RI's endangered species close to extinction: WWF
RI's endangered species close to extinction: WWF
A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali
An international non-governmental organization (NGO) warned on
Monday that endangered species in Indonesia were close to
extinction due to poaching and the outlawed animal trade.
Strict enforcement of the law and cooperation among all
parties was desperately needed to prevent the extinction of rare
animals in the country, said Chairul Saleh, a species
conservation officer at the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)'s
Indonesia office.
Chairul said in 1978 the Sumatran tiger numbered about 1,000
throughout the island. That number dropped drastically to 400
felines in l993 because of illicit trade and hunting.
"People hunt the tiger for its expensive fur, which can fetch
up to Rp 8 million per feline," said Chairul after a discussion
on endangered species by WWF, held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in
Nusa Dua, as part of the fourth Preparatory Committee
Meeting/Ministerial Level for World Summit on Sustainable
Development.
The fur of the exotic Sumatran tiger was often traded in big
cities throughout Indonesia.
Besides the Sumatran tiger, the orangutan is also threatened.
Illegal logging in some parts of their habitat has seriously
threatened the existence of this endangered primate.
Chairul further said that about a century ago, some 100,000
orangutans were estimated to be roaming the jungles of Sumatra
and Kalimantan. However, there are only some 15,000 orangutans
left in these jungles.
"Excessive illegal logging has destroyed the orangutans'
habitat, and this could lead to their extinction," said Chairul.
The lack of awareness among people on the conservation of
endangered species has also contributed to the threat of their
extinction.
Chairul said people were still looking for hides of various
endangered species as ornaments for their homes.
To conserve these endangered animals, governments, NGOs and
related parties must work together, said Agus Purnomo, the
executive director of WWF's Indonesia office.
"Collective action is needed to deal with the problem since
the government cannot do this alone," he said.
He cited one success story of a partnership between the Bali
administration and NGOs in preserving and protecting turtles.
The collaboration decreased the number of turtles that were
traded and smuggled over the last two years.
The Bali provincial administration issued a regulation in 1999
banning the trade of turtles. In addition, the government and
several NGOs have actively approached religious leaders,
including Hindu high-priest Pedanda.
Hindu priests have helped convince locals that they do not
have to provide turtle meat during important religious
ceremonies.
The combination of these steps have more or less prevented the
turtles from going the way of the do-do.
"Previously some 30,000 turtles were traded, but now, the
estimated trade of turtles has reached only about 1,000 per
year," said Agus.
Despite the collaboration, strict enforcement of the law is
needed to deter people from hunting down endangered species.
The Indonesian government issued several regulations,
including Law No.7/90 and Government Decree No.7/99 on the
protection of endangered species.
Since the law was enacted in l990, however, only one case of
an illegal killing of a Sumatran tiger has gone to trial. The
violator, however, was given a lenient sentence of seven months
in jail.