Lampung quarantine authorities foil wildlife trafficking at Bakauheni Port

Bandarlampung, Indonesia (ANTARA) — The Lampung Animal, Fish and Plant Quarantine Office (Lampung Quarantine) foiled the trafficking of wildlife consisting of eagles and monkeys without official documents at Bakauheni Port in South Lampung.

“Our officers, together with the Bakauheni Port Police Sector (KSKP), thwarted the shipment of seven eagles and 13 juvenile monkeys without documents at the Bakauheni Ferry Port,” said Donni Muksydayan, head of Lampung Quarantine, in a statement received in Bandarlampung on Wednesday.

He said the joint team found two adult eagles and five juvenile eagles packed into a single carton, while 13 juvenile monkeys were found in three baskets.

“All of them were found inside a single bus and it is suspected they were to be sent to Tangerang,” he said.

He explained that during checks at the Seaport Interdiction gate, the eagles and the monkeys did not have official documents such as the Domestic Animal and Plant Transport Certificate (SATSDN).

“We emphasise that every animal shipment must meet quarantine requirements and official documentation as set out in Law Number 21 of 2019 concerning Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine,” he said.

“The primates that were secured also contribute to seed dispersal and forest regeneration. Removal of wildlife from the wild, especially juveniles, can have a serious impact on their populations in their natural habitats,” he said.

For wildlife protection and conservation, according to Donni, the current provisions refer to Law Number 32 of 2024 which supersedes Law Number 5 of 1990 on the Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems.

“The latest regulations state that it is illegal to capture, possess, transport, and trade protected wildlife without a permit, with penalties including imprisonment and fines,” he said.

In his remarks, the bus driver said he had been contacted a day earlier by someone to transport the box and baskets containing the wildlife to Tangerang.

“Authorities are still probing these statements to trace the sender and recipient,” he said.

Meanwhile, the seized animals have been placed in the aviary facilities owned by Jaringan Satwa Indonesia (JSI) for care and health monitoring.

“This enforcement is expected to form part of a shared commitment to strengthening wildlife protection and preserving Indonesia’s ecosystem,” he said.