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Translocation of pocketed orang-utans in Sabah

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 April 2009

Patrick Mahedi Andau ,
Lim Khun Hiong  and
John B. Sale
Patrick Mahedi Andau
Affiliation:
Sabah Wildlife Department, 5th Floor, Block B, Wisma Muis, 88400, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
Lim Khun Hiong
Affiliation:
Sabah Wildlife Department, 5th Floor, Block B, Wisma Muis, 88400, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
John B. Sale
Affiliation:
Sabah Wildlife Department, 5th Floor, Block B, Wisma Muis, 88400, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
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Abstract

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Sabah is faced with a problem of small groups of orang-utans isolated from their parent populations in fragments of secondary forest, mainly on oil-palm plantations. The Wildlife Department has recently captured 84 such animals in three locations and translocated most of them to Tabin Wildlife Reserve, which already has a low-density population of orang-utans. The majority of animals were captured by drug immobilization, using a 5:1 ketamine/xylazine mixture at a mean dosage of 8.47 mg/kg body weight (range 3.76–22.64 mg/kg). This proved an effective and safe method. Others, mainly immatures, were captured manually. Few injuries or other problems were encountered. The cost of the rescue operations was $US175 per animal. A satisfactory way of monitoring the released orangutans is under development.

Type
Research Article
Information
Oryx , Volume 28 , Issue 4 , October 1994 , pp. 263 - 268
Copyright
Copyright © Fauna and Flora International 1994

References

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