A heartfelt farewell as three smuggled young orangutans return home

The three orangutans, smuggled from Indonesia into Thailand years ago, were sent home today.

They are the last group of orangutans that came under the care of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, after being rescued from the smuggling ring.

Their caregiver, Kanok-orn Senanon, was at Suvarnabhumi International Airport to bid farewell to ‘her children,’ for whom she had cared for over six years.

Two of the three, Nobita and Shizuka, both aged 7, were named after characters in the famous Japanese animated series ‘Doraemon’, while the third is named Brian, aged 4.

Kanok-orn said “The three have distinct characters. Shizuka always seeks attention and loves making “sweet eyes”. She enjoys interacting with people, loves people to call her name and has a preference for fruit, such as bananas, papayas and guavas.”

“Nobita is…