Doctors brought in for health check of 33-year-old orang utan Dinar

A rare medical check-up under general anaesthetic has revealed one of Perth Zoo’s favourite orang-utans was not faking a case of the man flu.

Doctors, some usually tasked with treating human patients, were brought into the zoo’s wildlife hospital on Friday to give 33-year-old Dinar his first check-up under general anaesthetic for six years.

The near-100kg orang-utan was acting lethargic, “out of sorts” and had flu-like symptoms that led to the check-up.

“Whilst under general anaesthetic, we did a thorough veterinary exam, which involved a collaboration between zoo vets, veterinary specialists and doctors who normally treat human patients,” Perth Zoo’s Danielle Henry said.

“It appears Dinar has a mild case of sinusitis, so no man flu or hayfever, and will be on a course of antibiotics.”

Dinar recovered in his sleeping quarters and was back out swinging in the zoo’s jungle exhibit in no time.