Rare birds sold in Germany after expo

Rare birds sold in Germany after expo

BANDUNG (JP): The Wild Animal Conservation Forum (Foksi) urged
the government to explain the disappearance of 55 rare birds of
the paradise species (paradisaeidae), locally known as
cendrawasih, after they were displayed recently in an animal
exhibition in Germany.

"We've received reports that the birds displayed in Germany
turned out to be for sale," Foksi chairman Toni Sumampouw said in
the forum's monthly discussion in Cisarua, Bogor, over the
weekend.

The sales could be conducted with legitimate documents from
the Indonesian government, he said.

"If this is true... we deeply regret this as a rare species
cannot just be sold freely and there is an export quota list on
it."

The trading quota for rare and endangered species is set by
the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild Flora and Fauna, Toni said.

Under the quota list, any export distribution of the species
is subject to approval from the country of origin and the country
of destination.

The birds have not returned to their sanctuary including the
Indonesian Safari Park and Bali Bird Park.

A cendrawasih could be worth at least US$10,000 (Rp 76
million) in the market, Toni said.

Director of the Indonesian Safari Park, Jansen Manangsang,
confirmed that his park had lent six cendrawasih to join the
exhibition in Germany, but until today the birds had not been
returned.

Toni reiterated that rare species are considered state
property. "So parks such as Taman Safari only function as
shelters which takes care of them."

Separately in Bali, operational director of Bali Bird Park Edi
Swoboda dismissed reports that his park had sent such birds to an
exhibition in Germany.

"What we sent were miniatures of traditional houses of Toraja,
Timor and Sumatra, 300 statues from across the country and 40
Balinese paintings," Edi said Wednesday.

Edi said his park had never transported any birds because of
the arduous procedure. He said the park has received two rare
starling (jalak) birds from Germany. (43/50/edt)