'Mummified' Baby Orangutan Undergoes Amazing Transformation

BORNEO --  Gito, a 5-month-old infant orangutan, was being kept as a pet by the leader of a Borneo village, who had paid less than $30 for the tiny ape. Gito's mother had almost certainly been killed so her little baby could be taken and sold for a profit.

When International Animal Rescue (IAR) found him, he had been placed in a cardboard box and left in the sun to die. He had been fed only condensed milk, and the box was was soaked through with urine. The small bundle looked so lifeless that rescuers initially thought he was dead.

"He was lying corpse-like with his arms folded across his chest and this, along with a lack of hair and grey flaking skin, made him look almost mummified in his cardboard coffin," IAR said.

"Even the most hardened members of the team were shocked by the state the little orangutan was in," the group wrote on its website.

An immediate medical check revealed he was suffering from sarcoptic mange, and they quickly put him on a drip and and began to treat his injured skin.

But now, thanks to the tireless efforts of IAR's staff, little Gito is finally recovering the life that should have been his — and he couldn't be cuter.



Recent photos show a healthier, bright-eyed infant, playing on his jungle gym and staring into the camera with evident wonder.

And while he isn't completely out of the woods, his rescuers can't help but hope for the best.

"It is still too early to tell if Gito's sad start to life will have had any long term effects on his health," the group added. "However, the vets are very pleased with his progress and we are all hopeful that one day he will be released back into the wild."

He's also becoming more active. A video from earlier this month shows the formerly lifeless orangutan swinging on a bar with the help of his physiotherapist. 




 After all he's been through, Gito is finally reclaiming the life he should have had all along. And if he continues to improve, he'll have a very exciting day coming up soon. "The first challenge for Gito is preschool, which he is due to start very soon!" IAR wrote.

Gito's stunning transformation is an excellent reminder of just how much good groups like IAR can do for the animals they rescue. To help IAR care for Gito and other orphans like him, you can make a donation here.

(The Dodo - Nov 13, 2015)