Orangutans freed from traffickers

A UK charity has helped rescue two baby orangutans found in cages by police in west Borneo, about to be sold illegally through social media.

The two apes, a year-old male and an eight-month-old female, are now in the care of the International Animal Rescue (IAR), based in Uckfield, East Sussex, at their centre in Ketapang.

A man was arrested for the trafficking of wildlife.

A charity spokesman said: “The general condition of the orangutans is fair, although both are dehydrated and suffering from distress. One is rocking back and forth – this is an abnormal behaviour presented by animals in extremely stressful conditions.”

Tantyo Bangun, chairman of IAR Indonesia, said: “We must target cyber crime and work together with online social networks that are currently failing to tackle this illegal activity.”

Orangutan numbers in Borneo have fallen 60 per cent in the past 50 years.