22 Protected Wild Animals Secured by Forestry Ministry in Bogor
A total of 22 protected wild animals have been secured from suspected illegal possession in Bogor Regency, West Java. In this case, the Ministry of Forestry, through the Jawa, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara Forestry Law Enforcement Agency (Balai Gakkumhut Jabalnusra) of the Directorate General of Forestry Law Enforcement, also seized four preserved birds of paradise as evidence. As the case progressed, the suspect, identified as S, 47, along with the evidence, has been handed over to the Public Prosecutor at the Bogor District Prosecutor’s Office after the case file was declared complete (P-21).
Director General of Forestry Law Enforcement, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, asserted that protecting wildlife cannot rely solely on law enforcement but also requires a change in the public’s perspective towards protected species. “Protected wild animals are not to be kept, traded, made into collections, or used as symbols of prestige. Their existence in the wild plays a vital role in maintaining the ecosystem balance that sustains life. As long as there is demand for protected wildlife, pressure on their natural populations will continue. Therefore, law enforcement must go hand in hand with prevention efforts and increased public awareness. This case also shows that information from the public is an important part of uncovering criminal acts against wildlife. Wildlife protection will only succeed if the state and the community work together to safeguard Indonesia’s biodiversity,” Januanto stated on Friday (7/11).
He explained that the case originated from a public tip-off regarding the suspected illegal possession of protected wildlife in the Cibinong area, Bogor Regency. Following up on this information, investigators from Balai Gakkumhut Jabalnusra, together with the West Java Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), elements of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), and local officials, approached a man with the initials N (42) for clarification regarding the animals and their permits. During the clarification process, investigators obtained information that the animals previously in N’s possession had been moved to another location linked to S. The investigation led to a new storage site, where investigators not only found the relocated animals but also other protected wildlife. A total of 22 live protected animals and four preserved birds of paradise were secured from the location.
The live animals secured consisted of nine black-capped lories, three dusky lories, one red lory, one black lory, one rainbow lorikeet, one Goffin’s cockatoo, four yellow-crested cockatoos, and two parrots. All live animals have been entrusted to the Cikananga Wildlife Center in Sukabumi Regency, West Java, for care and rehabilitation, while the four preserved birds of paradise were secured as evidence. The suspect S is charged under Article 40A paragraph (1) letter d and/or letter f in conjunction with Article 21 paragraph (2) letter a and/or letter c of Law Number 32 of 2024 concerning Amendments to Law Number 5 of 1990 on Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems, which carries a minimum prison sentence of three years and a maximum of 15 years, and a minimum fine of Rp200 million and a maximum of Rp5 billion.
Director of Conservation Planning at the Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation, Ammy Nurwati, who serves as the acting head of the West Java BKSDA, explained that rescuing wildlife does not end when the animals are secured from illegal possession. All live animals secured will undergo health checks to determine their physical condition, followed by care and rehabilitation according to their needs. “Every animal successfully rescued is part of Indonesia’s biological wealth that must be protected. After undergoing health checks, care, and rehabilitation, animals that meet the requirements will be released back into their natural habitat so they can resume their ecological roles. We hope all the animals can return to their habitat, so the sustainability of their population in the wild is maintained,” said Ammy.
Head of the Jawa, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara Forestry Law Enforcement Agency, Aswin Bangun, explained that the transfer of the suspect and evidence to the Public Prosecutor marks the completion of the investigation process for suspect S, but investigators are still exploring the possible involvement of other parties. “The Phase II handover signifies that the legal process against the suspect has entered the prosecution stage. However, the investigation does not stop here. Investigators are still tracing the origin of the animals, the transfer routes, the parties who possessed or entrusted them, and the possible connection to a cross-regional protected wildlife trafficking network. One witness with the initials N has been summoned twice to provide testimony, but based on information obtained by investigators, the person is still working in Papua and has not yet complied with the summons. Information regarding the possible connection of this case to a wildlife trafficking network from Papua is still being investigated as part of the ongoing inquiry,” said Aswin.
Protecting wildlife is not merely about preserving the existence of a single species, but about maintaining the ecosystem balance that sustains human life. When animals are taken from their natural habitat to be kept or traded illegally, what is lost is not just the individual animal, but also the ecological function that ensures the continuity of the forest. Therefore, every effort to stop the trade and possession of protected wildlife is part of safeguarding the nation.