Maluku BKSDA seizes six protected animals from ship passengers

The Maluku Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) has seized six protected animals from passenger luggage at the Yos Sudarso Port passenger terminal in Ambon.

“The six animals were secured by officers at the Yos Sudarso Ambon Port post together with other stakeholders while inspecting passenger luggage,” said Maluku BKSDA Forest Police officer Cardolin CH Latuputty in Ambon on Tuesday.

The six seized animals consisted of two rainbow lorikeets (Trichoglossus haematodus), two red lories (Eos bornea), one purple-naped lory (Lorius domicella), and one Moluccan cockatoo (Cacatua moluccensis).

All the animals have been handed over to the Maluku Islands Wildlife Conservation Centre to undergo quarantine and health checks before being returned to their natural habitat through a release process.

The regulation reinforces the prohibition against illegal hunting, possession, circulation, and trade of protected wildlife.

“Violations of these criminal provisions can result in prison sentences of up to 15 years in accordance with applicable regulations,” he stressed.

Maluku BKSDA urged the public not to capture, keep, buy, sell, or transport protected wildlife illegally.

Such efforts are necessary to preserve Maluku’s rich biodiversity so that it remains intact and can be enjoyed by future generations.