Seized from Thane two years ago, infant orangutan set to return to Indonesia

In November 2024, a Thane forest division team seized a male orangutan from an apartment in Dombivli, India. The infant orangutan, estimated to be around three years old, was among nine other wildlife species suspected to be part of a consignment of illegally trafficked animals. The orangutan is currently being held at the Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC) in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India.

Indonesian authorities and individuals familiar with the matter in India have confirmed that the necessary permits and approvals, especially from India, have been granted, with a few formalities pending on the Indonesian side. The Indian and Indonesian ministries of environment, forest, and climate change, as well as the Republic of Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry, have stated that the repatriation process is in an advanced stage, with the transfer expected to occur in the coming days.