Thailand to return smuggled orangutans to Indonesia

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Thailand to return smuggled orangutans to Indonesia

Slamet Susanto and Tarko Sudiarno, The Jakarta Post,

Yogyakarta

A year-long effort to return rare Indonesian

orangutans trafficked illegally to Thailand will

finally happen, with a delegation from the Thai police

visited Indonesia to check the final preparations for

the repatriation.

The team from the Thai forestry police led by Maj.

Gen. Swake Pinsinchai said on Sunday that his visit

was aimed at ensuring Indonesia's readiness to accept

the endangered primates, as well as to strengthen

cooperation to end the trade in protected animals.

" I will present reports of my visit here to the Thai

authorities so as to speed up the repatriation

process, " Swake told a press conference here.

Speaking through an interpreter, he added the visit

reflected his government's seriousness in bringing the

species back to their natural habitat.

However, there was no specific date for the return of

the primates or the number of orangutans in question.

Orangutan are an endangered primate living in

Kalimantan and Sumatra.

After a year-long investigation it was found that 150

orangutan were in the hands of Bangkok Safari World,

and were being ill-treated as show attractions.

Swake said most orangutans were illegally acquired

with the backing of certain high-ranking officials in

Thailand, and were put on display for boxing

competitions as well as other entertainment purposes.

The ill-treatment of the primates caused a uproar

among Indonesian wildlife activists, who demanded the

return of the animals to their original habitat.

A non-governmental organization, the Borneo Orangutan

Survival Fund (BOSF), funded the DNA-testing of the

primates to confirm that they originated from

Indonesia.

Swake said the illicit trade in orangutans was a

high-profile issue, since it concerns a business

involving millions of baht and had almost cost him his

post.

During his visit, the Thai police held a meeting with

Indonesia's Minister of Forestry, Malam Sambat Kaban.

Also present were BOSF director, Willie Smits, and the

ministry's director general for wildlife conservation,

Widodo S. Ramono.

Smits said in July 2004 that the Thai government

should have returned 50 orangutans, but the promise

never materialized.

" We are more than ready to take care of the

orangutans, as we have the site to accommodate 3,000

of them, " Smits told the press conference.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailnational.asp?fileid=20041129.C03 & irec=6

 

 

=====

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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