The training was held at the RPU office, Kota Agung for 2 days and followed by 12 participants. The first day of training, participants performed the installation program and basic explanation of WCDB functions and purposes presenting by Mr.Rekso from WCS-IP. Day two of training is filled by inputting data activity from fieldwork and cases that have been occurred and participants tried to inputting a data that owned by RPU into the WCDB application system and followed by some light discussion about the overall result on the system about the advantages and disadvantages of the WCDB application.

The expected implementation of this training is all the enforcement activities of the illegal wildlife trade in Indonesia can be more organize and running systematically. (dee)

“This action is supported by various communities, among others, Bikes Communities, Tales Communities, Nature Lovers Communities and Students, IMAKAHI, State Islamic University KSP Tarsius, KSP Macaca State University of Jakarta and Himbio Rafflesia As-Syafii’ah Islamic University,” said Agus Hadi who act as community partner coordinator.

According to Iben, JAAN Campaigner for this action, “LAPS has been Launched on Earth Day at  April 22th 2012  located in the National Monument with the long march movement toward the HI roundabout. Our expectation is for the public awareness and could sent a message to the Indonesian Government  to be focus and serious in dealing with the trade of protected wildlife, especially in an increasingly proliferated and bird markets in various locations in Indonesia, “he said.

According to LAPS campaign spokesman, Irma from LASA,  ”This activity aims to provide information about the current state bird market which is expected to have knowledge and concern for people not to buy or kept protected wild animal from birds market. This message needs to be delivered because it can create a personal impression of nature from an early age that will affect their attitude to the future of nature itself as well as foster public sensitivity to environmental changes occurring around them. “We hope this activity can be addressed by community positively because it can provide new knowledge and experience as well as concern for the preservation of endangered wildlife and natural environment  particulary in Indonesia”. she added.

“The implementation of Sympathetic Action against Trafficking in Wildlife will be the expansion of  information about conservation and zoonotic disease. As one of the media campaign and information activities such as wildlife rescue activity as the efforts that have been made by the members of LAPS ” explained Andita, the wildlife veterinarian who handles education in this campaign.

On the same occasion, Winar from IAR also asserted, “endangered species conservation campaign conducted in large cities may be a new experience for people, especially public and school students so that its efforts are needed to educate and entertain them on the new knowledge. LAPS will conduct a campaign for one-year program with various activities involving the public, students, communities with an informatively, innovatively and creatively way. ”   (dee)

For more information, please contact:

1. Iben ( LAPS Campaigner): 081 310 021 616

2. Irma ( LAPS Spokesman): 08128101907

3. Andita ( LAPS Educator ): 085792137357

Winar ( LAPS Educator ): 08562100915

4. Agus ( Community Partner ): 081 315 036 510

Now a days, endangered species business are looks like a drug business. Starting from the mode, network, and its economic value to the business is controlled by the mafia network world widely. Based on the facts, about 80% of existing wildlife in the bird market comes from nature and  illegal hunting activity. At least 4 tons of illegal ivory have been traded in the last 4 years in southern Sumatra, 2,000 illegal pangolin exported monthly since 2002. Losses due to illegal trafficking reach 9 trillion dollars a year (data from Ministry of forestry  at 2009).

Other data from WCU (Wildlife Crime Unit) is More than 1,000 cockatoos and parrots are smuggled into and out of the country every year. More than 1,500 Sumatran loris been caught, captured and illegally traded in Java and abroad. More than 1,000 semi-aquatic turtles were arrested illegally every month in Sumatra for export. More than 10,000 sea turtle eggs sold illegally in central Sumatra every month.

Weak enforcement of the Plant and Wildlife in Indonesia does not provide a deterrent effect for the perpetrators of these crimes.

To raise an awareness and knowledge of this country society by the role of Indonesians youth in wildlife conservation then LAPS (ANTi ANIMAL TRADE LEAGUE ) was established.  Supported by various NGOs that focus on wildlife protection like  IAR (International Animal Rescue), WCS-IP (Wildlife Conservation Society -Indonesia Program, JAAN (Jakarta Animal Aid Network), COP (Centre For Orangutan Protection), Eagle Sanctuary, RAIN (Raptor Indonesia), ProFauna Indonesia, LASA (Wildlife Advocacy Institute) and various communities, among  Bikes Community,The Story Telling Community, Nature Lovers Community  and University Students,  KSP Tarsius from State Islamic University, KSP Macaca from State University of Jakarta, Himbio Rafflesia As-Syafii’ah Islamic University Jakarta to conduct a sympathetic action in HI traffic circle monument and to campaign to protecting any illegal species trading activity under the theme ” INDONESIAN MARKET BIRD IS FREE FROM PROTECTED ANIMALS TRADING ”.

The aims of this activity  is to provide information about the current state bird market which is expected that society able to having a knowledge and concerning not to buy or keep a protected wildlife species that bought from birds market . This message needs to be delivered because it can create a personal impression of nature from an early age that will affect their attitude to the future of nature itself. Through these activities, the community is expected to gain knowledge and new experiences as well as concern for the preservation of endangered wildlife and natural environment in Indonesia particularly.

Sympathetic activity implementation of Action to against wildlife trafficking, will be the expansion media and an information source about conservation. As one of the media campaigns and information, LAPS is take a place to socialize Wildlife rescue activities in an effort of what LAPS have been doing. Endangered species conservation campaigns are conducted in major cities might be a new experience for the community and the public, especially school students so that its efforts are needed to educate and entertain them on the new knowledge. LAPS will conduct a campaign for one-year program with various activities involving the public, students, communities in particularly informative, innovative and creative way.

LAPS premiere launching will be held on April 22th, 2012 around Monas and HI circular. With the expectation that the public cares and could passed a message to the Indonesian Government to further concentration and serious in dealing with trade of protected wildlife, especially in an increasingly proliferated and bird markets in various locations in Indonesia. (dee)

NEW YORK (February 21, 2012)

The eight-month prison sentence and 7 million rupiahs are only the third such sentencing for orangutan trading in Indonesia, despite orangutans being strictly protected under Indonesian law since 1924.

Although there have been over 2,500 confiscations of illegally held orangutans in Indonesia since the early 1970’s, the first actual prosecution of an illegal orangutan owner occurred in Borneo in 2010, and now in Sumatra with this case in 2012.

The case began with the confiscation of a young male orangutan named Julius last July in Mardinding, Karo District, in the province of North Sumatra. The owner was allegedly trying to sell the orangutan, which was believed to be three years old.

The raid was conducted by the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry’s Directorate-General for Forest Protection and Nature Conservation (PHKA), working in conjunction with WCS’s Wildlife Crime Unit and the veterinarian and staff of the SOCP.

The Wildlife Crime Unit, created by WCS in 2003, provides data and technical advice to law enforcement agencies to support the investigation and prosecution of wildlife crimes.

The SOCP, implemented by the Swiss-based PanEco Foundation, and the Indonesian NGO YEL (Foundation for a Sustainable Ecosystem) have operated the only orangutan rescue center in Sumatra since 2001 and have so far reintroduced over 150 confiscated ex-pet orangutans back to the wild. Julius is now being cared for at the SOCP’s orangutan quarantine center near Medan, with just over 50 other orangutans also being prepared for a return to the forest.

After spending 30 days in quarantine, Julius is now living in a socialization cage, which allows him to adapt to the presence of other orangutans. Though the road to full rehabilitation might still be a long one, Julius is making excellent progress and is expected to be released back into the wild in the future.

The sentence reflects an increase in activity and action to combat the illegal wildlife trade in Indonesia in recent years. In the last two years there have been more than 20 arrests for illegally possessing or trading protected wildlife, including the critically endangered Sumatran tiger and pangolin.

The prosecution is in full compliance with the Indonesian Government’s own National Orangutan Conservation Strategy and Action plan, launched in 2007.

The majority of illegal pet orangutans are a byproduct of forest clearance for palm oil plantations and of conflicts between farmers and orangutans that raid crops in converted agricultural areas. In most cases, they are not hunted specifically for food or trade in Sumatra, but are more “refugees” from forests that no longer exist.

Conservationists believe Julius’s mother was killed at the time of his capture. Relatively few orangutans are actively traded in Sumatra, but the SOCP and PHKA still confiscate around 30 illegal pets each year, whose mothers have been killed.

The Head of Natural Resources Conservancy Agency (BBKSDA) North Sumatra, Arief Tongkagie, said: “Based on the successful completion of this case, our hope is that in the future more people will be willing to report crimes against orangutans”.

According to Panut Hadisiswoyo, Chairman of the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Forum (FOKUS): “Increased efforts to curb crimes against orangutans will provide a deterrent effect to traders.”

The Wildlife Conservation Society is actively trying to reduce the damaging impact of the illegal wildlife trade.

“We commend Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry’s Directorate-General for Forest Protection and Nature Conservation (PHKA) for taking a hard stance on wildlife trade, which is threatening to destroy the country’s natural resources,” said Dr Noviar Andayani, Director of the WCS Indonesia Program. “We are hopeful that this prosecution sends a clear message that illegal wildlife trade will not be tolerated in Indonesia.”

Live orangutans sold in Indonesia, or exported illegally to neighboring countries, are kept as pets or in private zoo collections. Other wildlife traded for food, medicines, skins, biomedical research, souvenirs and pets from Indonesia include rhinos, elephants, tigers, birds, bears, orchids, marine and freshwater fish, turtles, fragrant timber, pangolins, corals, snakes, bats, sharks, and rodents.

“Working closely with law enforcement is a key component in the fight against illegal wildlife trade,” said Joe Walston, WCS Executive Director for Asia programs.  “If governments want to protect their wildlife resources, they need to be serious about enforcement. Clearly Indonesia is taking a lead on this front.”

Ian Singleton, Director of Conservation for the PanEco Foundation and the person in charge of the SOCP, said: “It’s absolutely fantastic to finally have a prosecution of an illegal orangutan ‘owner’ in Sumatra, but it’s also long overdue. With this sentence, as long as it is widely publicized in the region, anyone considering capturing, killing or keeping an orangutan illegally will certainly think twice about it, and hopefully the numbers being killed and kept in the coming years will begin to decline.”

dna

CONTACT:    WCS – STEPHEN SAUTNER (U.S.): (1-718-220-3682; ssautner@wcs.org)

WCS – JOHN DELANEY (U.S.): (1-718-220-3275; jdelaney@wcs.org)

SOCP – Dr Ian Singleton, Jl. K.H. Wahid Hasyim (North Sumatra, Indonesia): (62-811-650491; mokko123@gmail.com)

Wildlife Conservation Society www.wcs.org

SOCP: Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (www.sumatranorangutan.org)

PanEco Foundation (www.paneco.ch)

Yayasan Ekosistem Lestari (YEL) www.yelweb.org)

PHKA: Perlindungan Hutan dan Konservasi Alam, the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry’s department of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation: www.dephut.go.id

The Bakauheni seaport in Sumatra is the main transit point between the islands of Sumatra and Java. The hundreds of ferries that cross the Sunda Strait on a daily basis constitute the main smuggling route for transporting illegal wildlife between both islands.

The smuggler was arrested on a public bus, travelling from the capital Jakarta to Medan in North Sumatra. The suspect was transporting three Palm Cockatoos (Probosciger atterimus), ten Eclectus Parrots (Eclectus roratus), nine juvenile Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus), two Birds of Paradise, and a number of other protected parrot species from eastern Indonesia.

Both the Palm Cockatoo and the Bird of Paradise are listed as priority species by Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry, and can therefore not be traded without a proper license. The list of priority species was established to reduce the pressure on threatened species. The criteria for identifying priority species include endemism, population status, habitat condition, threats, and management status. Habitat destruction and conversion, as well as illegal poaching and trading to supply domestic and international pet trade demand constitute major threats for many protected birds in Indonesia.

Based on the testimony of the smuggler, the birds were being transported from the Pramuka bird market in Jakarta to supply the pet trade demand in North Sumatra. The Pramuka bird market is believed to be the biggest bird market in Southeast Asia, as well as a hotspot for illegal wildlife trade.

The WCS-WCU calculated that the total economic loss for the Indonesian State of this particular smuggling activity could reach up to US$ 50,000. While the Palm Cockatoo can reach a very high price, up to US$ 15,000, on the international market, local hunters will receive no more than US$ 30 USD per individual from the middlemen.

Mr. Darori, the Director General Forest Protection and Natural Conservation, Ministry of Forestry commented the following on the case: “We believe that protected wildlife from eastern Indonesia is currently being smuggled abroad via Medan. The smugglers are trying to find alternative routes since both the seaport and airport in Jakarta are strongly monitored and protected by our officers.” (dna)

Many animals with albinism lack their protective camouflage and are unable to conceal themselves from their predators or prey; the survival rate of animals with albinism in the wild is usually quite low. In partial albinism there can be a single patch or patches of skin that lack melanin. Especially in albinistic birds and reptiles, ruddy and yellow hues or other colors may be present on the entire body or in patches (as is common among pigeons), because of the presence of other pigments unaffected by albinism such as porphyrins, pteridines,  and psittacins, as well as carotenoid pigments derived from the diet.

In some animals albinism-like conditions may affect other pigments or pigment-production mechanisms:

▪     “Whiteface” a condition that affect some parrot species is caused by a lack of psittacins.

▪     Axanthism is a condition common in reptiles and amphibians, in which xanthophore metabolism  is affected rather than synthesis of melanin, resulting in reduction or absence of red and yellow pteridine pigments.

▪     Leucism differs from albinism in that the melanin is, at least, partially absent but the eyes retain their usual color. Some leucistic animals are white or pale because of chromatophore (pigment cell) defects, and do not lack melanin.

▪     Melanism is the direct opposite of albinism. An unusually high level of melanin pigmentation (and sometimes absence of other types of pigment in species that have more than one) results in an appearance darker than non-melanistic specimens from the same genepool.

Intentionally bred albinistic strains of some animal species are commonly used as model organism in biomedical study and experimentation, although some researchers have argued that they are not always the best choice. Examples include the BALB/c mouse and Wistar  and Sprague Dawley rat  strains, while albino rabbits were historically used for Draize toxicity testing.The yellow mutation in fruit flies is their version of albinism. The incidence of albinism can be artificially increased in fish by exposing the eggs to heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, copper, mercury, selenium, zinc).

The eyes of an albino animal appear red because the colour of the red blood cells in the underlying retinal blood vessels shows through where there is no pigment to obscure it. (dna)

Source: Wikipedia.

WCU recorded that one trader has sold out more than 3,000 sea turtle eggs within a day in 2009. Fortunately, the trader was arrested and the illegal trade has been closed. But, eggs trade still running in West Sumatra and East Sumatra. Based on BKSDA West Sumatra notes, at least 5,000 eggs have been sold within a month by a trader. At least there are 22 egg traders in Padang, capital city of West Sumatra, with total omzet per month reach IDR 133 million.

In Jakarta, WCU recorded sea turtle hatchlings trade in East Jakarta and Yogyakarta bird market in April-October 2011. The traders mixed the sea turtle hatchlings with Brazil turtles to avoid detection. The hatchlings keep in fresh water, mean that this method suffering the animal. The hatchling will survive for a week and then death, but the time period is enough for trader to avoid buyer complaining. The hatchlings indicated came from southern part of West Java coastal area, near Pelabuhan Ratu, Sukabumi. We need to do important step and action both government and partners to reduce and stop illegal sea turtle eggs and hatchlings trade. (dna)

After the examination, police set Sam as a suspect and now his case has been complete file declared  (P21) and transferred to the Attorney Karo District . Meanwhile, AHM which is acts as a driver is put as a witness. This case is the first case in the Sumatran Orangutan illegal trade history that has been complete file declared  (P21) and likely to be the first case of the Sumatran Orangutan which is proceed until the court verdict. It is very important to provide a deterrent effect against perpetrators of wildlife crimes, especially orangutans. Although the current case has been transferred to the Attorney Karo District unfortunately the scheduled of hearing in court is not yet known. Monitoring of the case needs to be done when the transfer case to court and the proceedings to ensure that the case should be completed.

The polemic is emerged when raptor expert from Raptor Indonesia (RAIN), Suaka Elang, and WCU found misappropriation between their mission to conserve raptor and the real activity. We found that at least 40 raptors were keep in a group in Yogyakarta, and there are no evidence that they got the raptor from legal procedure. Right now, there are no legal raptor captive breeding issued by MoF in Indonesia. Based on internal discussion between member of the group, they got the raptor from the market. They bought the raptor just for pity, then trained  the raptor for their hobby. It is mean that the group got the raptor by illegal activity.

Based on Indonesian Act No. 5 Year 1999, everybody is prohibited to keep, sell, or buy protected wildlife, both live or parts. Raptor, group of Accipitridae and Falconidae are protected based on Government Regulation No. 7 Year 1999. Selling the protected raptor is illegal, buying raptor from the bird market also illegal, and keeping the raptor by personal or inside a group (what ever the reason) is absolutely illegal. In certain day (Saturday or Sunday), the group (8-10 members) showed the raptor in public space. This is very dangerous for public awareness since the group have not enough space to explain people about why they display the protected bird in public space. The problem became complicated when the head of BKSDA DIY in non formal discussion said that he was disagree with raptor breeding issue or display the raptor in public space. However, to terminate the MoU between BKSDA DIY and falconry group in Yogyakarta is the important step for now.

Wildlife Crime Unit in October 2011 carried out 15 days bird market monitoring in a famous bird market at Jakarta. The surveyor investigated raptor trade per 2 days during a month. The aim of the activity is to know how big illegal wildlife trade in targeted market. In 3 weeks monitoring, WCU recorded 17 falcons, hawks, and eagles sold out. Total 79 accipitridae and falconidae were displayed in the market. If we compare between captive breeding initiative by illegal falconry to support re-stocking in the wild and threat of raptor trade in the market, it clearly show that it does not make sense. The number of raptor were traded in the market are impossible to be replaced by raptor from captive breeding. Captive breeding also face a problem of behavior change and survival skill of raptor from captive breeding. Another issue, captive breeding is and expensive cost. The cost to breed the raptor in captivity is extremely higher than the price of wild raptor in the bird market. No body will involve to playing role in raptor captivity as long as law enforcement has no place in raptor trade issue. However, WCU assumed that both legal or illegal falconry have no clear vision about what will they do for raptor conservation. The fact, what are they doing now is just a camouflage to cover their illegal activity to buy, keep, and show the raptor just for hobby and business. (dna).