The Scorpion Foundation sent a letter to government conservation centre (BKSDA) in North Sumatera appealing to end cruelty to an orangutan in Medan Zoo. Scorpion Investigator in Medan visited the zoo on Friday afternoon and found that the orangutan was placed in an enclosure where visitor can make direct contact with the orangutan without supervision from the zoo staff.
This orangutan was supposed to go to the orangutan quarantine of Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP) for rehabilitation to give him the second chance to live in wild habitat but because of a suspected scandal by head of BKSDA Mr. Amon Zamora who have been removed from his position, this orangutan (Pongky) obviously went to Medan Zoo. The former owner of this orangutan is a policeman but both the illegal ownership of this orangutan and the suspected scandal of the former head of BKSDA Aceh have not yet investigated by police for subsequently brought to court.
To see background information about Ponky plese click the link below:
(http://www.orangutans-sos.org/campaigns/send_pongky_back_wild)
Below are pictures taken by Scorpion Investigator on Friday, October 23, 2015
Will Pongky get the second chance to live in the wild?
Yes, if BKSDA is willing to help him.
Enclosure of Ponky in Medan Zoo.
Friday, October 23, 2015, a visitor gave a cigarette to Ponky.
In May 2015, Scorpion Investigator found Ponky smoking a cigarette given by visitor.