Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-qsmjn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-19T14:24:39.797Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

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.
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

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

Caldecott, J. and Kavanagh, M. 1983. Can translocation help wild primates? Oryx, 17, 135–139.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Djojosudharmo, S. and van Schaik, C.P. 1992. Why are orangutans so rare in the highlands? Tropical Biodiversity, 1, 11–22.Google Scholar
Payne, Junaidi. 1988. Orang-utan Conservation in Sabah. WWF Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. 137 pp.Google Scholar
Rijksen, H.D. 1978. A field study of Sumatran orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus abelii) Lesson, 1827). Veenman en zonen, Wageningen.Google Scholar
Rood, J.P. and Nellis, D.W. 1980. Freeze marking mongooses. Journal of Wildlife Management, 44, 500–501.CrossRefGoogle Scholar