The #1 source for news about monkeys and apes

[Carrie McLaren <carrie AT stayfreemagazine.org>]

The Associated Press

March 20, 2002, Wednesday, BC cycle

HEADLINE: Easter Seals and zoo provide disabled orangutan therapy for 
cerebral palsy

DATELINE: MIAMI

An Easter Seals chapter and a zoo have teamed up to provide physical 
therapy for an orangutan with cerebral palsy.

The physical therapist for 21-month-old Millie performs treatment on 
her own time using money from a fund-raiser that benefits both Easter 
Seals Miami-Dade and Parrot Jungle, the private zoo where the monkey 
lives. "She's currently the only documented case in orangutans of 
cerebral palsy," said Donna Peyton Lawrence, spokeswoman for Easter 
Seals Miami-Dade.

Millie receives therapy twice a week for an hour a session to help 
with weakness, poor balance and slow movement. She had trouble 
grasping objects because the condition left her fists permanently 
clenched.

After six weeks, "she's sitting up and climbing and more pro-active," 
said Mary Inhoffer, Millie's therapist. "She's just a little kid who 
needs some work."

No children go without treatment because of the ape's sessions, 
Easter Seals said.