Rescued albino orang utan is named Alba

Albino orang utan Alba was saved from villagers, who were keeping it in a cage on the Indonesian part of Borneo island, last month. The name, which means "dawn" in Spanish and "white" in Latin, was chosen after a global appeal for suggestions was lau
Albino orang utan Alba was saved from villagers, who were keeping it in a cage on the Indonesian part of Borneo island, last month. The name, which means "dawn" in Spanish and "white" in Latin, was chosen after a global appeal for suggestions was launched last week. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Updated
May 16, 2017, 05:00 AM
Published
May 16, 2017, 05:00 AM

JAKARTA • A conservation group said yesterday it has chosen the name Alba for a rare albino orang utan rescued from captivity in Indonesia, after receiving a flood of suggestions from the public.

The name means "dawn" in Spanish and "white" in Latin, and the Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation said the choice carried great significance.

BOS Foundation launched an appeal last week for members of the public to pick a name for the female Bornean orang utan, and said they had received thousands of suggestions from around the world.

The white-haired, blue-eyed animal was rescued on the Indonesian part of Borneo island last month from villagers who had been keeping it in a cage.

The five-year-old was in poor condition after being rescued, but the foundation said it was now having a "great recovery" and had gained about 4.5kg in the past fortnight.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on May 16, 2017, with the headline Rescued albino orang utan is named Alba. Subscribe

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