Orangutan in zoos need better care

Desy Nurhayati ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 05/27/2009 6:03 PM  |  National

The Center for Orangutan Protection (COP) revealed Wednesday that orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) in five zoos in Indonesia were not well looked after, causing the animals to become stressed.

After conducting a month-long observation last month of 28 orangutans in Bandung, Jakarta, Surakarta, Yogyakarta and Surabaya zoos, the group found the animals were not given proper facilities.

"Some of the orangutans were placed in cages alone and were not given playing facilities, which made them stressed," COP researcher Luki Wardhani said, adding that the stressful conditions were proven by the animals’ anomalous behavior.

The orangutans also lacked proper access to water, she said.

Although some of the orangutans were placed in open captivity resembling a natural habitat, the animals were stressed because they were lonely, she said.

"They became more stressed because they were exploited. They were forced to perform in front of zoo visitors, but were not well fed."

The center has urged zoo managements to stop exploiting orangutans and treat them as a protected species.
  

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.