PHUKET: One of the twins born to gibbon Mee at Phuket's Gibbon Rehabilitation Project has died.
Here's how the GRP broke the news on Facebook:
It is not a happy start to the New Year here at the GRP. Sadly, despite all the promising signs, we have lost the smaller male twin.
Mee was keen to be a mother and from the beginning she was doing her very best to come to grips with how to carry and care for her newborn twins.
After the overwhelming first day that lead to the twins spending time in intensive care with GRP staff, the infants were returned one at a time to the mother last weekend.
In both cases Mee instantly came to pick the babies up. But we knew it was never going to be easy for this first-time mother to care for twins and so GRP staff was offering Mee all sorts of extra food to boost her energy intake and ensure she remained as strong as possible.
But there were still difficulties that Mee had to learn to overcome by herself; particularly when moving, Mee was struggling to carry both babies comfortably and likewise when she had one of the babies in the right position to nurse the other one would slip down her side and cry, making Mee feel confused and stressed.
GRP staff were doing their best to alleviate the pressure on her by again, during the week, taking one of the babies away to bottle-feed overnight. The next morning, Mee was again keen to be reunited with her baby, immediately coming to collect him.
It is possible that the confusion and stress Mee felt about this whole new situation slowed her milk-flow - or that she never had enough milk for two infants in the first place - making both babies less settled and failing to gain weight.
On their last night as a trio, after the most promising day since the twins' birth, Mee settled for the night with her babies in the right positions on her belly and satisfied staff went to sleep in their hammocks nearby . . . but during the cold, early hours of the morning the smaller male infant lost his grip, slipped and fell, hitting his head against a beam inside the enclosure on the way down.
During this tragic morning it was also decided to take the female infant back into care, since she was showing signs of weakness too.
We can report that she has lost some weight whilst with her mum, but that she remains strong and has a healthy appetite. We are hopeful of again being able to reunite mother and daughter in the near future.
How to Get To See The Gibbons
Khao Pra Theaw Non-Hunting Area at the Bang Pae Waterfall, Phuket, is about 9 km east from the Heroines Monument. You can visit and see some of the gibbons from the viewing platform. The center opens daily 9am to 4.30pm except Thursdays when it opens until 3pm. No entrance fee.
Here's how the GRP broke the news on Facebook:
It is not a happy start to the New Year here at the GRP. Sadly, despite all the promising signs, we have lost the smaller male twin.
Mee was keen to be a mother and from the beginning she was doing her very best to come to grips with how to carry and care for her newborn twins.
After the overwhelming first day that lead to the twins spending time in intensive care with GRP staff, the infants were returned one at a time to the mother last weekend.
In both cases Mee instantly came to pick the babies up. But we knew it was never going to be easy for this first-time mother to care for twins and so GRP staff was offering Mee all sorts of extra food to boost her energy intake and ensure she remained as strong as possible.
But there were still difficulties that Mee had to learn to overcome by herself; particularly when moving, Mee was struggling to carry both babies comfortably and likewise when she had one of the babies in the right position to nurse the other one would slip down her side and cry, making Mee feel confused and stressed.
GRP staff were doing their best to alleviate the pressure on her by again, during the week, taking one of the babies away to bottle-feed overnight. The next morning, Mee was again keen to be reunited with her baby, immediately coming to collect him.
It is possible that the confusion and stress Mee felt about this whole new situation slowed her milk-flow - or that she never had enough milk for two infants in the first place - making both babies less settled and failing to gain weight.
On their last night as a trio, after the most promising day since the twins' birth, Mee settled for the night with her babies in the right positions on her belly and satisfied staff went to sleep in their hammocks nearby . . . but during the cold, early hours of the morning the smaller male infant lost his grip, slipped and fell, hitting his head against a beam inside the enclosure on the way down.
During this tragic morning it was also decided to take the female infant back into care, since she was showing signs of weakness too.
We can report that she has lost some weight whilst with her mum, but that she remains strong and has a healthy appetite. We are hopeful of again being able to reunite mother and daughter in the near future.
How to Get To See The Gibbons
Khao Pra Theaw Non-Hunting Area at the Bang Pae Waterfall, Phuket, is about 9 km east from the Heroines Monument. You can visit and see some of the gibbons from the viewing platform. The center opens daily 9am to 4.30pm except Thursdays when it opens until 3pm. No entrance fee.
I think it is cruel to take any infant away from an intelligent animal like a gibbon. Possibly the infant has less chance to survive but the priority should be the well being of the more intelligent animal, the mother and in a relaxed environment with food and no predators like this the infant should stand a good chance. Sadly it sounds to me that the mother was so stressed her milk production dropped. Let her have her baby back this is probably the most powerful of animal emotions, a mother taking care of her baby and by taking the baby away you are being very cruel.
Posted by Fiesty Farang on January 2, 2015 13:02
Editor Comment:
How many gibbons have you raised, FF? I would suggest you are offering us your valueless opinion in the hope that someone may consider you an expert on something. Give it a year or two, then try again.