Yogyakarta Regional Police Securs 10 Animals Protected From Subsidized LPG Suspects, There Are Sun Bears To Owa

The Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimsus) of the Yogyakarta Special Region Police (DIY) has secured 10 protected animals illegally kept by a resident with the initials JS (46) in Hamlet, Nanggulan District, Kulon Progo, DI Yogyakarta.

Dirreskrimsus Polda DIY Kombes Wirdhanto Hadicaksono said JS was a suspect in a subsidized LPG abuse case that was previously arrested at his home on April 15, 2025.

"When we took action (subsidized LPG cases), the team carried out a search at the TKP and then it turned out that they also found the maintenance of animals that were suspected to be protected at that time," he said as quoted by ANTARA, May 15.

At JS's residence, the police found two sun bears, five binturong, and three gibbons, according to the DIY Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA), all of which were included in the list of protected animals.

"We immediately coordinated with the BKSDA and it turns out that the three types of animals are protected animals," he said.

All of these animals were then evacuated by officers and placed at the Suraloka Zoo, Sleman, for treatment and recovery.

According to Wirdhanto, the condition of the cage and the environment of the maintenance area do not meet the standards of animal welfare.

"It is not appropriate to start from the place of maintenance, then the food, and so on," he said.

To investigators, JS admitted that he obtained these animals through buying and selling transactions on social media around November 2024.

At first JS was interested in buying civets or white uwaks, but because the price was too high, the seller offered other animals, including sun bears, binturongs, and gibbons.

Transactions are carried out through a WhatsApp group that specializes in trading wildlife.

After agreeing on the price, JS transferred the money to a joint account, then received animal shipments through travel services and some were immediately delivered to his house.

"The total transactions carried out by the suspect amounted to Rp47.5 million," said Wirdhanto.

The details of the animal price are the sun bear for IDR 11 million to IDR 13 million per head, the binturong for IDR 3 million to IDR 4.5 million, and the gibbon for IDR 2.5 million per head.

Wirdhanto explained that the animals were sent from sellers in various different locations. Sun bears are sent from Tangerang, binturong comes from West Java, and gibbons are sent from Surabaya.

According to him, the police are still investigating whether this maintenance motive is purely due to hobbies as JS admits, or is part of a protected animal trafficking network. Moreover, maintenance locations show indications of treatment that is not in accordance with standards.

"Therefore, we will continue to develop the motive problem," said Wirdhanto.

For his actions, JS was charged with Article 40A paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 21 paragraph (2) of Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems with a maximum prison sentence of five years and a fine of up to Rp. 100 million.