Police seize 15 endangered species

Police seize 15 endangered species

JAKARTA: Wildlife watchdog ProFauna and the Jakarta office of the
Coordinating Body for Natural Resources Protection (BKSDA) at the
Ministry of Forestry seized on Friday 15 species of endangered
and protected animals.

Backed by Jakarta Police detectives from the special unit for
animal protection, the first raid took place at the bird market
on Jl. Barito, South Jakarta, and later at a "mini zoo" inside a
liquor factory in Sukamulya, Cikupa, Tangerang.

In the first raid, ProFauna seized a cockatoo, a long-tailed
parakeet and a pair of civets, to which none of the traders lay
claim.

The next raid was a big catch. From the private collection of
the factory owner, identified only as H, the officials
confiscated pairs of Irian cassowary, hornbills, different
species of rare cockatoos and hawks, a pair of long-tailed
parakeets, one black-headed parrot, one Ternate kasturi bird and
a kangaroo.

Coordinator of ProFauna's Jakarta branch Hardi Baktiantoro
said the police would summon H, who was not at the factory during
the raid. Law No. 5/1990 on biodiversity conservation carries a
punishment of five years in jail or a Rp 100 million (US$11,235)
fine for possession of a protected species.

All of the animals were taken to the animal rescue unit in
Tegal Alur, West Jakarta.--JP