39 rare birds stolen from zoo

39 rare birds stolen from zoo

DENPASAR, Bali: A gang of armed robbers stole on Sunday 39
protected starlings locally known as Jalak Bali from a bird
breeding cage at the West Bali National Park in Grogak
subdistrict, Buleleng, about 140 kilometers northwest of here.

The robbers, armed with sharp weapons and homemade bombs, also
stole a Medzone rifle and 15 bullets from forest police, before
handcuffing the park's four guards inside the cage.

Bali Police have deployed two teams to hunt down the suspects,
the provincial police spokesman Lt. Col. Y. Suyatmo said on
Monday.

"After two deafening blasts, the park's guards had yet to find
their feet when they were suddenly ambushed by a gang of
robbers," Suyatmo said.

Jalak Bali or leucopar rothschildi is a rare species with a
street value of Rp 10 million per bird.

The bird's export and trade is forbidden under Law No.5/1990
on Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation and the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Flora and Fauna or Cites.

According to the Birdlife Indonesia Foundation, up to May this
year only 14 Jalak Bali were free in the West Bali National Park,
while 75 others were placed in a breeding cage. (zen/edt)