Boar kills rehabilitated ape

BALIKPAPAN, East Kalimantan: One of 49 orangutans rehabilitated after being raised in captivity has been found dead, apparently killed by wild boars, local coordinators said.

Nita Boestani, head of the Wana Riset program to resettle orangutans in their original habitat in the Samboja jungle, said the coordinators are still trying to determine the fate of the other primates, Antara news agency reported.

Some of the orangutans were sent back from Taiwan, where they were raised as pets from the time they were born.

Meanwhile Kris Warren, veterinary at the rehabilitation center, said that many of the rehabilitated apes suffered from flu or worm-related diseases. Five even contracted hepatitis B and are now under intensive care. (emb)