In a compassionate move prioritising animal welfare, the authorities at Nandankanan Zoological Park have decided to introduce classical music therapy for five rescued orangutans currently exhibiting signs of stress.
The scheduled blood sample collection, originally planned to assess their health, was temporarily halted on Thursday upon the recommendation of the Centre for Wildlife Health Committee. Experts advised that drawing samples while the animals are stressed could be counterproductive, pushing back the procedure by approximately ten days to allow the primates to fully acclimatise.
Deputy Director Pradip Mirase shared that the zoo is pulling out all the stops to ensure the young apes feel secure in their quarantine unit. Following advice from biologists and health committees, caretakers have installed hanging swings, provided engaging toys, and arranged for soothing classical music to be played in their enclosure.
Additionally, animal behaviour and mental state will be evaluated remotely via video conferencing by wildlife experts from the Mysuru Zoo, ensuring top-tier veterinary oversight.
The five orangutans—comprising three males and two females around one year of age—were previously rescued from the Bichitrapur forest in Balasore district. While they remain under strict observation in quarantine, zoo authorities are committed to ensuring their environment is entirely stress-free before resuming any medical procedures.
