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A morbidly obese female orang-utan from South
Africa weighing 100 kg (15 stone) has arrived at Monkey World near
Wareham in Dorset.
The ape, called Oshine (pronounced osheen), was offered to the
rescue centre when her owner realised she could no longer look
after her.
She travelled the 10.5 hour flight to the UK in a specially
constructed transport cage.
Oshine has now been put on a strict diet of fruit and
vegetables.
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"It will take a few months for Oshine to reach a more
appropriate weight and then she will be ready to meet a new man and
consider a family of her own," said Monkey World co-founder Dr
Alison Cronin MBE.
For now the 13-year-old ape is being kept in the park's
orang-utan crèche with four younger orang-utans and an elder
"mother".
In total there are over 230 apes at Monkey World, many of whom
have been rescued from captivity.
Oshine had to travel to the UK in a bespoke transport cage
because of her weight. She played in it for two days before it was
sealed for the flight.
"Getting to know her, making friends, and playing in the travel
crate days ahead of the journey made a real difference," said Dr
Cronin.
"We did not have to anaesthetise Oshine to get her to go into
her travelling crate."
Source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/dorset/hi/people_and_places/nature/newsid_8976000/8976347.stm