Malang Police Hunt For Wild Hunters Triggering Mount Arjuno Fire

The flames were seen on the slopes of Mount Arjuno due to forest and land fires which were suspected to be caused by illegal hunting activities in the Singosari District, Malang Regency, East Java. ANTARA/HO-Humas Malang Police

Malang Resort Police (Polres) are pursuing illegal hunters that triggered forest and land fires on the slopes of Mount Arjuno, in Singosari District, Malang Regency, East Java. Head of Public Relations of Malang Police, Iptu Ahmad Taufik, said that his party is currently conducting further investigations related to illegal hunting activities that triggered forest and land fires. "Currently, we are conducting further investigations related to the activities of hunters suspected of causing forest and land fires," Taufik said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, August 29.Taufik explained that the police are currently identifying perpetrators who deliberately burned bushes on the slopes of Mount Arjuno to facilitate animal hunting activities. According to him, the Malang Police will cooperate with various parties to gather evidence and information related to the investigation. The police have obtained initial information regarding the existence of illegal hunting activities that were the cause of the forest fires. "We are working with various parties to collect the evidence and information needed in this investigation. Actions like this should be avoided so that we can maintain the preservation of our nature," said Taufik.Akibat of forest and land fires in the area of Mount Arjuno's slopes, threatens the continuity of the existing ecosystem and biodiversity. The event has become a serious concern for the authorities. Currently, Malang Police personnel are deployed to assist the process of extinguishing the fire that is located in the Singosari District, Malang Regency. The manager of Tahura Raden Soerjo has taken steps by temporarily closing the climb to Mount Arjuno. The decision was taken for the safety of the climbers and to provide space for the ongoing outage efforts," he said.

For information, due to the illegal hunting activity, causing forest and land fires to be precisely in plots 116 B, the Sumberawan Forest Manufacturing Resort (RPH), in Toyomarto Village, Singosari District.Tahura Raden Soerjo is home to a number of animals including long-tailed monkeys, Javan eagles, black monkeys, hedges, rice fields, forest chicken, kutilang, squirrels, alap-allap jambul, and rat or white. Illegal hunting activities, suspected to localize animals and make it easier for hunters. The hotspots first appeared in Sriti Curah, which was included in the Singosari District, Malang Regency, on Saturday (26/8) early morning.