South West What's On

Appeal For Help Feeding Orphan Orang-utan  

On Thursday 31st July, orphan Bornean orang-utan Sibu Jr had his first birthday at Dorset primate rescue centre, Monkey World! His wild cousins would have spent this birthday firmly attached to their mothers, but Sibu Jr was born at Dublin Zoo and tragically his mother did not allow him to suckle, so he had to be hand-reared to save his life. He was moved to the specialist orang-utan creche at Monkey World - Ape Rescue Centre in Dorset, who have experience in caring for vulnerable infants, and a nursery designed specifically to meet growing orang-utans needs.

Monkey World collected the infant when he was just 12 weeks old and moved him to the sanctuary under the care of experienced staff.
On his first birthday, Sibu Jr spent the day enjoying extra treats, toys and playing with his adoptive sister, 19-month-old Kiwi, who was also rejected by her mother in a zoo in Spain. 

Despite the duo’s increasing independence, keepers need to give milk feeds several times a day. In the wild, orang-utans would suckle until around four years old. Sibu Jr unfortunately is intolerant to the more usual cows milk formula, and the Monkey World team have found he can only have a hypoallergenic milk formula, Neocate Junior Unflavoured. All others make him unwell, and do not give the right level of nutrients. This is an expensive milk powder, so Monkey World are appealing to their supporters for any help in funding the baby’s milk, to celebrate the endangered primate’s birthday! 

Director of Monkey World, Dr. Alison Cronin, said “Sibu is our 13th orphan orang-utan to be cared for in our Orang-utan Creche. We provide specialist care for these vulnerable orphans so that can grow up living with others of their own kind. Sibu currently weighs just over 6kg and is getting through one tin of the Neocate every three days and of course as he matures he will take more of the amino acid based baby formula. Sibu and Kiwi also get a variety of vegetables and some fruit, but the milk formula is essential for strong bone growth”.

The pair live full-time in a specially designed playroom within the orang-utan nursery, which allows the vulnerable infants to see the older orang-utans risk-free. Here they can build all the vitals skill needed for adulthood, climbing, playing, socialising and growing strong until they are big enough to be introduced to the other orphans! 

Monkey World is a self-funded internationally renowned primate rescue centre, working with governments across the globe for the past 38 years to stop the illegal wildlife trade. Visitors to the park help to fund the centre’s work. Monkey World is open every day, except for Christmas Day.
www.monkeyworld.org/ 01929 462537