A female Borneo orangutan, Sabatini, has undergone a gynaecological examination at Sóstó Zoo.
In addition to the SóstóZoo veterinary team, human doctors also took part in the examination.
The animal, which has been living in Sóstó Zoo since 2009, had already given birth to a new offspring in 2013, but now the European Endangered Species Programme has designated a new male, so it was necessary to check whether the 36-year-old female could be used for breeding before the breeding could take place.
The Bornean orangutan ( Pongo pygmaeus) is on the brink of extinction in the wild. The world's largest and slowest reproducing tree mammal is under the greatest threat from hunting and illegal trade, as well as from the rapid loss of habitat as humans clear their rainforest habitat and create more and more oil palm plantations to replace the trees they cut down.
This is why it is important that red-furred primates are displayed in closed enclosures and bred.
In Europe, a total of 160 individuals live in zoos and their planned breeding takes into account not only genetic purity but also the behaviour and characteristics of the animals.
The high quality medical collaboration involved sonographer Angéla Molnárné Őri, gynaecologist Zoárd Krasznai and anaesthesiologist Szilárd Szatmári with our zzoo veterinary team. Dr. Alexandra Biácsi, Chief Veterinarian of the Sóstó Zoo, organised and supervised the examination.
The orangutan was examined under anaesthesia. In addition to a physical examination, Sabatini's health was assessed by blood sampling, a hormone analysis, a gynaecological ultrasound scan and a sample collection.
During the successful procedure, the female orangutan was found to be in perfect health, with an ultrasound scan even showing an intact follicle, so there was no medical reason for the natural conception.
