Tapir Killer in Lampung Faces 15 Years in Prison

The killer of a tapir in Mesuji Regency, Lampung, faces a prison sentence of up to 15 years. Police have urged the public not to take matters into their own hands if they encounter protected wild animals.

The Head of Public Relations for the Lampung Regional Police, Senior Commissioner Yuni Iswandari, stated that the perpetrators are charged under Article 40A paragraph (1) letter d of Law Number 32 of 2024, which amends Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems.

“The act of killing a protected animal is a criminal offence. The penalty is a minimum of three years and a maximum of 15 years in prison,” Yuni told reporters on Friday (3/7).

Yuni said the case serves as a reminder to the public not to hunt or harm protected animals that appear near settlements or on roads.

According to Yuni, the proper step to take if encountering a protected animal is to report it to the authorities or officers from the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA).

“Do not hunt or harm them. Report immediately to officers so that handling is carried out according to procedure and the safety of all parties is maintained,” she said.