Another smuggled orangutan safely repatriated to Indonesia

KUWAIT: The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Kuwait in cooperation with the Kuwait Zoo and Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation Ministry of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia as well as the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation have again successfully and safely returned home the orangutan, that was illegally smuggled to Kuwait in July 2015, to Indonesia by Kuwait Airways KU415 on 22 November 2015 and landed in Jakarta on 23 November 2015 at 15:50 local time.

This orangutan, named by Kuwait Zoo as Zafrana, is one out of two orangutans that were smuggled to Kuwait in July and was successfully confiscated by relevant authority in Kuwait. The first orangutan, who was named by the Kuwait Zoo as Moza, has been sent home on 13 September 2015. Both orangutan are Borneo of the sub-species Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii.

This repatriation of orangutan shows strong commitment both from Government of Indonesia and authorities in Kuwait to preserve the endangered species as listed by CITES Appendix I which, unfortunately, includes the orangutan. The Government of Indonesia will hold into account anyone involved in this illegal activity and brought the perpetrator to the court.