Lampung BKSDA Thwarts The Smuggling Of 2,960 Wild Birds From Sumatra

Smuggled wild birds (doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Officers from the Lampung Natural Resources Conservation Center, succeeded in thwarting an attempt to smuggle 2,960 wild birds from Sumatra Island to Java Island in Bakauheni Pelabihan. Several types of birds are endemic to the island of Sumatra.

"We, together with the Port Area Police Team and the Lampung Natural Resources Conservation Center, continue to tighten supervision in an effort to prevent various forms of illegal wildlife smuggling from Sumatra Island to Java Island," said the Head of Class I Bandarlampung Agricultural Quarantine, Muh. Jumadh, as reported by Antara, Friday 7 August.

He said that within two days, joint officers had again found an attempt to smuggle 2,960 wild birds at Bakauheni Port for the purpose of DKI Jakarta.

"We found the thousands of birds during routine surveillance at Bakauheni Port, with the mode of smuggling using inter-provincial buses and travel cars, and all were found without official documents," he said.

According to him, there have been several cases of illegal wildlife smuggling with the mode of delivery using travel cars and buses at Bakauheni Port and the authorities have managed to find out.

"The 2,960 wild birds that will be smuggled consist of several types including turtledoves, finches, trocok, mini cucak, river sempur, ciblek, starlings kebo, pleci, wren and turtles," he said.

He explained that after being examined and carried out a quick test to ensure that the animal was free of Avian Influenza, the findings of 2,960 smuggled animals had been submitted to BKSDA to be released into their original habitat.

"All are in good condition, and have been secured to suitable cages for recovery after being trapped in unsuitable places during the smuggling process," he said.