Orangutan Confiscation 16 June 2012 | Paul Hilton Photos
A member of the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program team celebrates after a successful confiscation of an infant male orangutan being held illegally, by wildlife traders in a small village on the outskirts of the Tripa peat forest, Aceh Province, Indonesia, 16 June 2012. The orangutan was discovered by an undercover investigation team on the 12th June, and four days later, was successfully confiscated by a team involving staff from the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program, Local Police and Government Authorities. According to Dr Ian Singelton of SOCP the Tripa peat forest is home to the highest population density of Orangutan found anywhere on earth, but predicted to be locally extinct by the end of 2012 if current levels of forest clearing and conversion to plan oil plantation is not stopped immediately. Photo: Paul Hilton/SOCP/YEL (HANDOUT PHOTO, EDITORIAL USE ONLY)
This pictured made available on the 16th of June 2012 shows an infant male orangutan named Chocolate being held illegally by wildlife traders in a small village on the outskirts of the Tripa peat forest, Aceh Province, Indonesia. The orangutan was discovered by an undercover investigation team on the 12th June, and four days later, was successfully confiscated by a team involving staff from the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program, Local Police and Government Authorities. According to Dr Ian Singelton of SOCP the Tripa peat forest is home to the highest population density of Orangutan found anywhere on earth, but predicted to be locally extinct by the end of 2012 if current levels of forest clearing and conversion to plan oil plantation is not stopped immediately. Photo: Paul Hilton/SOCP/YEL (HANDOUT PHOTO, EDITORIAL USE ONLY)
Dr Ian Singelton from the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program poses with an infant male orangutan after it was successfully confiscated from a local wildlife trader in a small village on the outskirts of the Tripa peat forest, Aceh Province, Indonesia, 16 June 2012. The orangutan was discovered by an undercover investigation team on the 12th June, and four days later, was successfully confiscated by a team involving staff from the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program, Local Police and Government Authorities. According to Dr Ian Singelton of SOCP the Tripa peat forest is home to the highest population density of Orangutan found anywhere on earth, but predicted to be locally extinct by the end of 2012 if current levels of forest clearing and conversion to plan oil plantation is not stopped immediately. Photo: Paul Hilton/SOCP/YEL (HANDOUT PHOTO, EDITORIAL USE ONLY)
Local police and the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program team celebrate the successful confiscation of an infant male orangutan being held illegally by wildlife traders in a small village on the outskirts of the Tripa peat forest, Aceh Province, Indonesia, 16 Juen 2012. The orangutan was discovered by an undercover investigation team on the 12th June, and four days later, was successfully confiscated by a team involving staff from the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program, Local Police and Government Authorities. According to Dr Ian Singelton of SOCP the Tripa peat forest is home to the highest population density of Orangutan found anywhere on earth, but predicted to be locally extinct by the end of 2012 if current levels of forest clearing and conversion to plan oil plantation is not stopped immediately. Photo: Paul Hilton/SOCP/YEL (HANDOUT PHOTO, EDITORIAL USE ONLY)
I read about this successful release when it happened,I’m curious to know how ‘Chocolate’(lovely name!) Is doing?Which rescue centre was he taken to?Is he healthy?Is he happy?I do hope so.Will the ‘traders’ be prosecuted for this(and I’m sure numerous other..)Crimes?Again I do hope so……….
Chocolate is now safe and happy in SOCP Quarantine Centre in Medan, North Sumatra. He is mingling with other orangutan babies in the process of gaining skills required to live in the wild. When the time comes he will be released back into the forest in Aceh and hopefully will thrive amongst his tribes.
Confiscating wildlife, prosecuting traders and running quarantine centre is an expensive process, consider helping us by donating through SOCP, visit http://tinyurl.com/savetripa for more information