Illegal loggers caught in the act

PALU, Central Sulawesi: The agency managing Lore Laban National Park is investigating the case of seven men who were allegedly caught chopping trees in the area.

Head of the agency Banjar Yulianto Laban told Antara on Tuesday that the illegal loggers came from the village of Pesaku, some 100 kilometers from the national park.

They were caught red-handed by forest rangers in the village of Watumaeta last week.

"They claimed that they had permission from the village head of Watumaeta," Yulianto said.

The national park currently employs 66 forest rangers to monitor an area of some 219,000 hectares. (04)