According to a statement issued by the Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) in Bali, Bonbon was flown to Medan, North Sumatra earlier today and will be taken to the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP). BKSDA said that since Bonbon is a Sumatran orangutan, scientifically known as Pongo abelii, they are considered to be pretty tame.

“Because of their tame personality, Bonbon cannot be immediately released into the wild. He must be trained so that he can be accustomed to the wild and become independent, so that he will have the skills to survive,” the statement reads. 

Following the arrest of Andrei Zhestkov, who was caught trying to smuggle Bonbon in his suitcase by drugging him, BKSDA had placed the primate under the temporary care of Bali Safari and Marine Park.

Zhestkov was sentenced to one year in prison in July, after judges at the Denpasar Court found him guilty of violating Indonesia’s 1990 Law on Conservation.

On World Orangutan Day in August, Bonbon made his first public appearance at the park, photos from which showed him enjoying a refreshing drink from a coconut while looking all precious and cute.

BKSDA also expressed hope that people will be more aware of orangutans’ status as protected species under Indonesian law, imploring everyone to work together for their preservation.

“We hope people will realize that wild animals like Bonbon should indeed live in their natural habitat.”

Sumatran orangutans are critically endangered species. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) estimates that there are about 14,000 Sumatran orangutan remaining worldwide, while the total remaining orangutan population in the world are only about 100,000.