Selling Protected Animals via Facebook, Jayapura Residents Arrested for Carrying 7 Rare Birds 

DOK Ministry of Social Affairs

JAKARTA - The trade in protected wildlife was revealed again through a digital platform. The Ministry of Forestry found evidence of the sale of protected birds offered via Facebook in Jayapura City, Papua, to secure a man with the initials MH (35) with seven birds allegedly ready to be traded.

The action was taken by the Maluku and Papua Regional Forestry Law Enforcement Agency (Balai Gakkum Kehutanan Wilayah Maluku dan Papua) after the team monitored the trade in wildlife through social media.

This case is part of the steps taken by the Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, to strengthen biodiversity protection through law enforcement against illegal trade practices of plants and wildlife.

The evidence seized consisted of five Black-headed Lorises (Lorius lory), one Eclectus roratus, and one Kakatua Koki (Cacatua galerita). Officers also seized four cages that were allegedly used to store the birds.

Director General of Forestry Law Enforcement Dwi Januanto Nugroho said that the modus operandi of wildlife trafficking is now beginning to shift by utilizing digital spaces. This condition makes supervision must adapt.

"Trade in protected wildlife continues to adapt to technological developments and utilizes digital space to reach potential buyers. Therefore, law enforcement must also be more adaptive through strengthening surveillance, utilization of digital information, and cross-agency collaboration. The goal is not only to stop one transaction, but to protect Indonesia's biodiversity so that it does not continue to be an illegal trade commodity," said Januanto in Jakarta, Wednesday, July 29.

The disclosure of the case began with cyber monitoring carried out by the Maluku and Papua Regional Forestry Gakkum Team against accounts offering protected animals through Facebook. After verification, officers traced the suspected location of the perpetrator in the Entrop area, Jayapura City.

On Wednesday, July 22, 2026, the protected plant and wildlife circulation operation team of the Jayapura Regional Section III together with the Korwas PPNS Papua Police and accompanied by the local RW chairman visited MH's residence. From the inspection, seven birds were found who were suspected of being sold.

Head of the Maluku and Papua Regional Forestry Gakkum Center, Fredrik E. Tumbel, said that the action was taken after information about the trade in wildlife on social media was followed up through field inspections.

"Information regarding the alleged trade in protected wildlife through Facebook, we immediately followed up with field verification. From the results of the inspection at MH's residence, the team found seven protected birds suspected of being traded. The alleged perpetrator and the evidence have been secured, and we are currently still conducting an in-depth investigation to complete the investigation process in accordance with applicable laws," said Tumbel.

MH is now charged with Article 40A paragraph (1) letter d juncto Article 21 paragraph (2) letter a and/or Article 40A paragraph (1) letter h juncto Article 21 paragraph (2) letter g of Law Number 32 of 2024 concerning Amendments to Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning the Conservation of Natural Living Resources and Ecosystems.

For allegedly trading protected animals, the perpetrators are threatened with a minimum of three years and a maximum of 15 years in prison and a fine of at least Rp. 200 million to Rp. 5 billion.

The Ministry of Forestry stated that supervision of the trade in animals through digital platforms will continue to be strengthened. Technological developments that open up space for illegal transactions are a new challenge in efforts to keep protected animals in their habitats.