Look at those big, beautiful eyes! People online are cheering after a baby orangutan and 16 other wild animals were saved from a smuggling ring in Chumphon, Thailand. Things could’ve been so bad for these creatures. But thanks to the work of authorities, they’ll all be safe and sound.
Video of the animals in their crates is heartbreaking. We can’t even imagine what could’ve happened if they hadn’t been found.
According to the New York Post, authorities became suspicious after noticing that something was awry with a truck carrying a baby orangutan.
“On further inspection they found more illegal animals in the truck’s possession, such as baby apes, a white-handed gibbon, two siamang gibbons and a red panda,” the news outlet states.
The animals were all smuggled from Indonesia to Malaysia by a man identified as Winai, 63, and his partner Kalaya, 45.
“Once detained the suspects led officers to other addresses where they discovered more protected species in captivity, such as a mongoose, a red-whiskered bulbul, seven cotton-top tamarins, and two red pandas,” the news outlet states. “The market value for these protected animals is around $78,700.”
Video of the save was later shared online and people were devastated. “Poor babies, they should never be in cages. They are so smart and caring,” one person wrote. “This is so sad!! Why did they steal them to begin with? Do they sell them to zoos, personal use? How devastating and scared they must be,” chimed in someone else. “Baby orangutan rescue? Chumphon authorities are the real MVPs!” added a third person. “Why can’t people just let them be and leave them alone. Happy that they’re rescued,” someone else commented.