Mysuru Zoo now houses two pairs of orangutans: Merlin, Atina; Afa, Minnie

Mysuru: Mysuru Zoo first housed orangutans in the early 1970s, with a pair affectionately known as “Subba” and “Subbi.”

Following their deaths, Mysuru remained without orangutans for nearly five decades. In 2021, through international animal-exchange arrangements, the Zoo welcomed the species back with two pairs: Merlin and Atina from Singapore Zoo and Afa and Minnie from Malaysia.

Drawing on the Zoo’s experience in caring for orangutans, veterinarians Dr. Shashidhar and Dr. Madan were sent to Bhubaneswar to advise on the care of the five cubs.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, Dr. Shashidhar said, the five orangutan infants are currently housed in a controlled room where temperature and humidity are artificially regulated.

The infants are from different mothers and range in age from 6 months to 2 years. Orangutans have a 3 to 4-year dependency period, the longest among primates. The youngest of the five is estimated to be six to eight months old, while the oldest is between 1.5 and 2 years.

“While they are generally doing fine, all 5 are experiencing stress due to early separation from their mothers. One infant has anaemia, 2 have mild-to-moderate anaemia, while the remaining 2 are in relatively stable condition. As primates can easily contract human diseases, restricting the number of keepers helps minimise the risk of cross-contamination,” he said. The cubs are being given the recommended milk formula and necessary medication. However, the climate in Odisha is not naturally suitable for the infants, making a controlled environment necessary, Dr. Shashidhar said.

“The Mysuru Zoo is fully prepared and equipped to receive and care for the orangutans if the Government decides to relocate them. Blood samples have been collected. While genetic sequencing to trace their exact origins is planned for the future, current efforts are focused strictly on their immediate health needs,” Dr. Shashidhar said.