Thing are looking up for Amy, the orangutan that was recently rescued by the team at the IAR Orangutan Project!
The team here at The Great Projects were utterly shocked to learn of Amy's story a short while ago...
Locals alerted the Human Orangutan Conflict team in Ketapang of Amy’s existence, and the team had no idea just how dark that existence was for the great ape until they came to her rescue. This poor animal had been kept, chained up inside a small wooden crate, with sheets of iron concealing her from the outside world. All she would have known of the world on the other side of her box are picture less sounds of passers-by.
The crate was small, too small to even stand up or move around much, but her owner still kept Amy chained up so she couldn’t escape. Her chains were so tight they left an agonizing wound on the back of her neck. Her legs were so bent that she had difficulty walking when she was rescued Despite the owner’s claims Amy had only been in the crate a month, it is likely she has been in there for longer. A trapped bullet in the pit of her arm is suspected to be from when her mother was shot, as she was trying to protect her young from being taken. Amy is believed to be around seven years old and could potentially have been in captivity for some time. The team have discovered that the innocent ape has no trapped bullets or fractures in her legs, and confirmed that long years in captivity have caused limitations on her growth and muscle development.
Her eyes were dead and cloudy with depression as a result of the neglect she had been shown by humans prior to being rescued. When Amy was first encountered by the team when they tried to get her out of the crate, she didn’t even look at them. It was only after one of them gently touched her that she moved towards the team and held out her hand.
Alan Knight, IAR Chief Executive, said: “This is a tragic tale of cruelty and neglect. It will require plenty of time and patience for Amy to recover and it is still doubtful as to whether she will ever recover enough to be a candidate for release back into the wild.”
However, Amy’s story is getting better! The vet’s latest report explains that Amy seems to be in better spirits since being at the project site’s rehabilitation centre. She is also starting to enjoy her surrounding and leafy branches she is given for enrichment.
Whilst it will be some time before we know if Amy can be released back into the wild, we can rest that little bit easier knowing she is now in safe hands, and with all the handwork of the IAR staff and undoubtedly the volunteers, Amy will never have to go through something like that again.
If you are interested in volunteering on our IAR Orangutan Project, then please visit our project page for more information.
