Group Of Residents Desperate To Hunt For Way Kambas Protected Forests, 1 Person Arrested

Suspects of poaching in the protected forest of the Way Kambas National Park (TNWK) East Lampung. Thursday, (25/1/2024). (ANTARA/HO-East Lampung Police)

A resident from Central Lampung Regency with the initials TR (45) was arrested by the Forest Police (Polhut) Officer of Way Kambas National Park (TNWK). TR was arrested while carrying out illegal hunting in the protected forest.

"The disclosure of the case began on Wednesday (24 January) when the TNWK Police Officer carried out patrols in the work area of Resort Rantau Jaya, at coordinates UTM 48M582390 9462034, received information from the public that six people had entered the TNWK to carry out illegal hunting," said East Lampung Police Chief AKBP M Rizal Muchtar, in a statement, Thursday, January 25, confiscated by Antara.

He said, after receiving the officer's report, officers carried out a pursuit process and found TR hunting deer in the TNWK protected forest area, East Lampung.

"The suspect is suspected of being desperate to enter the protected forest area of the TNWK, along with his entourage, but his fellow suspects managed to escape, when he was about to be arrested," he said.

He said, from the suspect's statement, apart from hunting deer using firearms, the perpetrators also had time to look for fish with stun tools, in the TNWK protected forest area.

In addition to the suspect, continued the East Lampung Police Chief, officers also helped secure 1 motorbike, cooking utensils, nets, 4 fish stun kits, hunted deer, and sacks filled with fish, as evidence.

"The perpetrators of the poaching will be charged with Article 40 paragraph 2 Jo Article 21 paragraph 2 (a), letters (b) and letters (d) of Law No. 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems," he said.