The Infant Care Unit

An Infant Care Unit (ICU) was specially set up on Orang Utan Island owing to the success of the breeding program, to provide veterinary care for the infants, as well as to ensure that these primates can eventually adapt to the natural habitat and have a higher survival rate in the wilderness. A total of 13 infants were born on the island.

The objectives of the ICU are:

During birth , the infants may be required to be separated from its mother and taken into care at the ICU for the following reasons,

• failure of mother's lactation,
• premature birth / low birth weight,
• umbilical cord infection,
• diarrhea,
• poor growth rate, or
• lack of maternal care from the mother.

Infants separated from its mother will undergo clinical diagnosis, treatment, recovery and rehabilitation. The rehabilitation program is carried out internally and externally as to ensure that the babies will eventually adapt to the natural environment. The process is conducted by the Resident Veterinarian, Dr. Sabapathy, and his team of veterinarian assistants.