Police investigating deaths of orangutans

Police investigating deaths of orangutans

THAILAND: Police on Saturday were looking into the reported deaths of 41 orangutans at a private Thai zoo already under investigation for allegedly smuggling the animals from Indonesia.

Police first raided Safari World last year because of accusations it was keeping protected species without a permit. They conducted another raid late last month to investigate claims the zoo had smuggled orangutans from Indonesia.

During the July raid, zoo officials told police they had 110 orangutans. But they later said 41 of the animals had died of natural causes, and their carcasses were destroyed.

A Safari World employee, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the dead orangutans, mostly young animals, developed diarrhea and respiratory diseases in April and May.

Police said they were investigating the deaths.

"It's really suspicious because last month they said the orangutans were all there," Thai Forestry Police chief Maj. Gen. Sawek Pinsinchai said. -- AP