Stolen Baby Orangutan Clarita Saved and Reunited with Mom | Love Nature

Over at nursery school, the babies are diapered up and ready for their nightly ritual. Watermelon is a favourite treat after an exhausting day of learning. No food goes to waste here. When her watermelon is gone, Rona uses her leftover juice to ensure her hair stays just as she likes it. Most of the babies are ready for bed in their laundry baskets. But there's one youngster who hopefully won't be sleeping in the baby house tonight. Outside, vet Argus arrives on a critical mission. It's been almost a week since baby Clarita was separated from her mother, and Argus is anxious to reintroduce her back where she belongs. But first, he must assess her as she's suffering from a blistering rash caused by the sap of a rainforest tree. Clarita could have contracted the rash from sap on her mother's hair, or from the male who kidnapped her and held her tight for three days with no food. She's been fed formula, but needs her mother's milk and comfort. Clarita has survived a horrifying ordeal, but the ultimate test is yet to come. Many animals reject their offspring if they spend any time away from the parents. So success is far from guaranteed. In preparation for Clarita's arrival, Clara has been moved to a cage right outside the clinic, where she and her infant can be closely monitored. But no one knows if she'll accept little Clarita back into her arms. But after several days apart, there's a real danger that Clara could reject her, which means Clarita would grow up as an orphan. Both mother and infant are suffering from a painful rash caused by sap from one of the rainforest trees. Clara recognizes her baby instantly, but the staff won't take any chances. They must be sure before they allow the precious infant back into her mother's arms. Clara's gentle response prompts the decision to risk the moment of truth. It can't be too soon for the impatient mother. This is a heart-stopping moment for everyone. All Clara wants to do is hold her baby close. Infant orangutans spend 24 hours a day holding tight to mum for at least the first four months. So this separation must have been deeply distressing for both Clara and her baby. But there's one more hurdle. Can Clara still produce milk? And will tiny Clarita still be able to suckle? It takes an anxious few minutes, but then Clarita's cries stop for the best of reasons, as she takes her fill of the ultimate comfort food. These two can now heal from their ordeal together. There's one orangutan left behind from jungle school today, and he's not happy. Four-year-old Lanting cut his hand on a sharp branch in his group three class yesterday, and this morning he has an appointment at the medical center. Like any kid on a visit to the doctor, Lanting seems to know what's in store for him. Shots. Like human children, orangutans can be accident-prone. Lanting gets a light anesthetic so he's calm during the procedure. An injury like this in the wild would probably heal on its own. But here, even a small cut is treated with an antibiotic to prevent infection. All these orphans are considered too precious to risk any threat to their future. Lanting receives a few stitches, and he'll be watched closely over the next few days to ensure he's out of the woods.