DNA tests for Safariworld orangutans

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Article from The Bangkok Post:

WILDLIFESAFARI WORLD

Vets begin DNA testing of zoo's orangutans

 

 

 

210904_news2 (9K)

 

Forestry police and veterinarians from Kasetsart University extract a DNA

sample from one of the orangutans at Safari World yesterday. - BOONNARONG

BHUDHIPANYA

TUL PINKAEW

Veterinarians from Kasetsart University yesterday performed DNA tests on the

first batch of orangutans seized from Safari World, in a month-long mission

to determine the origin of 102 apes found at the private zoo.

 

Safari World's vice president said 50 orangutans were descendants of the 14

acquired before the 1992 ban on trade in endangered animals; some of the

apes had been donated by the public.

 

``We will perform DNA testing, first on the 50 orangutans that the zoo has

singled out as descendants of the original 14, as well as all the original

females, believed to be mothers of the apes, to see whether the DNA types

match. The rest will be done after the laboratory results of the first batch

are concluded,'' said Dr Kaset Sutaecha of Kasetsart's veterinary faculty.

 

Dr Kaset assured no harm would come to the apes, as only a mild

antidepressant would be used before the team takes samples of blood, fur and

droppings.

 

Tests on the first batch would take five days, or 10 orangutans a day, and

another 30 days would be spent in the testing lab.

 

Puwanart Sangsue, Safari World vice president, admitted the zoo informed the

Forestry Police of the numbers last week but it was common knowledge that

Safari World has for quite some time been taking in orphaned orangutans.

 

Pol Col Wichit Nuntawong, head of the investigation team, believes that by

admitting only 50 had been born from the 14, the zoo was trying to avoid

full punishment.

 

``Zoo officials must have figured it would be impossible for over 100

orangutans to have been born from only seven fertile adult couples. That's

why they decided to single out this number,'' he said.