'Mummified' Baby Orangutan's Incredible Transformation After Rescue From Cardboard Box In Borneo

Watch The Incredible Transformation Of This Once 'Mummified' Orangutan
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A "mummified" baby orangutan has made a remarkable transformation thanks to the care and treatment of a dedicated team of rescuers in Borneo.

Gito was left to die in a urine-soaked cardboard box when International Animal Rescue (IAR) found him.

Due to severe mange, the infant had very little hair and his skin was dry and flaking.

He was discovered lying with his arms folded across his chest, making him look "corpse-like", IAR said at the time.

Article continues below slideshow:

Orangutan rescue by IAR
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The box with Gito in is brought to IAR's veterinary team. (credit:IAR)
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Gito looked 'mummified' when IAR found him. (credit:IAR)
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The young orangutan had terrible mange and was severely dehydrated. (credit:IAR)
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The box Gito was found in was soaked with urine. (credit:IAR)
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Gito being taken care of by IAR. (credit:IAR)
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Gito is taken out of his box as treatments begin.
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The orangutan, believed to be between three and four months old, had almost no hair on his body. (credit:IAR)
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Gito was 'was left in the sun to die', say IAR. (credit:IAR)
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The orangutan was being kept as a pet in a small village in Western Borneo. (credit:IAR)
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Gito is given liquids through an IV. (credit:IAR)
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The little orphan was feverish, with very stiff hands and feet. (credit:IAR)
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Gito receiving treatment. (credit:IAR)
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Gito, 24 hours after arrival at the clinic. (credit:IAR)
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IAR's team massaged coconut oil into his skin to soothe and soften it. (credit:IAR)

Gito was taken to IAR’s Orangutan Rescue and Rehabilitation centre in Ketapang, West Borneo, where he was treated by medical teams.

He was severely dehydrated and malnourished and was not even able to sit up on his own. IAR said he would also cry as coconut oil was massaged into his flaking skin.

Just two month after arriving at the centre and Gito now looks completely different. His rescuers say he is "happy, healthy and alert" and is even sporting two front teeth.

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Gito is now 'happy' and 'healthy'

Gito was filmed in the clinic at the International Animal Rescue Rehabilitation Centre in Ketapang, West Borneo.

Alan Knight, IAR's Chief Executive, said: "Considering the condition little Gito was in when he was rescued, his recovery has been remarkable.

"But the team at our centre in Ketapang are experts at caring for sick and injured orangutans and have been hugely successful at saving a number of seemingly hopeless cases.

"I’m sad to say that there are undoubtedly more orangutans like Gito still desperately in need of our help."

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The young orangutan has made a remarkable recovery

IAR believe that Gito was bought for less than £20 from a man who had almost certainly killed his mother in order to steal and sell her baby.

The baby orangutan was put on a diet solely of condensed milk, which caused him to become so severely malnourished.

IAR’s vets and carers work round the clock to save the lives of orphaned orangutans like Gito who are victims of deforestation and the recent fires devastating the forests.

Mr Knight said: "For weeks now our rescue team have been risking their lives to save orangutans caught up in the fires and there are likely to be more babies orphaned and captured in the weeks ahead.

"During the past two months the team has rescued twenty orangutans, some of them mothers with babies or pregnant females, and they have all been successfully moved and released into safe areas of forest."

Gito has been added to IAR's list of orangutans available for virtual adoption.