Officials' hands in protected animal trade: N. Sumatra ranger

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.