Eight Orangutans are Finally Freed From a Live of Misery and Exploitation

Eight more orangutans saved! Activists from ProFauna Indonesia and Indonesian Animal Advocacy Institute (LASA) finally say good bye to eight Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) at the Jakarta airport cargo terminal on Dec 4. They had been working hard since June to free these orangutans and now felt a sense of satisfaction when they saw these gentle and magnificent creatures make their way back to where they had been poached in Kalimantan (Borneo). Thanks to RSPCA’s generosity in funding the airline and evacuation costs.

Most orangutans cooperated and were easily coaxed into their travelling cages with some food all except Beni, an adult male orangutan, who struggled and had to be darted with tranquiliser. Perhaps the confined travelling crate brought back harsh memories as most of his life has been spent being smuggled from one place to another.

These eight orangutans have been rescued from different sources. Five are from a group of thirteen, which were being exploited for “edutainment” at Ancol, North Jakarta, and contracted TB during their captivity. They were originally confiscated from traffickers and supposed to be rehabilitated but instead were used as commercial tourist attractions (the previous eight already having been evacuated). Two were repatriated from Vietnam, to where they had been illegally smuggled. The eighth was confiscated from a local illegal owner.

The performing orangutans from Ancol had been forced to stand erect for long periods during training, which is not appropriate for their anatomy. They were being exploited to entertain the public and lived on site at the amusement park in cramped steel cages intended only for short journeys not long term accommodation.

Paying visitors may not realise about the sad facts behind the animal show

Many orangutans exploited for “edutainment” have originally been poached from the wild. Poachers favour young orangutans as they fetch a better price. Mothers are killed for their babies or juveniles. A large number of baby orangutans consequently die during the smuggling journey due to tranquiliser overdose or trauma. For each orangutan sold, several more die in the process.

These lucky orangutans will join others now living at the rehabilitation centre. They will be taught in a long process to learn how to live in the wild again.