Indonesian protestors demand Thailand repatriate orangutans

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Indonesian protestors demand Thailand repatriate orangutans

 

JAKARTA (DPA): A group of Indonesian activists demonstrated outside the Thai

embassy in Jakarta on Thursday, demanding an immediate repatriation of

endangered orangutans from the country's Safari World.

 

Some of the protestors, from the local Pro-Fauna organization, carried cages

and others were chained and dressed in orangutan costumes, as a symbol of

the orangutans that remained in cages at Safari World in Thailand.

 

The protestors criticized the Thai government's slow pace in returning the

species to their natural habitat in Indonesia, adding that the orangutans

boxing show at Safari World " not only violates the Convention on

International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) but also neglected animal

welfare values. "

 

" The Thai goverment has not been seriously handling this orangutan case. For

various reasons, the government of Thailand has been buying time to

repatriate those orangutans to Indonesia, " the group said in a statement.

 

" Promptly repatriate the orangutans from Safari World Thailand, " the group

demanded.

 

Safari World, a privately-owned zoo in Bangkok, is at the centre of an

inquiry over claims it smuggled animals from Indonesia's Kalimantan and

Sumatra islands. The fights at the zoo were halted after it was accused of

illegally importing the orangutans.

 

On August 18, the same group staged a similar protest, demanding the Thai

government halt the use of orangutans for any type of entertainment in

Thailand.

 

A similar call for a speedy repatriation came from the Indonesian Minister

of Forestry, who said that more than 100 illegally obtained orangutans are

currently held in Thailand. (*)