A man from Bangkok, Thailand was arrested this week on suspicion of wildlife trafficking after two baby orangutans were found left in a plastic basket at a gas station.
According to the Crime Suppression Bureau of the Royal Thai Police, the 47-year-old man had been scheduled to deliver the tiny primates to a customer. One of the orangutans was about a year old, and the other was barely one-month of age. A photo released by authorities showed the baby orangutan wearing a diaper and hugging a soft toy alongside of a baby bottle.
Charges have been filed against the man for “illegally possessing protected wildlife.” Under Thai law, the man, if found guilty, could face four years in prison. During the interview with authorities, the man supposedly admitted he had sold the animals to someone, but has not disclosed how and where he got the two orangutans. Records showed the suspect had been selling the animals for $9,000.
Thailand has long been a popular area for the illegal wildlife trade.
The collaboration between the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Wildlife Justice Commission in the Netherlands and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime have been making significant progress in stopping the illegal import of these protected animals.
The two babies, now named Christopher and Stefan, are under the care of the professional services. The infant, one-month-old Stefan is currently in an incubator because of his compromised health. Christopher has been transferred to a sanctuary.
Orangutan populations have come under threat because of deforestation, habitat destruction and poaching. They are mainly found living in Sumatra and Borneo.
Check out the video:
Follow the National Pet Rescue on Facebook for the latest animal related news.
