Jakarta beckons as a center for illegal wildlife trade
Jakarta beckons as a center for illegal wildlife trade
By Bayu Dwi Mardana Kusuma
JAKARTA (JP): Despite its limited number of native animals,
Jakarta is overwhelmed with wild and protected species which have
been brought here from all around the country.
Orangutans, yellow-crested cockatoos, parrots, birds of
paradise and more are proudly paraded by traders in public places
-- even in shopping malls -- to satisfy people's curiosity. For
the right price, the animals can belong to those who believe
keeping endangered animals as pets will raise their social
status.
The slow action in stopping this illegal trade has given a bad
image to the forestry ministry's directorate general of nature
conservation and forest protection (PHKA), and also -- with the
implementation of regional autonomy -- the Jakarta
administration.
"Indonesia now is at the top of the list (of countries which
have) the most endangered species," said Jatna Supriatna,
executive director of the Conservation International-Indonesia
Program. For example, there are around 128 local bird species on
the brink of extinction, he said.
"The number is enormous compared with China and India, which
rank second on the list," he said. Both China and India have 75
species of birds on the brink of extinction.
This intricate issue has put Indonesia in the spotlight, with
mounting pressure coming from both local and international
conservationists and environmentalists.
On a legal basis, the utilization of wildlife is properly
regulated, along with punitive provisions for violators.
For example, Law No. 5/1990 regulates the conservation of
natural resources and the ecosystem. There is also a quarantine
law, government regulation No. 7/1999 on the conservation of wild
flora and fauna and government regulation No. 8/1999 on the
utilization of wild flora and fauna.
Moreover, Indonesia has ratified the Convention on the
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna
(CITES). The convention, declared in Washington in 1973, is
mainly intended to control the global wildlife trade.
Unfortunately, the laws stay on paper and are not fully
enforced, creating more environmental problems for the capital.
"Theoretically, a law will be effective if it is accompanied
by four aspects: law, legal infrastructure and facilities, law
enforcers and culture," legal expert Loebby Loqman told
participants of a recent seminar on the control of the illicit
wildlife trade in Jakarta.
He cited the legal culture as an example. "It's hard to expect
people to obey the law, especially with the present economic
situation where it is hard to resist the promised profits from
the illegal trade of wild animals," Loebby said.
Law enforcement, he said, also depends on other factors, such
as consequences, consistency and continuity. "Without these
factors, don't expect satisfying results," said Loebby, adding
that these factors would prevent public suspicion of the
authority's efforts to phase out the illegal business.
There are rumors that the authority's steps to stop the
illegal trade in protected animals are spurious, with some of the
traders informed about raids beforehand. As a result, no wild and
protected animals are confiscated during the raids.
"Reports have circulated that the rare species confiscated in
bird markets during raids can be reclaimed by their sellers
afterward," Loebby said.
Negative charges
In its efforts to refute these charges, the forestry ministry,
in this case the PHKA, has launched several operations such as
the one in March involving the Jakarta office of the Nature
Resources Conservation (KSDA), along with the police and
military.
During a raid of the Barito bird market in South Jakarta, some
protected animals like yellow birds of paradise, yellow-crested
cockatoos, black-headed parrots and many other were confiscated.
"It's true that it (illegal trade of animals) has become a
widespread business," Heryanto of PHKA admitted. "But in
enforcing the law, we are facing two different groups."
He explained that the first group comprised traders who were
aware what they were doing was illegal, and the second group who
were unaware of the existing laws and regulations.
"We deal with each group differently," Heryanto said.
The office has prepared several strategies in dealing with
these problems, such as tightening controls and conducting joint
operations with related organizations, such as non-governmental
organizations and government offices.
Skeptical
These strategies, however, do not satisfy conservationists.
They still doubt the work of PHKA, and hold seminars, workshops
and informal meetings to find a solution.
To improve the enforcement of the laws, Loebby suggested the
bans and sanctions in the laws on wildlife protection be
advertised more vigorously. "Publicizing (the bans and sanctions)
will at least stop people from wanting to keep endangered
animals," Loebby said.
Moreover, he suggested the authorities take steps to show the
public that confiscated wildlife animals have been sent back to
their natural habitats or kept by the relevant authorities.
"These efforts will prevent the impression that the animals go
'missing' (after the raids)," Loebby said.
The use of advanced technology, such as artificial
insemination, in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer was
urged by Jatna Supriatna to help prevent the extinction of
species.
In the United States, captive breeding projects are
successful. Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) have become a
commercial commodity without disturbing its population in the
wild. A similar project involved the Cayman island's turtles,
meaning people do not have to violate the law when consuming
there meat.
Indonesia began such breeding projects in 1984, successfully
breeding 12 wildlife species including crocodiles and several
primates. For commercial purposes, 31 companies are engaged in
the captive breeding of animals.
By making use of these options, it is hoped future generations
of Indonesians will be able to see wild animals in their natural
habitats, rather than only in documentaries.