaigns/medical-appeal/
By: Roy Goh
KOTA KINABALU: The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) has captured rare images of an orang utan swimming to safety with a baby on her back.
The mother swims while holding onto the rope. It made sure the baby’s head was above water while she swam across.
A WWF field staff recently took the photographs in the Lower Segama area between Sandakan and Lahad Datu.
The orangutan had been stranded on a tree for a week because of floods when the Sabah Wildlife Department sent a team to the area.
They had just set up a rope bridge about four meters to the nearest point of dry ground.
The orangutan, with her baby clinging onto her back, climbed down the tree and grabbed hold of the rope that was thrown to her, said a WWF spokesman.
The orangutan then pulled herself closer toward dry land and swam “like a dog”, the spokesman said.
The mother and baby were fed, and tended for about 30 minutes before being released into the jungle.
It is generally believed that orangutan are non-swimmers because they supposedly fear water.
The pictures proved that if they were desperate enough, they could actually swim.
The Lok Kawi Wildlife Park nearby keeps its orangutan in an enclosure surrounded by a moat.
But there is no record of any of the animals swimming across to escape.
Source: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/National/2508055/Article/index_html
http://redapes.org/voices-from-the-field/any-mother-will-swim-to-save-her-child/
The annual TED conference brings together the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers, and challenges them to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes). Willie Smits told the story of Samboja Lestari-- the greatest reforestation project on earth! Save the forest! Save the planet! Reach out and save the orangutans!
