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Online orangutan trade uncovered
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Free at last: A baby orangutan is examined by veterinarians at a shelter run by conservation group International Animal Rescue (YIARI) in Ketapang regency, West Kalimantan, in August, 2017. The animal had been displayed on an Instagram account belonging to a person identified only as TAR, who has been named a suspect of illegal animal trading. (Courtesy of Quick Response Forest Rangers Unit (SPORC) West Kalimanta/file)
T
he growing number of social media users has apparently prompted others to conduct illegal wildlife trade on social media, with the latest case coming to the surface just two days after International Orangutan Day last week.
On Monday, West Kalimantan forest rangers and police arrested a suspect, identified only as TAR, on suspicion of selling two baby orangutans on Instagram. The 19-year-old suspect was arrested at his house in a neighborhood in West Kalimantan, where two orangutans were found in a basket in the garage.
The investigation into TAR, who had offered to sale a 10-month-old female and a 1-year-old male orangutan on his Instagram account, began after the police received a tip-off about his Instagram post.
Read also: Indonesian police arrest man who bought orangutan, leopard, bear
During interrogation, TAR reportedly revealed that he had long been selling various endangered animals, such as orangutan and kelempiau (Kalimantan grey gibbon) through either an online platform or face-to-face transactions.
TAR told the police he had obtained the baby orangutans from a supplier in Sintang regency, which borders Malaysia, before trying to sell each infant orangutan for Rp 3.5 million (US$262).
The Pontianak Environment and Forestry Agency’s security and law enforcement unit head, David Muhammad, said there was an indication that the supplier might be a part of an international wildlife smuggling ring that focused on selling orangutans.
