A heartfelt farewell as three smuggled young orangutans return home

13 Sept 15:53 Key points summarised by AI

Three young orangutans—Nobita, Shizuka, and Brian—smuggled into Thailand years ago, were repatriated to Indonesia, marking a significant step in wildlife conservation.
Their dedicated caregiver, Kanok-orn Senanon, shared an emotional farewell, having nurtured them for over six years and noting their unique personalities, from Shizuka's attention-seeking nature to Brian's reclusive demeanor.
This group represents the final orangutans rescued from a smuggling ring under the care of the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, contributing to the 71 orangutans returned to Indonesia since 2016.
These endangered apes, protected under CITES, were held as evidence in smuggling trials, underscoring the severe illegal wildlife trade where a young orangutan can fetch around Bt1 million on the black market.

Bai Lu meet-and-greet cancelled days after China’s safety warning

Yesterday 15:28 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Tourism and Sports Minister announced the government will seek clarification from the Chinese Embassy regarding its recent travel advisory warning Chinese nationals about safety concerns in Thailand.
The travel advisory is anticipated to negatively impact the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand, despite recent increases in arrivals.
A meet-and-greet event featuring Chinese actress Bai Lu, a WeTV Global Ambassador, was abruptly cancelled just days after the Chinese Embassy issued its safety warning, though no official reason was provided.
The Chinese Embassy's advisory urged citizens to beware of job scams, fraudulent investments, suspicious travel arrangements, and the risk of illegal detention or being lured to the Thai-Myanmar border.
Chinese nationals were advised to verify job offers, use legitimate transport, avoid high-risk border areas, protect personal documents, and keep family informed of travel plans.