Five orangutans returned

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Five orangutans kept in captivity by residents of Samarinda and Sangatta districts have been returned to the provincial office for the conservation of natural resources.

The primates were discovered in a sweep conducted recently by the office, according to Nita Bustami of the Wanariset Samboja rehabilitation center for orangutans.

Nita spoke of the growing, illegal primate trade.

A baby orangutan, for example, sells for between Rp 400,000 (US$50) and Rp 500,000.

"We are very concerned about the trade since people have to kill the mother to get the orangutan baby," Nita said. (swe)