BANGKOK POST: Dept denies claim hundreds of apes smuggled, sheltered here

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WILDLIFE / INDONESIAN ORANGUTANS

 

Dept denies claim hundreds of apes smuggled, sheltered here

 

BANGKOK POSTand AFP

 

The National Parks, Wildlife and Plants Department yesterday denied the

Indonesian forestry ministry's allegation that hundreds of smuggled

orangutans are being sheltered in Thailand.

 

''This is not true. We are disappointed that our Indonesian counterpart has

made such a groundless accusation,'' said Schwann Tunhikorn, the

department's deputy chief.

 

''There are around 50 apes that are smuggled in and we are going to return

them to Indonesia soon,'' he said.

 

A spokesman for Indonesia's forestry ministry, Masy'ud, said yesterday that

the country is seeking the return of hundreds more smuggled orangutans from

Thailand.

 

In 2004, Thai officials seized 110 orangutans from Safari World, a private

zoo on the outskirts of Bangkok, where they performed kick-boxing matches.

 

Last week, Thailand agreed to send 53 of the saffron-haired apes to

Indonesia while DNA tests are conducted to determine whether they originated

from Indonesia or Malaysia.

 

However, Indonesian official said there were more orangutans that must be

repatriated to their original habitats on Sumatra and Borneo islands.

 

''We believe hundreds of orangutans have been smuggled to Thailand. We are

trying to negotiate for their return,'' said Mr Masy'ud.

 

But Mr Schwann insisted that the 53 orangutans were the only group that were

illegally possessed by the zoo operator.

 

''Instead of accusing neighbouring countries [of wildlife trafficking],

Indonesian officials should blame themselves for failing to crack down on

widespread orangutan hunting and wildlife trade in their own country,'' he

said.

 

Meanwhile, Safari World's public relations officer yesterday said the zoo

was preparing to revive its famous orangutan show in the next few months.

 

There were around 50 orangutans left at the zoo after the police seized 57

of them two years ago.

 

The zoo had suspended the orangutan show shortly after the seizure, but

decided to run the animal show again after its operator successfully settled

the case with state agencies.

 

''The orangutan scandal did not affect our business at all. Tens of

thousands of tourists still visit our zoo every day,'' said the officer.

 

Experts say that only about 27,000 orangutans remain in the wild in

Indonesia's Sumatra and Kalimantan islands and that populations are fast

declining due to deforestation and trafficking.

 

They are an endangered species and their trade is banned internationally.