Rare animals seized in raid

Rare animals seized in raid

JAKARTA (JP): The Natural Resources Conservation Agency
conducted a sweeping operation of rare animals displayed on Jl.
Barito in South Jakarta on Sunday, but only managed to seize
seven animals from dozens due to a minimal police presence.

"We had difficulty with this operation since we were only
assisted by a few police officers," the agency's conservation
chief for western region Yunus Makasuah said.

He stated that the operation was conducted carefully to avoid
resistance from the traders.

Yunus said his men were attacked by traders and had suffered
injuries when seizing rare animals during a previous operation in
February.

"We didn't want our personnel to be attacked by the traders
again," he claimed.

During Sunday's operation, the agency's special officials who
were helped by several police officers from the Kebayoran Lama
police subprecinct, seized seven animals, including a rare turtle
and a white starling (see photo).

Besides the two rare animals, the officers also seized a
lizard and a python.

Before conducting the operation, the agency officials
identified dozens of animals that were offered by traders along
Jl. Barito, including 50 turtles of four different species.

The traders also sold two owls, four black-headed parrots,
several rare cockatoos, four wild ducks, two baby orangutans and
three cuscus. (leo/jun)