Cika
Cika
A little about Cika
In a dirty cage, in an illegal private ‘zoo,’ lies a dead bird of prey. In other cages, more animals are in bad condition and close to starvation. In the end of the so-called zoo, stands yet another cage. It is small and extremely filthy. Inside it lays an almost dead orangutan. She is in agony. Her body is in some sort of cramp and any attempt to touch her gently is causing her to cramp even more. She has deep wounds on her pelvis, cut through the skin and under-laying muscles to the bone by a sharp nylon rope. The wounds are dirty and infected. She is dehydrated and her stomach bloated, probably from lack of food. The owner explains that he has had several orangutans but they have all died. No wonder. Now this one looks like she is going to join the others. He explains that she has been sick for awhile now, but just a couple of days ago she started just lying around without moving and having these cramps. She is lifted gently out of the cage and placed on the back seat of the car. Instantly, she is treated with fluids and antibiotics. Three hours later, she arrives in Nyaru Menteng where she is immediately put on intravenous fluids and given anti-serum for tetanus. Her temperature is high and she is sensitive to noise and touch. With the infected wounds, tetanus is a very likely cause of her sudden cramps. Everything possible is done for her. She is on intravenous valium and painkillers, and has someone to care and watch over her 24 hours. 41 hours after her arrival she died. We had done our outmost best, but we had been too late. Her name was Cika. We never did have a chance to get to know her.
