Jogja Orangutan Centre – Since evacuated by Central Java Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) to Yogyakarta Nature Conservation Foundation (YKAY) on last October 7^th, a pair of Borneo Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) called Ucok (10 years old) and Joko (8 years old) are getting better. Some physical and medical examinations have been started as their positive psychological and behavioral changes. Ucok and Joko are eating fruits and vegetables voraciously, whereas they used to eat rice.

The information from Central Java BKSDA when those two Indonesian endemic animals arrived in YKAY field project at Paingan, Sendangsari Village, Pengasih District, Kulonprogo Regency, was that allegedly Ucok was pregnant. To ensure Ucok’s pregnancy, YKAY performed a test with Ultra Sonography (USG) from Faculty of Animal Science of Gadjah Mada University on Thursday (3/11).

Drh. Dian Tresno Wikanti – vet of YKAY said that examination on Ucok helped by UGM’s Veterinary Science Faculty and Animal Science Faculty team was to ensure Ucok’s pregnancy. “Ucok first said to be pregnant. For that, we need to check the fact if she’s pregnant or not, so we checked the pregnancy with USG. We were helped by experts from Faculty of Veterinary Science and Animal Science of UGM.”, Dian said.

Dian added, besides pregnancy test, team also took Ucok’s blood sample for Tuberculosis, Hepatitis A & B, also herpes test.

Meanwhile, expert from Veterinary Science Faculty of Gadjah Mada University – drh. Sunaryanto explained that based on USG, it is certain that Ucok is not pregnant. About physical signs which indicate pregnancy, drh. Sunaryanto said that Ucok is having pseudo pregnancy. “The result says that there was no embryo in her womb. And from that examination we found a thick endometrium. It indicates no pregnancy. That’s what we call pseudo pregnancy or false pregnancy. Sometimes it makes pregnancy identification or examination difficult”, Sunaryanto explained.

Moreover, Sunaryanto explained that physical pregnant-like appearance is caused by progesterone hormone. “We noticed the breast engorgement (glandula mammae), nipples are also bigger. Usually these are caused by progesterone. Then we saw the vulvae are swelling and dryer because of progesterone effect. But on the contrary condition, in estrogen effect, we would notice higher lust and wet or damp vulvae. But examination result showed dry vulvae, so there was no pregnancy indication.” Sunaryanto explained.

(text:Rosa/editor:Heru/translater:Dewi)