Smuggling Of Thousands Of Protected Birds In Maumere Failed, Perpetrators Escape

The smuggling of protected animals from Maumere has been thwarted. The Natural Resources Conservation Section (KSDA) Region IV of the East Nusa Tenggara KSDA Center and other joint teams found 1,260 Javanese eyeglass plenary birds (zosterops flavus) ready to be sent from Sikka Regency to Surabaya, East Java.

Head of the NTT Natural Resources Conservation Center (BBKSDA), Adhi Nurul Hadi, told reporters in Kupang on Sunday morning that a number of birds were found in eight cages wrapped in cloth.

"Of the 1,260 tails, 140 were found dead," he said, quoted from ANTARA, July 13.

Although they managed to thwart the shipment of 1,260 protected birds, the sender managed to escape, so it was not known who the culprit was.

Adhi explained that based on the Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry Number: P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 concerning the Second Amendment to the Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry Number P.20/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/6/2018 concerning Protected Types of Plants and Animals, the type of Javanese eyeglass plenary bird (zosterops flavus) is included in the protected bird type.

He added that in accordance with Article 40A paragraph 1 of Law Number 32 of 2024 concerning Amendments to Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems, actions, hunting, arresting, killing, storing, possessing, maintaining, transporting, and/or trading protected animals alive and or their parts unlawfully.

Delivery perpetrators can be threatened with imprisonment for a minimum of three years and a maximum of 15 years and a minimum fine of category IV / IDR 200 million and a maximum of category VII / IDR 5 billion.

"Against the evidence found by the Javanese eyeglass pleci bird, 1,120 further releases will be carried out at the appropriate location in the Sikka Regency area with related parties," he said.

This release aims to save all secured individuals, increase populations in nature, and become a concern and raise public awareness.

Adhi added that the Ministry of Forestry through the NTT KSDA Center expressed his gratitude to the Maumere Naval Military Police Detachment, the Lorens Port Security Implementation Unit (KPPP) Say Maumere Sikka Police, the Maumere Class II Harbormaster and Port Authority Office (KSOP), the Maumere Branch Pelindo and the East Nusa Tenggara Animal, Fish and Plant Quarantine Center as well as other parties who have been proactive in supervising the circulation of wild plants and animals in Sikka district.

"To all levels of society, it is advised not to use wild animals and plants illegally, not only to have criminal threats but also to consider the interests of preserving species and the role of wildlife in the ecosystem," he said.