HEALTH EVALUATION OF FREE-RANGING AND SEMI-CAPTIVE ORANGUTANS (PONGO PYGMAEUS PYGMAEUS) IN SABAH, MALAYSIA

Baseline data on health of free-ranging wildlife is essential to evaluate impacts of habitat transformation and wildlife translocation, rehabilitation, and reintroduction programs. Health information on many species, especially great apes, is extremely limited. Between 1996 and 1998, 84 free-ranging orangutans captured for translocation, underwent a complete health evaluation. Analogous data were gathered from 60 semi-captive orangutans in Malaysia. Baseline hematology and serology; vitamin, mineral and pesticide levels; and results of health evaluations, including physical examination, provide a baseline for future monitoring. Free-ranging and semi-captive orangutans shared exposure to 11 of 47 viruses. The semi-captive orangutans had significantly higher prevalence of antibodies to adenovirus (P<0.0005) and rota (SA 11) virus (P<0.008). More free-ranging than semi-captive animals had antibodies to Japanese encephalitis virus (P<0.08) and foamy virus (P=0.05). Exposure to parainfluenza and langat viruses...