Officers Thwart Siamang Monkey Smuggling In Sitaro, North Sulawesi

MANADO - Officials from the Manado Agricultural Quarantine, Ministry of Agriculture, together with Water And Air Police (Polairud) thwarted the smuggling of three gibbons (Symphalangus Syndactylus) as many as two and one ungko gibbon (Hylobates agilis) to Tahuna, Sitaro Islands, North Sulawesi.

"The three monkeys were smuggled on Monday night using KM Barcelona II, which will sail to Tahuna," said Hesti, the person in charge of the Manado Paut Port Working Area in Manado, as quoted by Antara, Wednesday, December 29.

The smuggling of the three monkeys was foiled, she said, starting from information from Polairud who found the animal in the wheelhouse which was entrusted to the ship's officers.

Seeing this, Polairud immediately informed the Quarantine office of the Manado Sea Port and immediately jumped in together to secure the animal to the Quarantine office.

The ship's officer admitted that they had only been entrusted with it and did not know the owner.

"The success of thwarting the smuggling is due to the good cooperation between the Agricultural Quarantine and Polairud," she said.

Meanwhile, Manado Agricultural Quarantine Head Donni Muksydayan said, after the goods were secured, his party immediately communicated with the BKSDA to find out the type of animal.

"After being identified, the animals consisted of two gibbons (Symphalangus Syndactylus) and one ungko gibbon (Hylobates agilis) which are protected species (appendix 1)," he said.

Donni said the three animals were immediately handed over to the BKSDA through the handover report from the Quarantine to the BKSDA and brought to the Tasikoki PPS witnessed by Polairud and the Manado Harbor Police.