Thai police have arrested a 47-year-old man in Bangkok for smuggling two baby orangutans that were found in a plastic basket at a gas station.
The orangutans, one about 1 year old and the other 1 month old, were intended for illegal sale, each valued at around $9,000 USD. Named Christopher and Stefan, they were rescued during a joint operation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Wildlife Justice Commission and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
The suspect faces up to four years in prison for illegally possessing protected wildlife. The orangutans, native to Sumatra and Borneo and critically endangered, are now under care, with Stefan in an incubator due to weak health and Christopher in a sanctuary.
Investigations continue to trace the animals’ origins and dismantle the trafficking network.
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