Asia

Indonesia arrests man who bought orangutan, leopard, bear

Associated Press
Published | Updated

An official holds a baby orangutan in front of an infant sun bear sitting in a cage as the animals are shown during a press conference at Jakarta police headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, April 4, 2017. Indonesian police say they saved an infant sun bear, a clouded leopard and a baby orangutan from the wildlife trade after a tip from conservationists who tracked the illegal activities through Instagram. Jakarta police spokesman Prabowo Argo Yuwono said Abdul Malik was arrested Tuesday in a raid on his southern Jakarta house where the animals were found caged. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim) (The Associated Press)

An environment official and a police officer carry in a cage containing an infant sun bear for display during a press conference at Jakarta police headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, April 4, 2017. Indonesian police say they saved an infant sun bear, a clouded leopard and a baby orangutan from the wildlife trade after a tip from conservationists who tracked the illegal activities through Instagram. Jakarta police spokesman Prabowo Argo Yuwono said Abdul Malik was arrested Tuesday in a raid on his southern Jakarta house where the animals were found caged. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim) (The Associated Press)

A clouded leopard sleeps in a cage during a press conference at Jakarta police headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, April 4, 2017. Indonesian police say they saved an infant sun bear, a clouded leopard and a baby orangutan from the wildlife trade after a tip from conservationists who tracked the illegal activities through Instagram. Jakarta police spokesman Prabowo Argo Yuwono said Abdul Malik was arrested Tuesday in a raid on his southern Jakarta house where the animals were found caged. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim) (The Associated Press)

Indonesian police say they saved a sun bear, a clouded leopard and a baby orangutan from the wildlife trade after a tip from conservationists who tracked the illegal activities through Instagram.

Jakarta police spokesman Prabowo Argo Yuwono said Abdul Malik was arrested Tuesday in a raid on his southern Jakarta house where the animals were found caged.

The 42-year-old Malik told police he arranged for the purchase of the animals through Instagram messages and paid 25 million rupiah ($1,900) for the orangutan, 15 million rupiah ($1,125) for the sun bear and 60 million rupiah ($4,500) for the leopard.

Yuwono said the police were helped by conservationists who were tracking an Instagram account they believed to be a front for the illegal trade in threatened species.