White cockatoo to be protected

White cockatoo to be protected

AMBON, Maluku: The North Maluku government has proposed to the
Forestry Ministry that the white cockatoo (Cacatua Alba) be
cassified as a protected species.

Madjid Abdullah, the Deputy Governor of North Maluku, conveyed
the proposal to the ministry on Feb. 3, according to Rozek
Noorsaid, the director of animal protection group ProFauna
Indonesia.

Rozek said the proposal came after protests by ProFauna
activists and North Maluku students on Jan. 31 this year.

According to investigation by ProFauna, more than 500 white
cockatoos in North Maluku province are captured and traded
annually. -- JP