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)