Meet Budi: the baby orangutan who beat the odds and survived living inside a chicken cage for more than 10 months.
“We cannot even imagine how much pain this small baby has suffered,” said International Animal Rescue program director Dr. Karmele L. Sanchez. “His eyes fill with tears every time he’s moved by the doctors and he screams in pain. It’s really amazing that Budi has been able to survive this long.”
Budi arrived at IAR’s Orangutan Rescue Center in Indonesia back in December after a local from Kubing informed the authorities that she was willing to hand over a small baby orangutan that she had been keeping as a pet. The resident admitted that he was very sick and had spent nearly a year inside the chicken cage, drinking nothing but condensed milk.
“The owner said that she was afraid to give Budi any fruits and thought that giving condensed milk would be sufficient,” explained IAR official Dr. Ayu Handayani.
Upon his arrival, Budi shiowed signs of severe malnutrition and his body was swollen up with fluid owing to the lack of protein, according to an IAR statement.
Budi was extremely weak, unable to move and also suffering from severe anemia. He is also being treated for a severe metabolic disease affecting his bones.
The adorable orangutan is now being monitored and observed round the clock by IAR’s team of vets as he continues down the road to recovery.
“At the moment we are still worried for his life and trying to minimize his pain,” Sanchez said. “But Budi is a very strong little baby and he is fighting very hard to survive.”