Budi the Baby Orangutan

[Dog Ears]

This story was on our local TV news this evening and concerns a baby orang utan kept in a chicken coop and fed condensed milk. The great apes' jungle habitat is also being destroyed through the establishment of palm oil farms. Word of Budi, who is very photogenic, spread on the internet and the charity involved, International Animal Rescue (based in sussex), has so far raised £20,000 in order to reintroduce him back to his habitat. The story shows that palm oil, often sold as vegetable oil and very saturated, is not only bad for our health, it is bad for wildlife too.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-000-care.html

[Tobi]

This story was on our local TV news this evening and concerns a baby orang utan kept in a chicken coop and fed condensed milk. The great apes' jungle habitat is also being destroyed through the establishment of palm oil farms. Word of Budi, who is very photogenic, spread on the internet and the charity involved, International Animal Rescue (based in sussex), has so far raised £20,000 in order to reintroduce him back to his habitat. The story shows that palm oil, often sold as vegetable oil and very saturated, is not only bad for our health, it is bad for wildlife too.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-000-care.html

I read that story. The poor little thing was still struggling, but receiving the best of care. The nurses were so gentle and thoughtful with him, bless them. The previous 'owner' of this poor baby just didn't appear to have any idea what they were doing. Probably didn't intend any cruelty, but were inept. It shows that 'exotic pets' are many times a very bad idea for people who do not know what they are doing.

Palm oil is bad news. It is in so many products we buy daily too. We really do have to read labels.
I hope Budi is doing better now. It's great news International Animal Rescue has had such a wonderful response to help him.

[LPC]

I saw that article, too. I'm glad that you chose to mention it on this forum, Dog Ears. Yes, Tobi, you are quite right. We (meaning everyone) need to read the labels carefully. Only in that way can we reduce the demand for palm oil and stop the pressure for habitat destruction.

Does anyone have an update on the story about Budi?

[knightofalbion]

I hadn't seen the story! But am glad the story took a turn for the better. Hopefully Budi will be able to lead a normal, happy life in the wild eventually. Though I fear not getting an appropriate diet in those vital formative months may leave him sickly.... Let us hope for the best.

[knightofalbion]

Figured the obvious place for an update was the IAR website.


http://www.internationalanimalrescue.org/budi

[Tobi]

Poor little Budi. His early days of malnutrition have taken their toll on him. I just hope he will be able to lead some sort of happy life -maybe if not returned to the wild, but even in some sanctuary (as he may not be able to survive as a wild Orangutan if he bears the consequences of his early mis-treatment)

The person who 'owned' him previously made bad mistakes. They were ignorant. But they had the common sense in the end to get him the help he needs. We must thank them for that. For that, they are not completely without compassion.

I just found this video of him. He is now learning to climb, and looks as if he is improving daily:
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/dai...-to-climb.html

[LPC]

I also found this video, where he is learning to walk:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cpYv8KDRoU

[Monox D. I-Fly]

This story was on our local TV news this evening and concerns a baby orang utan kept in a chicken coop and fed condensed milk. The great apes' jungle habitat is also being destroyed through the establishment of palm oil farms. Word of Budi, who is very photogenic, spread on the internet and the charity involved, International Animal Rescue (based in sussex), has so far raised £20,000 in order to reintroduce him back to his habitat. The story shows that palm oil, often sold as vegetable oil and very saturated, is not only bad for our health, it is bad for wildlife too.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-000-care.html

Wait... Orangutan, Budi, palm oil, did this happen in Indonesia?

[LPC]

Please read the original article cited in post no. 1. This took place in Borneo.

[theelegantellie]

That's awful! I didn't hear about that. I heard about palm oil. I was just reading about that actually. I'm going to make sure none of the products I buy contain that.