Bhubaneswar: One of the five baby orangutans quarantined at Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar since September 8 has developed fever, prompting authorities to remain on alert over the health condition of the animals, which are not native to India.
Official sources said one of the babies had been showing high body temperature since Sunday and was being administered medicines to control it.
Veterinarians at the zoo are closely monitoring the animal’s condition and providing round-the-clock care, they said.
“One of the orangutans has had a fever since the day it was brought here. The fever subsides when given medicine, but reappears again. But it is now stable and under strict medical supervision,” a senior official told PTI.
The other four orangutans are healthy and responding normally, officials said.
Sources said the quarantine enclosure at the zoo has recently become relatively crowded following the arrival of 58 new animals. However, separate arrangements have been made for the orangutans.
“We have made separate arrangements for the orangutans,” the official said, adding that special mosquito nets have been installed in their temperature-controlled room.
Experts said the fever could be due to stress, fatigue or a sudden change in the environment.
“It will take some time for the babies to get acclimated to the prevailing environment. The orangutans normally live in rainforest atmosphere,” the veterinary officer said.
According to Aditya Acharya, head of the Centre for Wildlife Health at Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), high body temperature in orangutans is monitored like that in humans.
“Normally, animals like human beings are administered paracetamol-based medication during high body temperature,” Acharya said.
He said the animal suffering from high body temperature is also given less food than normal.
Meanwhile, the Odisha government has formed a five-member technical committee to oversee the care of the five baby orangutans.
The panel will assess issues related to the welfare and upkeep of the rescued animals and provide technical inputs for their proper care, according to an order.
The committee may also consult or co-opt experts and organisations of national and international repute whenever required, it said.
Chief Wildlife Warden and PCCF (Wildlife) PK Jha said three caretakers and doctors had been engaged round-the-clock to monitor the health of the babies.
Jha, however, said he has no information about one baby orangutan suffering from fever.
He said the caretakers were taking proper care of the orangutans and feeding them every two hours as advised by animal health experts.
The animals are being fed milk every two hours, along with apple and banana fluids and boiled potatoes at regular intervals, according to a dietary chart prepared by experts.
The orangutans have also been provided soft toys and swings and are made to listen to music to help keep them stress-free, officials said.
The five orangutans were rescued from Bichitrapur forest in Bhograi block of Balasore district on September 8 and housed at the Nandankanan Zoo quarantine facility the same night.
Meanwhile, the Odisha Police’s Special Task Force (STF) and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) have intensified their investigation into the alleged international wildlife smuggling involved in the case.
