Only 10 Sumatran rhinos left

Only 10 Sumatran rhinos left

KERINCI, Bengkulu: The double horned Sumatran rhino (dicerorhinus
sumatrensis) is edging dangerously close to extinction with only
10 species left in their natural habitat in Sumatra's Kerinci
National Park, a park official said.

"We're pessimistic; we cannot promise to stop the extinction
of the Sumatran rhino," said Listya Kusumawardhani, who heads the
national park.

She said there were at best only 10 Sumatra rhinos left in
their natural habitat inside the national park in North Bengkulu
regency, and that breeding them in captivity was difficult.

Poachers decimated the rhino population here for their horns,
which are believed to have healing powers and are a precious
commodity on the black market.

Listya also blamed illegal loggers, farmers and plantation
companies for causing forest fires, all of which had reduced the
habitat of the shy animal.

"Even if a male and a female rhino meet, the chances for them
to mate is very small because this animal is so sensitive, even
toward another rhino," she explained.

For now, Listya said, the park's target was to save the
existing rhino population through tighter security and monitoring
measures. -- Antara

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Across-mercury-pollute-CKalimantan
Mercury pollutes C. Kalimantan rivers
JP/5/Across

Mercury pollutes C. Kalimantan rivers

PALANGKA RAYA, Central Kalimantan: Seven out of 11 large rivers
in Central Kalimantan are contaminated with mercury used by
illegal miners, highlighting the environmental cost of allowing
the illegal business to expand.

The affected rivers include the province's main river Barito,
as well as the Kapuas, Kahayan, Rungan, Katingan, Arut and
Sekonyer rivers, Central Kalimantan governor Asmawi Agani said on
Tuesday.

He said the pollution levels of these rivers had reached two
to seven times the normal amount of 0.001 milligram per liter.

Mercury is used to separate valuable minerals like gold from
rocks and dirt. The chemical is popular among illegal miners, who
often use dangerous levels of mercury. In the long run, it could
disrupt blood circulation, damage the nervous system and cause
cancer in those coming into direct contact with the mineral.

Governor Asmawi added that illegal miners also dump dirt from
mines, or the mining tailing, into rivers. Consequently, he said,
large ships might not be able to pass through some parts of the
rivers that have become too shallow.

Illegal mining mushroomed in Sumatra and Kalimantan after the
fall of president Soeharto in 1998 slackened law enforcement. Hit
by the economic crisis, villagers encroached the mining areas of
legal mining companies in order to survive.

The illegal business often has the backing of capitalists in
Java, who are accused of paying authorities to turn a blind eye.
-- Antara

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Across-fish-bombers
Officials arrest fish bombers
JP/5/Across

Officials arrest fish bombers

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: A district chief and his staff in
Southeast Sulawesi's Muna regency caught seven fish bombers red-
handed and seized 500 kilograms of illegal fish catch from them.

"The seven fishermen who bombed the fishes in the village of
Oempu in Tongkuno district are being held at the local police
station," said Tongkuno district chief La Ode Kardini on Sunday.

He said their arrest followed a tip from local fishermen who
witnessed the illegal activity.

Many fish bombers are operating in the district, but they were
often able to outsmart the authorities, Kardini said.

"In one day, you can hear the sounds of at least 10 to 15
bombs blasts here," Kardini said, citing information gathered
from villagers.

Muna Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Alimuddin Tinulu said that
fishermen here resorted to bombs because of tougher competition
from those with better fishing equipment.

The bombs kill fish by concussion, but the explosion also
kills and damages underwater flora and fauna. Still, the practice
is popular in numerous places in Indonesia. -- Antara