JAKARTA - The Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) has thwarted the practice of trading protected plants and wildlife (TSL) and secured two perpetrators in Magelang Regency, Central Java.
Head of the Forestry Office of Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara (Jabalnustra) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Aswin said that handling did not stop at the field actors, the trade in protected animals always involved more than one node.
"The action in Magelang is the gateway to tracing the pattern of transactions, distribution channels, and the buyers behind it. We strengthen intelligence work with the BKSDA, the police, and conservation partners, including utilizing digital evidence from communications and transactions to dismantle the animal trade network more completely," said Aswin, quoted by Antara.
"At the regional level, we will continue to combine enforcement operations with prevention so that hunting and trading of protected wildlife in Java continues to decline," he added.
The disclosure itself began with community information regarding the alleged transaction of protected animals in the Magelang area. Following up on the report, the joint team conducted field monitoring and verification, then on Thursday (15/1) conducted an inspection at the location and found protected animals in the possession of the perpetrators.
From the crime scene, officers secured one pangolin (Manis javanica) alive and one dead pangolin, one mouse hawk (Elanus caeruleus), one yellow-crested cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea), three jungle cats (Felis chaus) with about 500 grams of pangolin scales, as well as equipment in the form of small bags and baskets used to store and transport animals.
Two perpetrators with initials MU (22), residents of Temanggung Regency and AR (24), residents of Magelang Regency were secured in Mertoyudan District. Both are threatened with a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of Rp. 2 billion.
Head of the Central Java Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) Dyah Sulistyani said the case once again showed the high pressure on wildlife in Java.
"Pangolins, forest cats, eagles, and parrots are an important part of the ecosystem balance. Packing animals in bags and baskets without room for movement and ventilation causes severe stress and a high risk of death. Our first focus is to save the animals, stabilize their health conditions, and ensure handling according to animal welfare standards," he explained.
Furthermore, the Central Java BKSDA will assess the possibility of releasing or placing the animals in the appropriate conservation institutions.
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