Hope is holding on after being shot 74 times with an air rifle.
SOCP veterinarians performed the surgery with help from Dr Andreas Messikommer, a Swiss specialist for human orthopedic surgery. According to SOCP, the operation took three hours. Doctors placed a pin a six screws in the bone to put it back in place. While operating on Hope, vets discovered the broken collarbone pierced one of Hope’s air sacs — the large ‘throat sac’ that orangutans have under their chins and high on their chests — and caused an infection. This infection was also treated during the operation.
“During the operation we did not remove any of the numerous air rifle pellets still scattered throughout Hope’s body, as we have to prioritize her broken collarbone and the risk of infection that is posing in her shoulder. The operation went as well as we could have hoped though, and we hope that her recovery will likewise go smoothly and without complications,” SOCP Senior Veterinarian, Dr. Yenny Saraswati, said in a statement, adding that the ape is still in the “early days” of her recovery.
Because of the nature of Hope’s injuries, she will not be able to survive in the wild after she heals. Hope will have to live out the rest of her days in a sanctuary. SOCP says senseless air rifle injuries are common abuse orangutans endure.
“The fact that so many people are still wandering around with air rifles and shooting at wildlife is a major problem for conservation in Indonesia. Despite yesterday’s surgery, Hope’s condition is still very serious and the vet team still have a lot of hard work to do if she’s to survive her ordeal. Its always extremely sad to come across cases like this one, but what’s most depressing is the fact that she is not the first to be shot so many times like this,” Dr. Ian Singleton, Director of the SOCP for thePanEco Foundation, said.
The SOCP has cared for 15 orangutans with air rifle injuries over the past ten years. They have found over 500 pellets embedded in these apes.
YEL-SOCP/Suryadi
Sapto Aji Prabowo, head of the Aceh provincial conservation agency, said that he is dedicated to helping local police investigate the crime and find those responsible for the illegal shooting. Orangutans are a protected species under Indonesian law. Those who kill, catch, keep, injure or trade orangutans can fans up to five years in jail and/or a $7,000 fine.
Hope is one of 370 orangutans that SOCP has cared for at their clinic since starting the center in 2001. Along with helping injured apes, the organization also researches wild orangutan populations, protects orangutan habitats and helps rescue, rehab and release captive orangutans.
source: people.com
