WFFT Rescue Team assists in confiscation of orangutans in Vietnam

July 2006 Edwin has over the last few years worked in cooperation with the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation to help stop the cross border trade in these beautiful apes, orangutans. While the over 70 orangutans confiscated in Thailand are still awaiting repatriation back to their home, Kalimantan on Borneo, a successful confiscation took place in Southern Vietnam of two very young orangutans that were smuggled in to Vietnam only a few months ago. Edwin was in contact with Vietnam based Wildlife-At-Risk for several weeks to officially complain about the illegal possession and to prepare for the confiscation. We visited Vietnam twice to get the job done. Dr Cheryl MacPherson joined to oversee the medical work on the animals. On July 8th we were pleasantly surprised to hear that that the Vietnam Forestry Protection Department was going to take the issue serious and planned to confiscate the orangutans on the 11th of July, our assistance was needed to capture and move the apes. We furthermore needed to proceed with a complete medical check-up of the animals and prepare them for repatriation back to Indonesia. 

Both orangutans are female, and were in reasonable health. They were kept in an enclosure of 3x3 meters with a height of about 4 meters.

After the Vietnamese authorities contacted the Indonesian CITES office and asked if Indonesia was willing to take the apes back the Indonesian immediately issued a import permit for the orangutans. Hopefully the apes will soon return home. Edwin will oversee the repatriation of the orangutans on behalf of the BOSF, Wildlife-At-Risk is still closely involved with the care of the orangutans and has been of great help with the whole process. the fast action of the FPD-Vietnam and HCMC is to be commended! A fantastic piece of law enforcement and wildlife conservation!

Our vet Cheryl is still in Vietnam with the orangutans and will stay with them until they go back home. Soon an update on the repatriation we hope!