First of its Kind - Cataract operation on Aman, the Orang Utan
"Successful cataract operation on Orang Utan in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysian BORNEO"
Thanks to a team of doctors and voluteers, the two and a half hour operation on an orang utan, Aman (meaning Peace in Malay language) was successfully carried out at the Matang Wildlife Centre in Kuching. Two top specialists in their fields, Dr Izet Venter (animal ophthalmologist) and Dr Frik Stegman (specialist anaesthetist) both from South Africa aided by a local veterinarian, Dr S Amilan were instrumental to the success of this unique operation.
Born in 1988, he was shortly orphaned afterwards and at an earlier Semenggok Wildlife Centre he was diagnosed with bilateral cataracts which were to cause serious deterioration of vision. Finally blinded in both eyes, Aman is now 18 years with two offsprings, one as recently as a month old female baby. He is expected to regain his eyesights after several days.
Matang Wildlife Centre was first opened in July 1998 on a 179 hectare area dedicated to the housing and rehabilitation of animals. It is currently home to crocodilians, birds, primates, porcupines, sun bears, leopard cats, civets and chelonians, some 40 km from the city centre.
Our big thank you goes to the kindness of the South African doctors and the team of voluteers.
We will keep you up to date with Aman's progress.
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