First seized orangutan successfully repatriated from India to Indonesia

Two years after an infant orangutan was seized from a Mumbai apartment, procedures are complete to repatriate the animal to Indonesia. The primate will fly out of India on October 19, 2026, following a bilateral process delayed by procedural hurdles and respiratory health issues. The infant was initially housed at Gorewada zoo and later transferred to Vantara zoo in Gujarat for recuperation. Officials confirm this marks India's first successful repatriation of a seized CITES animal, combating the illegal smuggling of apes into the country from Southeast Asian nations.

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