JAKARTA: A Kuwaiti national was arrested by authorities at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Tuesday for trying to smuggle two young silvery gibbons out of the country, which she had wrapped around her thigh.
Tamila Basmanova, authorities said, was hiding the two baby apes underneath a long black Islamic garb. The protected primates were made to wear diapers, and were wrapped around the upper portion of her jeans with bandages.
Basmanova “admitted that she was trying to smuggle a protected species out of Indonesia and realizes the offense she had committed,” Sr. Comr. Sandy Nugroho of the National Police’s special crimes unit told media.
Sandy said the woman had planned to transfer the animal to her bag once on board her flight back to Kuwait.
It is not known how the woman came into possession of the animals.
Basmanova, the officer said, is being charged with possession and smuggling of a protected species. If found guilty, the woman could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to Rp 100 million ($7,350)
Silvery gibbons are found only in the tropical forests of Java and are renowned for the haunting call that the females make to claim their territory.
Listed as endangered, they are one of the most threatened primate species in the world.
