One of three orangutans repatriated from Thailand looks out from its crate after arriving at the Soekarno Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Indonesia, Dec 21, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

JAKARTA - Indonesia has welcomed three repatriated orangutans from Thailand following illegal trade cases.

Briant, a 4-year-old male, Nobita, a 7-year-old male, and female Shisuka, 7, were brought from Bangkok of Thailand, and arrived at the Soekarno Hatta Airport in Indonesia on Thursday evening.

"This repatriation is a joint commitment from the Indonesian and Thai governments to combat illegal wildlife trade," Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya said in a press release on Friday.

Thai Ambassador to Indonesia Prapan Disyatat said that Thailand was committed to continuing to work together to prevent trade in wild animals and return them to their natural habitats

Two of the three orangutans were confiscated by Thai authorities in Bangkok in 2016 and have been cared for at the Kho Pratubchang Wildlife Rescue Center (KPRC) in Ratchaburi province.

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On Friday morning, the three orangutans were flown to Jambi on Sumatra Island to undergo quarantine, and then will be rehabilitated at the Sumatran Orangutan Rehabilitation Center before being released back into the wilderness.

Indonesia has received a total of 71 illegally traded orangutans from Thailand since 2006, and the latest repatriation was the fifth.

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Thai Ambassador to Indonesia Prapan Disyatat said that Thailand was committed to continuing to work together to prevent trade in wild animals and return them to their natural habitats.