West Sumatra Travel Driver Arrested, Selling Slow Lorises Forced To Enter Small Light Boxes

The joint team in Agam, West Sumatra, arrested a travel driver for selling a slow loris who was on the protection list (FOTO via ANTARA)

AGAM - A joint team from the West Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) and the Agam Police Criminal Unit arrested a travel driver for selling slow lorises. This animal is included in the protection list.

The perpetrator with the initials HJ (44) was arrested at the Agam Police Headquarters with two slow lorises and a motorcycle on Wednesday, March 24.

"There was no resistance from the suspect during the arrest," said Forest Ecosystem Controller of the West Sumatra BKSDA, Ade Putra, as quoted by Antara, Thursday, March 25.

According to him, the endangered slow loris was brought from Lubuk Sikaping, Pasaman to Agam to be sold. The perpetrator's plan was thwarted by the joint team who received information from the public.

"We secured the suspect in one of the stalls in Pasar Bawan. Together with the perpetrators, two slow lorises were also secured, which were stored in two small boxes used for light bulbs, motorbikes and cell phones used by the perpetrators in carrying out the action," said Ade Putra.

The condition of the slow loris is very apprehensive because it is forced into a narrow light box. This condition makes the slow loris look stressful.

"The evidence in the form of two slow lorises is currently being handed over to the BKSDA and will soon be released back into the wild after investigators coordinate with the public prosecutor," he added.

From the data obtained, the suspect had traded tiger skins, clouded leopards, gibbons, including hoops. In early December 2020, the suspect failed to be arrested, because he did not want to show his tiger skin

The suspect selling slow lorises is charged with Article 21 paragraph 2 of Law Number 5 Year 1990 concerning Conservation of Living Natural Resources and their Ecosystems.

The slow loris or with the Latin name Nycticebus coucang, is a type of primate that is protected by legislation in Indonesia. Meanwhile, internationally, its conservation status is endangered and is included in the Appendix I classification, which means that it cannot be used for trade.