Maluku BKSDA Secures Pythons From Residents In Ambon

Pythons that are received by the Maluku BKSDA animal conservation center officers, in Ambon. (ANTARA/Winda Herman)

The Maluku Province Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) has again secured the python (python reticulatus) from the handover of residents of Cengkih Garden, Ambon.

"Located at the Head Office of Animal Conservation (PKS), officers carrying out guard pickets have received pythons from residents," said Maluku BKSDA Forest Police Seto as reported by ANTARA, Monday, November 20.

The animal was secured by a resident named Ari, whom he met behind his house. "Currently, the animal has been secured at the Animal Conservation Center for examination and rehabilitation," he said.

Seto appealed to the public, if they found a snake, not to be killed, but to be handed over to the BKSDA.

"If there are people who find or catch snakes, rather than be killed, it is better to hand them over to us for us to release them in the forest, which is located far from community activities and settlements," he said.

This reptile animal is protected based on Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry Number P.20/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/6/2018 concerning Protected Types of Plants and Animals as amended by Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry Number P.92/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/8/2018 concerning Amendments to Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry Number P.20/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/6/2018 concerning Protected Types of Plants and Animals.

In the provisions of Law no. 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and their Ecosystems, it is stated "who will deliberately arrest, injure, kill, store, possess, maintain, transport, and trade protected animals alive; (Article 21 paragraph (2) letter a), is threatened with a maximum imprisonment of five years and a maximum fine of Rp. 100 million, as regulated in Article 40 paragraph (2).