A way home for orangutans

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A way home for orangutans

By Maite Kropp

After months of denial by Safari World officials in

Bangkok and after the owners claimed that their 115

orangutans were the results of a breeding colony, the

facts are coming to light now.

On Monday, researchers from Kasetsart University in

Thailand began collecting samples from the Safari

World primates. DNA tests will be used to determine if

these endangered orangutans were indeed smuggled from

Indonesia. Experts working on this project said they

will be able to pinpoint within a few miles the

birthplace of the orangutans involved in this alleged

smuggling. The results will be available in about one

month.

This case, if proven to be as suspected, is one of the

most blatant, because it violates international laws

intended to safeguard animal welfare and protect

endangered species around the globe.

Police investigator Aroon Prom-phanapes told the press

that the Safari World owners had admitted to buying

several animals illegally.

Edwin Wiek, director of the Wild Friends Rescue

Center, a facility that treats abused animals outside

of Bangkok, said, " This case is very significant.

We've had cases of seven to eight chimpanzees being

smuggled, but there has never been a case so big -

over 100 found in one place only. "

If the orangutans are determined via tests to be from

Indonesia, they will be repatriated, preferable within

miles from their birthplaces. And the owners of Safari

World should be prosecuted.

Friends of primates around the world are keeping up

with the news. If the owners of the amusement park did

smuggle the apes, the hope is that sentencing will be

very harsh, sending the message to all who exploit and

abuse the closest creature to human kind that this

will not be tolerated, now or ever.

Since this case was made public nearly 11 months ago,

these animals are still at the amusement park.

Thirteen of the apes have died in obscure

circumstances with very little or no medical records

available. Many organizations and grass-roots groups

from all over the globe are concerned about the

animals.

Indonesia is finally expressing concern for the

primates due to the many protests and demonstrations

taking place in front of the Thai embassy in Jakarta,

where demonstrators are demanding the return of the

apes. In the jungles of Malaysia and Indonesia there

are only about 30,000 orangutans left. Their numbers

have been dropping due to deforestation in those

regions, which is creating an ecological disaster.

In one month, Bangkok is where hundreds of delegates

from around the world will meet for the Convention on

the International Trade in Endangered Species. Besides

all the handshaking among the delegates, my hope is

that this issue is given a great deal of attention,

and means are put in place for the protection of

animals around the world.

The author is the founder of Harmony Kennels

Foundation a nonprofit educational organization that

operates a permanent refuge for abused animals. Write

her at P.O. Box 5112, Vacaville, 95696, or e-mail her

at alpress.

http://www.thereporter.com/Stories/0,1413,295%257E30246%257E2428737,00.html

 

 

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Michelle Desilets

BOS UK

www.savetheorangutan.org.uk

www.savetheorangutan.info

" Primates Helping Primates "

 

Please sign our petition to rescue over 100 smuggled orangutans in Thailand:

http://www.thePetitionSite.com/takeaction/822035733

 

 

 

 

 

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