C. Sulawesi animals under protection

PALU, Central Sulawesi: Central Sulawesi's Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) intends to intensify efforts in trying to protect 19 animal species in the area from becoming endangered.

The numbers of many of the 19 species have been dwindling, like the dwarf buffalo, the center's chief, Edy Purwanto, said yesterday.

He attributed the decreasing population of the dwarf buffalo to the fact that more people had been poaching the animal near the Lore Lindu National Park for its meat.

According to Antara, the 19 animal species include the Sulawesi crested black macaque (macaca nigra), phalanger (phalanger ursinus), digo macaque (macaca tonkeana), tarsius (tarsius spectrum), Sulawesi phalanger (phalanger celebensis), Sulawesi civet (macrogalidia musschenbrocki), and dare macaque (macaca maura).

They are protected under Law No 5/1990.

Among the efforts that will be employed is better monitoring and information dissemination on the importance of protecting these animals. (mds)