Obtained the world's rarest orangutan species by Indian zoo
In the heart of India, a 3,500-acre wildlife facility named Vantara has made headlines for an unusual resident. The facility, run by Anant Ambani, the son of Asia's richest man, claims to house a Tapanuli orangutan, the world's most endangered great ape with fewer than 800 remaining.
However, the origins of this endangered species are shrouded in mystery, and experts are raising concerns. According to CITES records, the Tapanuli orangutan at Vantara was transferred from Indonesia to the United Arab Emirates in 2023 before arriving at Vantara, and it is described as a 'captive-bred' individual. Yet, some experts find it implausible that the Tapanuli orangutan at Vantara was captive-bred, as there are no captive breeding programs for orangutans in Indonesia.
Moreover, Brazil has sought to prevent all trade and transfer of Spix's macaws, another highly endangered species native to Brazil, but 26 of them arrived at Vantara in 2023. These developments have led to questions about how Vantara has stocked its enclosures.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has acknowledged receiving 'multiple reports' about imports of endangered animals into India, but India has yet to provide detailed information on the matter. CITES allows exceptions for 'captive-bred' animals, but the legitimacy of this claim regarding the Tapanuli orangutan is under scrutiny.
Orangutan conservation expert Erik Meijaard suggests that if the Tapanuli orangutan at Vantara is indeed a Tapanuli, it may have been illegally imported. Some experts question the possibility that the Tapanuli orangutan at Vantara is not a true Tapanuli, and DNA testing would be needed for confirmation.
The single Tapanuli orangutan at the Vantara wildlife facility is not the only one causing controversy. There are concerns about its conservation value if it remains at Vantara, and orangutan conservation expert Panut urges its return to Indonesia. The origin of this endangered species remains unknown.
Vantara describes itself as a wildlife rehabilitation and conservation center, but it has not responded to AFP's request for comment on the Tapanuli orangutan and how it acquires animals. The country's CITES authorities did not respond to a request for comment regarding the Tapanuli orangutan either.
Tapanuli orangutans are incredibly rare, confined to a small range in Indonesia, and in 'dire straits' due to threats including mining and deforestation. The fate of the Tapanuli orangutan at Vantara remains uncertain, but the controversy surrounding its presence highlights the need for transparency and adherence to international conservation laws.
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