Hepatitis B infects orangutans

Hepatitis B infects orangutans

SAMARINDA, E. Kalimantan: Twelve orangutans have been infected
with the Hepatitis B virus in the Wanariset Semboja rare animal
rehabilitation center in East Kalimantan, Antara reported
yesterday.

The head of Wanariset Semboja, Adi Susilo, said here yesterday
the 12 Hepatitis-infected orangutans have been isolated in a
special pen to prevent the virus from spreading to other
primates.

"The conditions of two of the twelve infected orangutans have
improved. Doctors of Wanariset Semboja are constantly giving them
vitamins and minerals," Susilo said.

Susilo said there are 121 orangutans living in Wanariset
Semboja.

The primates will live there for three and a half years before
being set free in the jungle.

"We need three and a half years to work with each orangutan,
and rehabilitation costs for one orangutan is around 8.5 million
rupiah (US$2,575), not including the cost to free them into the
wild, " he said.

It is expensive to reacclimatize the orangutans to the wild.
In addition, the release site has been changed from the Sungai
Wain Balikpapan protected forest to Gunung Meratus in Pasir
District.

"To reach that area we need a helicopter," he said.

Susilo said the Wanariset Semboja receives support from the
government, donations from non-governmental organizations and
gifts from lovers of rare and endangered animals. It has 31
employees and four doctors. (swe)