Ad promotes 'hunting'

We watched the TV show of Hadiah Mandiri Fiesta Bank Mandiri prize draw on June 28, 2002, and were surprised that the show used a jaguar (Panthera onca), which is an endangered species. Bank Mandiri's advertisements on several TV stations in recent weeks have also used a jaguar.

We believe that the image of the jaguar and the use of the word "hunt" in Bank Mandiri's ads -- "It's time to hunt Mandiri Fiesta Prize" -- could lead to the misperception that endangered species like jaguars deserve to be hunted. Furthermore, the particular use of a jaguar in the Hadiah Mandiri Fiesta Bank Mandiri prize draw gave the impression that endangered species such as jaguars were suitable for pets.

A relative of the jaguar found in Indonesia, Macan Kembang (Panthera pardus), is included in the endangered species list and protected by national law. Since 1975, the jaguar has been categorized as an endangered species and included in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) Appendix I, meaning that international trade in the animal is strictly prohibited. The CITES was ratified by the government of Indonesia through the issuance of Law No. 5/1990 on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Conservation.

As a conservation organization, we call on Bank Mandiri to stop using the jaguar for its ads, as this could lead to the perception that this endangered species deserves to be hunted or owned. We believe that the use of endangered species in advertisements should be limited to ads that are promoting or supporting conservation efforts for those species.

AGUS PURNOMO

Executive Director

World Wide Fund for Nature

Jakarta