A GOVERNMENT OFFICER INVOLVED IN THE ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE IN MEDAN,

18th June 2008

A GOVERNMENT OFFICER INVOLVED IN THE ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE IN MEDAN,NORTH SUMATERA

The illegal wildlife trade is rampant in Medan city, North Sumatera,according to a recent investigation conducted by ProFauna Indonesia incollaboration with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

It was recorded that around 10,000 wild species endemic to Sumatera Islandwere poached to supply the domestic and international illegal wildlifetrade in 2007.The hub is in Medan, at Bintang animal market.

Many protected wildlifesuch as eagles, cockatoos, slow lorises, gibbons, mitered-leaf monkeys,sun bears and others are sold freely. Each animal could fetch between IDR100,000 (US$ 11) to IDR 1,500,000 (US$ 160).Some traders in the market also supply other traders in Pramuka marketJakarta, the largest wildlife black market in Indonesia.

Every two weeks,wildlife traffickers in Bintang market smuggle about 300 animals toJakarta through Polonia airport in Medan.Medan is also an exit point of wildlife smuggling to Singapore andMalaysia, through the ports of Belawan and Tanjung Balai in Medan, KualaTungkal in Jambi, and Batam, Riau.

A FORESTRY DEPARTMENT OFFICER ALSO A WILDLIFE TRAFFICKER
Investigations have uncovered a corrupt government officer from theNatural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) of the Forestry Department,who is involved in the wildlife trafficking between Medan - Jakarta.

The officer employs two key methods to illegally aid the poachers. He hasbeen issuing false licences for Wild Plant and Animal Transportation, declaring that the consignments which contained protected animals, asunprotected species. He also overlooks poachers smuggling protectedspecies in specially constructed hidden bottom drawers of carrying crates,which transport the CITES unprotected common song birds that can betransported freely.

The smuggling through Polonia airport in Medan usually takes place in theevening when security is slack. ProFauna has successfully filmed theprocess undercover. The evidence will be presented to the authority.The corrupt officer’s involvement in wildlife trafficking mars thedepartment’s commitment to stop crime against wildlife.

According to the 1990 wildlife law regarding Natural Resources andEcosystem Conservations, trading in protected species is prohibited.Offenders will receive up to a 5 year jail sentence and up to IDR 100millions (US$ 11,000) in fine.

Asep R. Purnama, ProFauna’s campaignsofficer, stated, “The Forestry Department and the Police must conduct aconfiscation operation in Bintang market, Medan.”ProFauna also demands that the Forestry Department and the Police make anexample of the corrupt officer and prosecute him to the full extent of thelaw. Illegal wildlife trade is a cruel crime, that must not gounpunished.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ProFauna Indonesia
info@profauna-uk.org
www.profauna-uk.org
• ProFauna Indonesia (www.profauna.org) is a wildlife protectionorganization in Indonesia, established in 1994. ProFauna has become thelargest wildlife protection organization in Indonesia with 500,000 memberand supporters.
.