Obese ape gets new home at Dorset's Monkey World
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By Zoe Kleinman
Reporter, BBC Dorset
At 100kg, 13 year old Oshine is twice the weight she should beA 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.
"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