{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1667138,
        "msgid": "maluku-bksda-releases-cuscus-handed-over-from-quarantine-1775735457",
        "date": "2026-04-09 17:48:56",
        "title": "Maluku BKSDA releases cuscus handed over from quarantine",
        "author": "",
        "source": "ANTARA_ID",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Regulation",
        "summary": "The Maluku Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) has released a Maluku cuscus into the wild after it was surrendered by the North Maluku Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine Agency, as part of efforts to preserve endemic wildlife. This action underscores the commitment to protecting protected species and educating the public against their trade, with the release involving local communities in Pulo Tareba on 3 April 2026. Under Indonesian law, illegal handling of protected animals like the cuscus can result in up to five years in prison and fines of Rp100 million, highlighting the regulatory framework supporting conservation.",
        "content": "<p>Ambon (ANTARA) - The Maluku Natural Resources Conservation Agency\n(BKSDA) has released a Maluku cuscus into the wild, which was handed\nover from the North Maluku Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine Agency, as\npart of efforts to conserve endemic wildlife. \u201cThis release represents\nour commitment to safeguarding wild animal populations, while also\neducating the public not to trade protected species,\u201d said Forest\nEcosystem Controller (PEH) of BKSDA Maluku, Jingga Dwi Harpah Prasasti\nAli, in Ambon on Thursday. The release was carried out by the Section\nfor Natural Resources Conservation in Region I Ternate on 3 April 2026,\nafter the animal underwent observation and was confirmed to be in good\nhealth. The activity also involved local communities in Pulo Tareba. The\nMaluku cuscus (Phalanger ornatus) is an endemic species to North Maluku,\nnaturally distributed in the Halmahera, Bacan, and Morotai regions. It\nis known locally as the yellow cuscus or kuso cuscus and belongs to the\nmarsupial group. Although classified as Least Concern (LC) by the\nInternational Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Maluku cuscus\nremains protected in Indonesia. The animal features thick fur, large\neyes, and a strong long tail for grasping branches, and it is nocturnal,\ninhabiting tropical forests. BKSDA Maluku stated that this release is\npart of efforts to maintain the survival of endemic wild animals in\ntheir natural habitats. In addition, BKSDA emphasised the importance of\nthe public\u2019s role in supporting conservation, particularly by refraining\nfrom capturing, keeping, or trading protected wild animals. \u201cThrough\nthis initiative, it is hoped that the wild population of Maluku cuscus\nwill remain stable, and the forest ecosystem in North Maluku can\ncontinue to thrive,\u201d she said. Based on Law No.\u00a05 of 1990 on the\nConservation of Living Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems, anyone\nwho intentionally captures, injures, kills, stores, possesses, keeps,\ntransports, or trades protected animals (Article 21 paragraph (2) letter\na) faces a maximum prison sentence of five years and a fine of up to\nRp100 million (Article 40 paragraph (2)).<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/maluku-bksda-releases-cuscus-handed-over-from-quarantine-1775735457",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}