Boiran presses against the bars of his cage, his bottom lip pushed forward to form a funnel. The worm-medicine that tastes like oranges is a favourite amongst the orang-utans. A satisfied lip-smacking tells us that the medicine was accepted. In fact, many tricks used in paediatrics can be applied when treating orang-utans.

Because of their close relationship to humans, apes can contract most of the same diseases as we do and also transmit them to humans, often with fatal consequences for the apes. When sick orang-utans return to the forest they can transmit dangerous illnesses such as hepatitis or tuberculosis to their conspecifics. That is exactly the opposite of what we are trying to achieve with the Reintroduction Project.

All confiscated orang-utans are thoroughly examined and quarantined in the station in Batu Mbelin for at least a month to curb any health risk. During this period, all examinations and tests are repeated three times before the all-clear is given for the transfer of the orangs to Bukit Tigapuluh.