Authorities in Chumphon, Thailand rescued over 17 wild animals from an animal smuggling ring when they became suspicious of a truck hauling a baby orangutan. On further inspection they found more illegal animals in the truck’s possession, such as baby apes, a white-handed gibbon, two siamang gibbons and a red panda. The animals were smuggled from their homes in Indonesia across the border into Malaysia by driver Winai, 63, and his partner Kalaya, 45. Once detained the suspects led officers to other addresses where they discovered more protected species in captivity, such as a mongoose, a red-whiskered bulbul, seven cotton-top tamarins, and two red pandas. The market value for these protected animals is around $78,700.
