No plans to relocate Opal the orangutan due to safety concerns
Boswell said Opal, now 47 years old, continues to receive daily veterinary care and enrichment activities, including foraging and painting.
After years of campaigning to have Opal the orangutan relocated from the Natal Zoological Gardens to a sanctuary, Friends of Opal founder Greer Bullock has announced a dramatic change of course, saying expert advice has convinced her that moving the 47-year-old primate could place her life at risk.
Bullock said discussions with several respected orangutan specialists in behaviour, welfare, veterinary medicine, rehabilitation and zoo management had led her to abandon her campaign for Opal’s relocation.
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“Before Opal could be considered for relocation to a sanctuary, she would have needed a full veterinary examination and medical tests, which would require her to be sedated,” she said.
Bullock added that she wasn’t aware of the risks involved with this assessment.
Sadly, due to her advanced age, there is a real risk that she might not survive an anaesthetic procedure. She could also have underlying health conditions that we are unaware of, which would make the procedure even more risky. Even then, it could turn out that the veterinary assessment is all for nothing.
Bullock said that if Opal has a disease such as Tuberculosis or Hepatitis B, she would not be able to go to Monkey World to live with other orangutans as we had hoped.
“Once I understood these risks, I no longer felt it was right to continue advocating for a move that could put Opal’s life at risk. Instead, I believe our efforts are better focused on improving her quality of life where she is,” said Bullock.
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“I have had detailed discussions with several highly respected orangutan professionals, with decades of experience in orangutan behaviour, welfare, veterinary medicine, rehabilitation and zoos.”
“The consistent message I received was that, for Opal as an individual, moving her at 47 years of age, after spending so much of her life alone, carries too great a welfare risk,” she said.
They explained that relocation would cause considerable stress, that she may not adapt to life with other orangutans after so many decades in solitary housing, and that there is no guarantee such a move would improve her welfare.
Bullock said experts also highlighted the strong bond Opal has formed with one of her long-term carers at Natal Zoological Gardens.
“They also emphasised the importance of considering the very strong bond she has formed with one particular person at Natal Zoological Gardens, and that separating her from this person may be seriously detrimental to Opal’s mental and physical health.”
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“There is a serious risk that moving her from the only home she has ever known may lead to her death through stress, grief or other physical health issues.”
“This was not what I expected to hear, but I accept that I was wrong in my previous conviction that relocation to a sanctuary was the best option to improve Opal’s life,” she said.
Bullock also apologised to the Boswell family, owners of Natal Zoological Gardens, for the backlash generated during the campaign.
“I would also like to apologise to the Boswell family for all the upset my campaign has caused them and for the hateful comments people have made on my page.”
“My concern has always been, and remains, Opal’s welfare. I now understand that this has been their concern too,” she said.
She said the Friends of Opal campaign will now focus on improving Opal’s quality of life at the zoo through expert-led welfare and enrichment programmes.
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Natal Zoological Gardens co-owner Georgina Boswell welcomed the announcement, saying that they welcome support and assistance for the animal.
We have not yet engaged with the administrator of Friends of Opal, but we acknowledge the public apology and will be in contact regarding future projects and fundraising initiatives. According to the experts, Opal is in perfect health, condition and demeanour for an orangutan of her age.
“It may be one’s opinion that she does not belong in a zoo, but the fact is she belongs at the zoo and we care for her every day,” said Boswell.
She added that the zoo is regularly inspected by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) and the local SPCA, and said a recent letter from the office of the Minister of Environment confirmed that allegations of a barren enclosure and inadequate enrichment were unfounded following inspections.
Boswell said Opal, now 47 years old, continues to receive daily veterinary care and enrichment activities, including foraging, painting, climbing and puzzle-based stimulation.
“The condition and demeanour of all the animals at Natal Zoological Gardens is a testament to continuous care, veterinary checks, daily enrichment and overall wellbeing,” she said.
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During a visit to the Natal Zoological Gardens, Boswell’s assistant showed off Opal’s paintings while the Opal was seen moving around the enclosure and had gone to sit in her room.
