JP/5/SATWA

JP/5/SATWA

Traders protected, animals they sell endangered

Apriadi Gunawan
The Jakarta Post/Medan

The North Sumatra Forestry Office has revealed that a large
number of high-ranking state officials, including from the
military and police, keep rare and protected animals as pets.
Chief of Forest Rangers at the Natural Resource Conservation
Body (BKSDA) Unit I in North Sumatra, Mujayamin Saragih,
estimated that hundreds of rare animals had been purchased by
officials from traders in Medan and Jakarta. The animals are sold
at comparatively low prices.

The price of a yellow-crested cockatoo ranges from Rp 1
million (US$100.00) to Rp 2 million, a parrot sells for Rp
700,000, a Nias mynah for Rp 3 million and a siamang (black
gibbon) for Rp 700,000, said Mujayamin.

"The illegal trade has been going on for years, with many of
the animals transported overland from Jakarta. The practice is
unlawful, but, as to dealing with members of the military and
police, we are at a loss. They threaten us the moment we try to
confiscate the animals," Mujayamin told The Jakarta Post recently
on the sidelines of a seminar on animal protection organized by
the Orangutan Information Center at North Sumatra University.

He recalled several abortive attempts to seize the rare
animals, during which he was threatened at gunpoint by military
officers. "We have been conducting such operations since 1999.
Only a few officials have voluntarily handed their pets over to
us, among them, 14 yellow-crested cockatoos and several parrots,"
he said.

Mujayamin said officials in the province favored siamangs,
orangutans, bears, cockatoos and other exotic birds.

There are two places in Medan that are believed to trade in
protected animals, one is located on Jl. Bintang, the other is
Petisah market, said Mujayamin.

Protected animals like the Irian mynah, civet cat, anteater,
crow and yellow-crested cockatoo are traded illegally in both
places. "Many traders don't have permits, but we can't arrest
them as they are backed by security personnel," he said.

According to Mujayamin, rare animals found in the two
locations either came from within the province or from Java,
particularly Jakarta.

Meanwhile, BKSDA Unit II chief Luhut Sihombing said the
illegal trade had caused many species to be on the brink of
extinction.

Luhut said endangered animals in North Sumatra included Nias
mynah, Asian elephants, Sumatran tigers and tapir.

According to the law, those found guilty of trading in
protected animals could face fines ranging from Rp 50 million
(US$5,319) to Rp 250 million, have their permits revoked and
serve prison terms.

Luhut said not one of the officials had been arrested to date,
"we have made every effort to take them to court, but they are
fiercely backed and protected," he said.