Other domain -> gov edu net com

THE REHABILITATION OF ORANGUTANS AT SEPILOK

The Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre was established in 1964 to return orphaned apes back to the wild. The centre was being administered by the wildlife section of the Forestry Department which in 1988 was upgraded as a department under the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Development. All administration and management was given to the new Wildlife Department of Sabah.

The objectives of the project have expanded in recent years. While Orangutan rehabilitation is still the primary goal at Sepilok, present aims include public education on conservation, research and assistance to other endangered species such as captive breeding of the rare and endangered rhinoceros.

This centre is now under the supervision of more than 37 staff, including a Wildlife Officer who is also officer-in-charge of the centre, a veterinary doctor, wildlife rangers and general workers.

The centre has a reception centre, information centre, offices for wildlife staff, an animal clinic, quarantine area and enclosures for various animals such as the rhinoceros.

Sepilok, renowned for its orangutan rehabilitation project, has stimulated a greater local and international awareness of the protection laws for endangered species, and the Centre has resulted in an increase in detection and confiscation of illegally held captive animals.

EARLY STORY

The Sabah Orangutan Rehabilitation Project was originally proposed in 1961 by P.F. Burgess, then the Deputy Conservator of Forests. He was also responsible for the establishment of a game branch within the Forest Department and the drafting of the Fauna Conservation Ordinance, 1963.

Soon afterwards, Barbara Harrisson, wife of the Curator of- Sarawak Museum, began to rescue young orangutans being kept locally as pets, and the idea grew of training these animals to fend for themselves so that they might re-adapt to life in the wild. In 1962, with the backing of the newly formed World Wildlife Fund, Harrisson visited Sabah (then North Borneo) and reported that orangutan were rare and threatened with extinction. In Sabah it is a totally protected animal under the Fauna Conservation Ordinance, 1963.

WHAT IS THE REHABILITATION PROCESS?

Admission

The rehabilitation process starts right afteran orangutan has been admitted to the centre. The majority of animals arriving at Sepilok have been taken from people keeping them (illegally) in captivity, often after having taken them away from their mothers, while still babies, to become household pets. Others include adults that have sustained injury or sickness and require medical treatment before being returned to the wild.

Quarantine

All animals are given a thorough general health examination shortly after arrival. This is followed by a guarantine period of 3 - 6 months to eliminate the possibility of them passing diseases to other orangutans. Through all phases of the rehabilitation process, the clinic offers assistance with any health problems that animals may encounter. The medical check-up comprises of tests for TB and Malaria, urine analysis, bacteriology and chest-d-ray. Afterquarantine, the orangutan will be assessed as to whether it should undergo the whole programme or deliberately start from the second or third stage.

Nursery

During the first year of their lives, young orangutan learn all the skills necessary for survival from their mothers. Captive orangutans, deprived of their mothers, are unable to find food, build nests, or even climb properly. It is these skills which wildlife rangers encourage the rehabilitants to develop. The "NURSERY" phase is where young orangutans (1 - 3 years) undergo a period of "preschool " training to give them skills essential to life in the jungle, such as the ability to climb trees and explore the use of their limbs.

Platform A (Outward Bound School)

For those which are ready for it, there is then a period of 'Outward Bound School' where their dependence on the food and emotional support given by the rehabilitation centre is gradually reduced. Here, orangutans are given increasing freedom and at the same time encouraged to learn to fend for themselves. At plafform A, their natural forest diet is supplemented with milk, added minerals and vitamins, and fruits twice a day.

Platform B (Survival Training)

Finally, when an orangutan has totally adjusted itself in the forest and shows signs of independence, it is gradually moved to the last phase of survival training. Here, even less food is offered, further a way from the Centre, at platform B. Here most animals eventually achieve total independence and become intergrated into Sepilok's wild orangutan population. Since the Centre was established, more than 100 orangutans have been successfully released.

Cited from : The Rehabilitation Of Orangutans at Sepilok, Jabatan Cetak Kerajaan Negeri Sabah, 1994.

Homepage designed by Sabah State Library
Feedback to Webmaster
Disclaimer