ABSTRACT
Moving from a discussion of triage in theory (Chapter 4) to triage in practice, this chapter explores ethical debates around the rescue of orangutans and other wildlife. The author begins by discussing rehabilitation centre admissions policies based on triage, which are widely argued to be necessary given the risks associated with overcrowding. Others, however, argue against strict admission criteria, or acknowledge that triage-based policies are not always implemented as intended. The chapter then turns to debates about translocation: moving wild orangutans out of conflict zones. Translocation, like reintroduction, has been argued to ecologically and socially disturb release site residents, prompting calls for strict release site criteria such as evidence of no wild orangutans. Translocation has also been criticised for appearing to offer companies and authorities a “solution” to the problem of wildlife displaced by industry. These examples reveal a tendency for known, seen animals to take precedence over unknown individuals.
