Dr. Jason update
Tuesday 16th November 2010
Dr Jason's arrival at the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre has proved to be very timely with staff shortages and vital ongoing work needing expert veterinary attention and advice. Consequently Dr Jason has quickly found himself in the thick of it, dealing with an extremely diverse clinical caseload, from rescuing injured or orphaned orangutans, to advising on standards for hygiene and sanitation in the Centre's new clinic and quarantine area- all part of a day's work for a Sepilok vet!
Maintaining the health of the orangutans at Sepilok, both existing wild animals and those progressing through the rehabilitation programme, is a vital part of the vets work at the Centre. Monitoring the health of the rehabilitants through twice daily ward round, weekly checks and blood sampling enables the vet to pick up fever symptoms and other minor problems before they become full blown illness. Early signs of malaria are often detected in this way before they become life threatening.
Healthy orangutans build their strength and learn to socialise in the Baby Rehabilitation Outdoor Exercise Enclosure, playing with their friends and working out in the Jungle Gym before heading back to the wards for the night.
Because the orangutans at Sepilok are in close contact with each other, in higher numbers than would be found in totally wild populations, the risk of disease and transmission of infection is potentially quite high. New arrivals must be subject to a period of quarantine before being allowed to interact with existing residents which requires careful monitoring and husbandry.
Wild and released orangutans in the Kabili Rainforest Reserve which surrounds the Sepilok Centre also need constant monitoring to prevent them introducing disease to younger rehabilitants, which has been an outgoing issue for Dr Jason. One such example is Balantidium - a highly contagious viral infection causing diarrhoea. Older and stronger orangutans returning from the forest feeding platforms to the clinic a can transmit the infection to the younger rehabilitants by contaminating the jungle gym.
Unfortunately two of the younger orangutan, Cecilia and Michelle have experienced the unpleasant effects of this virus recently. However with prompt medication and adherence to a strict cleaning regime to maintain the play enclosures in pristine condition, the problem has now abated. An important element of Dr Jason's work over the last 6 months has been to consolidate these practices and adapt them to the developing Centre and its facilities.
There are of course other health issues, some more serious than others that arise at the Centre, such as falls and bite wounds from other orangutans or monkeys. One of the older orangutans -Anekara was treated for a broken leg 3 months ago but is now doing very well, moving around without any problems, and another rehabilitant called Tiger recently had a nasty injury to his thumb, possibly as a result of a bite. Often after sustaining an injury orangutans may not be seen for a few days, as they go into hiding so once spotted the injury may have become swollen and infected, as was the case with Tiger. Dr Jason administered treatment to reduce inflammation and infection as quickly as possible in order to salvage as much of the thumb as he could. Fortunately in this instance only a partial amputation was necessary and Tiger is doing well since his operation.
Dr Jason also has a number of long term patients at the Centre who require his expert care. One such resident is Nonong, a female orangutan who was rescued in 2003 when only a year old.
Nonong was progressing well through the rehabilitation scheme until she suffered a major setback aged 4 years old. Nonong contracted cerebral malaria which unfortunately left her with one arm paralysed and prone to occasional fits and seizures. Dr Jason carries out regular health checks on the 8 year old orangutan, and her behaviour is closely monitored to prevent any setbacks. Nonong can never be released into the reserve because of fear of attack by other orangutans, so to give her as full and happy a life as possible, Dr Jason encourages opportunities for Nonong to interact with the juvenile orangutans at the Centre. Seemingly unhindered by her paralysis, she is a lively orangutan and enjoys climbing and playing in the exercise enclosure and out on the jungle gym, especially with her friends- adoptee babies Sen, Ceria and Michelle.
As part of the Appeals commitment to the Post Release Monitoring Programme led by the Appeals primatologist James Robins, Dr Jason has also continued to regularly monitor the health of the three orangutans released earlier this year in the remote reserve of Tabin. Atama and Ungkuyon are reported to be in very good physical order, and exhibiting strong natural behaviours such as foraging for a wide variety of foods and nest building.
However Eniro, despite being bright and alert is less willing to spend time in the canopy and as a result he has become a little underweight. Fortunately Dr Jason has been able to ascertain that there is no serious illness or infection underlying this behaviour and has recommended Eniro spends some time being monitored more closely in the pre release area, where he can also be given a course of anti worming treatment and an opportunity to lay down some energy reserves. With ongoing monitoring the future continues to look good for the Tabin Three.
One of the more exciting aspects of Dr Jason's role is the opportunity to assist in wildlife rescue missions. One example earlier this summer was that of a 12 year old sub-adult male orangutan that had been seen by a palm oil plantation owner, eating new shoots off palm oil trees. Fortunately, the owner contacted the Sabah Wildlife Department to request the Sepilok Rangers to collect it. This was very fortunate as often they are shot, as they are considered a pest. The head ranger and Dr Jason travelled down to the plantation very early one morning and found the orangutan still asleep in his nest in an adjacent area of forest. Dr Jason tranquilised the orangutan for the journey, and took him back to Sepilok for tests to ensure that he was free from disease. After a few days rest and some nutritious food the orangutan was transferred to the rainforest reserve at Tabin for release.
Another slightly more unusual rescue was that of Kecil (‘Ketcheel' meaning ‘small' in Malay) a 10month old female Bornean pygmy elephant calf, who had become separated from the rest of her herd and followed a logging truck into a settlement 30 km outside the town of Lahad Datu. Unwittingly the truck led her to safety because this brought her into contact with a plantation owner who alerted the Sabah Wildlife Rescue Unit. After possibly being on her own for several days at this point, Kecil was severely dehydrated and exhausted. The Unit's vets immediately administered intravenous saline solution and after 2 days she was able to undergo the 4 hour journey to Sepilok.
Weighing only 100kg on arrival at the Centre, tiny Kecil was physically lifted by the Rangers from the back of the rescue truck. After thorough investigation, Dr Jason's immediate concern was a nasty and infected sore on the inside of her mouth, where it is presumed she had been attempting to suckle on something whilst lost. Young elephants are very prone to illness and infection when dehydrated, so in addition to medication for worms and parasites Kecil also received a course of antibiotics.
With careful encouragement the young elephant took milk fortified with vitamins and minerals from a bottle and after two days her condition began to improve. Kecil has since been happily trotting round the clinic area for the last few months, alerting her keepers and Dr Jason to any potential delay in the feeding regime by way of a very loud trumpet! In the long term it is expected that Kecil will join a small herd of orphaned elephants at the Lok Kawi Park near Kota Kinabalu, where she will be able to enjoy the social interaction with her own kind that young elephants would usually experience.
In addition Dr Jason has also treated sun bears, a proboscis monkey, a slow Loris, a fish eagle and several domestic cats. A baby parrot has even taken up residence in his office after treatment. Dr Jason's experience, knowledge and absolute dedication have enabled him to provide the ongoing assessment, treatment and care the orangutans at the Sepilok Centre need in order to safeguard their future health and well being. The Centre's staff, and the Appeal are, as always grateful to Natures Organics for the sponsorship they provide which allows us to continue supporting this vital long-term project.
