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), 10 Eclectus Parrots (Eclectus roratus), 9 juvenile Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus), 2 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)

Setelah dilakukan pemeriksaan, petugas kemudian menetapkan Sam sebagai tersangka dan saat ini berkas perkaranya telah dinyatakan lengkap (P21) dan telah dilimpahkan ke Kejaksaan Negeri Karo. Sementara itu Ahm yang bertindak sebagai sopir statusnya sebagai saksi. Kasus ini merupakan kasus Orangutan pertama di Sumatera yang berkas perkaranya telah dinyatakan lengkap (P21), dan berpeluang menjadi kasus pertama Orangutan Sumatera yang proses peradilannya sampai vonis di pengadilan. Hal ini sangat penting untuk memberi efek jera terhadap pelaku kejahatan terhadap satwa liar, khususnya Orangutan. Meskipun saat ini kasus sudah dilimpahkan ke Kejaksaan Negeri Karo, namun jadwal sidang di pengadilan belum diketahui. Pemantauan terhadap kasus perlu dilakukan saat pelimpahan kasus ke pengadilan, serta jalannya persidangan untuk memastikan bahwa kasus ini harus selesai. (ggt)

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).

1. At least 1 international pangolin smuggler will be arrest. Joint investigation between government and partners involving WCU as source of pangolin smuggling information. Focused are will be defined in Sumatra, Java, and Kalimantan.
2. Legal pangolin breeder will be assisted by LIPI to repair the captive breeding facilities. Number of pangolin brood stock will be increased by LIPI recommendation to supply captive breeding as long as the facilities have been repaired. Ministry of Forestry will hold to issue captive breeding permit before legal breeder in North Sumatra shows that the facilities success to breed the pangolin.
3. National campaign on pangolin conservation will be deployed through national level to raise awareness and public involvement, especially to make sure that pangolin is prohibited to be poached and traded.
4. Regular inspections will be scheduled to check soft shell turtle, monitor, and snake legal dealers since they are indicated  accepting pangolin from poacher. Inspections will be held by BKSDA as institution that issued the permit for dealer.
5. Customs, MoF, and airport/seaport authority will be joint together to increase inspection on export goods. Old modus show that the smuggler change the goods when left inside the airport/seaport for at least a night.

The strategy will be implemented by Ministry of Forestry between 2011-2014. We strongly recommended that the result and implementation of the workshop will be assisted by public (dna).

On 14^th January, 2011, 785 turtles were confiscated by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) in Hong Kong. The animals were caught from the wild in Indonesia and smuggled illegally to Hong Kong. Until their return to Indonesia was made possible, the turtles were kept at the Wild Animal Rescue Centre at Kadoori Farm and Botanical Garden (KFBG). Now these Pig-nosed Turtles are ready to be returned to their homeland.

The HK Government confiscated these turtles when they were on their way to China, and showed interest in collaborating with the Indonesian government to return them to their country of origin. After a few months of communications and paper work, and with the assistance of IAR Indonesia and KFBG, the turtles will be repatriated to Indonesia on the 5^th of October and will arrive in Jakarta at 13:00. The 600 turtles will again take off the same day at 21:40 with destiny Merauke and will arrive in Merauke the 6^th at 09:30.

Populations of pig-nosed turtle are rapidly declining due to hunting pressures for both the illegal wildlife trade and for food, and are further threatened by habitat loss and degradation. In 2000, they were classified under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which controls all commercial and non-commercial trade of wild fauna and flora. They are classified by the IUCN Red List as Vulnerable, meaning that conservation actions are needed in order to prevent the species becoming endangered.

With assistance from the staff of IAR, the WCS, and the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia (BKSDA),  a location on Bupul, Maro river in Merauke (Indonesian Papua), which combines suitable habitat with a  low risk of possible re-capture, has been chosen for the turtles release.

The return of the turtles to their natural habitat will help in the conservation of this illegally traded and heavily exploited species, and will also act as an example to all CITES country members that repatriation of animals is possible and that enforcement and punishments against the illegal wildlife trade can take place anywhere. Collaboration between countries is crucial to combat illegal wildlife trafficking, which is the world’s third most profitable illegal trading activity.

Media Enquiry

Members of the Press who wish to obtain more information or high resolution images, please contact Indri Hapsari, Education and Communications Officer IAR Indonesia, at +628128885072 or indri@internationalanimalrescue.org/ or Dr. Karmele Llano Sanchez  +6281318887263 karmele@internationalanimalrescue.org, or Drh. Munawar Kholis +628111101281

FORINA (Forum Orangutan Indonesia) and WCS-IP (Wildlife Conservation Society-Indonesia Program) carry out mitigation and intelligence training in 5 provinces; Aceh, North Sumatra, Central Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, and East Kalimantan. These trainings are fully supported by USAID and FORINA.  The training involving participants from government and NGO staff, were starting from September 15 – 23. The modules included illegal wildlife trade modus, species identification, intelligence /covert techniques, and orangutan conflict mitigation.

The training involved 25-35 participants from BKSDA, National Park, and more than 15 NGO in Sumatra and Kalimantan. The trainers are come from WCS-IP, OIC, BKSDA, National Park, SOCP, and Yayasan Palung. WCU (Wildlife Crime Unit) in this training also issuing species identification guide book to all participants to help them identify wildlife and parts. In the end of the training, information networks will be established to gather information on orangutan conflict and wildlife trade in Sumatra and Kalimantan (dna).

I. Level of Criminal

Based on Indonesian Act No.5 year 1990 about Natural Resources Conservation and Ecosystem, people is prohibited to poaching, injuring, killing, trading, transporting, and keeping Indonesian protected wildlife. It mean that hunter, trader, buyer, and keeper is considered as wildlife criminal and will be threaten by maximum 5 year prison and IDR 100 millions fines.

But, the implementation of that act is not simple like mentioned on Article No 21. Since 2003, Wildlife Crimes Unit under WCS-Indonesia Program with Ministry of Forestry and police supported more than 150 times confiscations related illegal wildlife keeping in Lampung Province and 55 operations to arrest illegal hunters, traders, and middleman in Sumatra, Java, and Kalimantan. Number of prosecution from illegal hunters, traders, and middleman reached 61% since 2008-mid 2010. Unfortunately, there is no prosecution (0%) for illegal wildlife keeping, include orangutan. Those number showed that very difficult to prosecute protected wildlife keeper in Indonesia, even in Article No.21 was clearly declared that protected wildlife keeper has similar level with hunter and trader. The fact, law apparatus considering that illegal keeper is not a serious criminal. However, carried out animal confiscation without legal process of keeper is become safe choice for illegal keeper. This is not best option to give deterrent effect for illegal keeper and conservation morale to people.

The situation is different with case of wildlife hunter, trader, and middleman. Orangutan cases in Pontianak (June 21, 2010) and Pangkalan Bun (July 10, 2010) are good lesson learn for orangutan law enforcement. Rapid Response Forest Ranger (SPORC) and civil investigator showed impressive works to arrest illegal orangutan traders and continue the case into legal materials. Trader is important chain in wildlife trafficking, connecting poachers to buyer. If law enforcement on illegal keeper stag on the problem above, focusing law enforcement to orangutan trader and middleman are important priority to reduce orangutan trafficking in Kalimantan.

2. Strengthening Civil Investigator

Limited authority of civil investigator (PPNS) to arrest and frisk wildlife offender (as not clearly mentioned on Indonesian Act No 5. Year 1990) is source of conflict with court on legal materials process. The judge argued that arrest and frisk wildlife criminal are not under civil investigator authority, but police. The court often hold letter of confiscation issued if they proven that civil investigator arrest and frisk suspect without police assistance. Sometimes in very difficult situation (time, risk of leaking, or criminal movement in sting operation), contacted police to assist civil investigator on operation is time consuming and loss of the moment. This problem is solved mostly in Sumatra region and Java because civil investigator, police, prosecutor, and judge have same perception and commitment on forest crimeissue and believe that regulation weakness will be covered by good coordination. Information sharing between civil investigator from Sumatra and Java to Kalimantan and other place is brilliant approached to learn each other about develop sting operation, how to deal with police, prosecutor and regulation weakness. However, national consensus between Ministry of Forestry, National Police, and Ministry of Justice to strengthening civil investigator authority is urgent.

II. Revise GR No. 7 year 1999

List of protected species appendix on Government Regulation (GR) No 7 year 1990 is like time bomb for wildlife conservation. For example, expired list of orangutan species and error typing/identification of Indonesian elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) will be strongly influent law enforcement process. GR No. 7 year 1990 just listed Pongo pygmaeus, it is means that 6,667 individuals of Critically Endangered Pongo abelii are not protected under Indonesian regulation. Elephas indicus is Indian Elephant, sub-species of Asian Elephant which is dispersed in India area. Indian Elephant and Sumatran Elephant is different sub-species. The Sumatran Elephant hunter for valuable ivory and Sumatran Orangutan trader will be released when they can prove to civil investigator or judge that they are not guilty, because they poaching non-protected Indonesian animals. This weakness will be used for wildlife criminals against civil investigator on legal material preparation. However, revision on GR No. 7 year 1990 is strongly recommended to solve this problem. (dna)

Operation was set up when investigator met the trader and an orangutan in his house.  The trader offer the money for down payment when the transaction was deal. The trader was arrest when the investigator and him met together in meeting point. The orangutan was sent to SOCP rehabilitation center facility near Medan.  The civil investigator start to process the suspect’s legal material. The suspect have been sent to prison while waiting the legal document is finished. This is a trial case for Sumatran Orangutan. If the case will be finished until prosecution and sentence, it will be the first successful case in Sumatra. (dna)