Wildlife officers launched a search after Milo “disappeared” just days before officials from the Khao Phra Thaew Non-Hunting Area Office last Friday (Feb 19) inspected Phuket Zoo, where she had been held for two years. (See story here)
During the inspection, Suriya Tanthaweewong, a member of the Board of Directors of Phuket Zoo Co Ltd said, “I have no idea where the orangutan is now. It was released at Khao Phra Thaew mountain. Zoo staff released the orangutan somewhere, but I have no idea when or where it was released.”
Following Milo’s rescue from the jungle, Piyawat Sukon, Chief of the Khao Phra Thaew Non-Hunting Area Office in Thalang, told The Phuket News, “A vet has confirmed that Milo is relatively healthy. She is not stressed and has not suffered any wounds.”
Milo was taken to the Wildlife Conservation office at Khao Phra Thaeo, before being transported to another wildlife reserve in Phang Nga, he added.
“From there, Milo will be moved to Khao Prathap Chang Wildlife Sanctuary in Ratchaburi, where she will stay while arrangements are made to have her returned to her native Indonesia,” Chief Piyawat said.
“Khao Prathap Chang Wildlife Sanctuary already has special facilities specifically for orangutans, and was where 14 orangutans were held while arrangement were being made for them to be sent back to Indonesia in November last year,” he added.
Chief Piyawat said that his office had received many requests from organisations that support and help orangutans to take Milo into their care.
However, he added, “But we must co-ordinate with Indonesian government officials only.”
Todd Lemons, Founder of the renowned sustainable eco-preservation NGO InfiniteEARTH, told The Phuket News, “If CITES officials are involved, then I would hope Milo’s future is a little more predictable and humane. This orangutan doesn’t belong in a ‘reserve’ in Phang Nga, where it will surely be poked and prodded by throngs of tourists.”
Mr Lemons explained, “We are partners with the Orangutan Foundation International, founded by the world’s foremost authority on orangutan research, Dr Biruté Mary Galdikas.
“I’ve spoken to Birute this morning and she had heard of the incident. She seems to think FORINA (Forum Orangutan Indonesia) is now involved.
“It could be that Milo is a Sumatran orangutan, in which case we would be unable to accept her into the reserve since Bornean orangutans are a different species.”
InfiniteEARTH operates a large privately funded orangutan reserve of more than 160,000 acres in Central Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo. http://infinite-earth.com/
The Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve, created by InfiniteEARTH under the United Nations-led scheme called reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD), protects nearly 80,000 hectares (200,000 acres), much of it carbon-rich peat swamp forest at risk of being felled for palm oil plantations.
The project secured financial backing from the likes of Russian energy giant Gazprom and German insurance firm Allianz. By investing in the project, companies are eligible for tax deductions for offsetting carbon emissions.
Over Rimba Raya’s 30-year life, the project will generate about 104 million credits, each representing a metric ton (1.1023 tons) of carbon, reported Reuters in 2012.
In total, that equates to 300 million to 500 million euros ($390 million to $650 million), depending on current market rates for REDD carbon offsets, said the report. (See story here)