Orangutan Santan Back on his Feet and Hands

Like many middle-aged gentlemen Santan, 45, the beloved orangutan at Sydney Zoo, had a spot of arthritis, stopping him from moving and climbing around his enclosure and enjoying life as he had.

Now a year after undergoing a groundbreaking medical procedure, Santan’s new lease on life has demonstrated the remarkable long-term success of a world-first multi-joint radiofrequency ablation (RFA) procedure and highlights the potential for innovative veterinary care to significantly improve quality of life for animals living with chronic conditions.

Dr Kresen Pillay, Manager of Veterinary Services at Sydney Zoo, said the outcome from Santan's surgery has exceeded expectations and is a result of human and animal medical professionals working together.

"This procedure has given Santan a level of comfort and mobility we hadn't seen in him in years. He's climbing again, exploring his habitat and displaying behaviours that reflect a significant improvement in his overall wellbeing. Seeing Santan thrive has made this collaboration across a wide team of medical professionals from different fields so truly rewarding."

The procedure adapted radiofrequency ablation - a pain management technique commonly used in human medicine - for use in a great ape, requiring close collaboration between veterinary specialists and orthopaedic surgeons.

Dr Paul Thornton-Bott, who assisted with the operation, said the case demonstrates how advances in human healthcare can translate into improvements for wildlife.

"Applying this technology to a great ape required careful planning and expertise across multiple disciplines. The results highlight the potential beyond Santan for innovative treatments that could significantly improve quality of life for other great apes in human care."

For the primate care team, the transformation has been heart-warming. Lou Grossfeldt, Primate Manager at Sydney Zoo, said, "Watching him climb again after such a long period of being unable was incredible. He's more curious, more active and far more engaged with his surroundings - it's like he's rediscovered parts of his personality that had previously been limited by pain. We are proud of the robust welfare system we have in place at Sydney Zoo, where the needs of our animals are always the highest priority."