Christopher De Rouw
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY - Non available
MAC
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From Rough Start to Forest Smart
Mac, a male orangutan, was approximately three years old when he arrived at the IAR Ketapang Centre on 19 October 2011. He was rescued from a household in Pontianak, near Sintang, where he’d been kept as a pet for at least a year. Fortunately, the family realised keeping an orangutan was illegal and contacted the forestry department, who then called in the International Animal Rescue team.
Despite being in relatively good condition, Mac suffered from eye dermatitis and conjunctivitis upon arrival. The IAR vet team prescribed topical creams and antihistamines, and within a week, Mac’s spark returned. Once his quarantine ended and blood tests ruled out hepatitis and TB, he was introduced to baby school.
Initially, Mac played gently, but he soon got a little too enthusiastic—his boisterous behaviour earned him a spot in the more robust infant group. There, he quickly made friends with Melky, Momo, Pungky, and Mimi. Whether he was high in the trees or wrestling on platforms, Mac proved to be a curious and playful climber who was learning fast.
Now living in a large forested enclosure at the IAR Ketapang Centre, Mac is thriving—relearning what it means to be an orangutan after life as a pet. With continued care and time, he's well on his way to one day returning to his true home in the wild.
