Quarantine Agency Disrupts the Smuggling of Endemic Papua Animals in Ternate

The smuggling of 114 endemic Papuan wildlife was sent via the KM Sinabung docked at Ahmad Yani Port, Friday (13/2/2026). ANTARA/HO-Public Relations Quarantine.

TERNATE - A joint team from the Indonesian Quarantine Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Agency, Lanal Ternate, and Polairud thwarted an attempt to smuggle 114 endemic Papuan wildlife on the KM Sinabung docked at Ahmad Yani Port, Friday, February 13.

Head of the North Maluku Quarantine Sugeng Prayogo said that out of the total animals secured, 100 were found alive and 14 were dead. The animals consisted of various types of endemic reptiles and mammals, including lizards, snakes, cuscus, to tree kangaroos.

"All of these animals are suspected of being transported without having valid licensing documents and not through the quarantine and conservation procedures as regulated in laws and regulations," said Sugeng in Ternate, Antara, Friday afternoon.

This practice of smuggling wildlife poses a serious risk to animal health and public health. Wildlife has the potential to be a medium for carrying animal diseases and zoonosis diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans.

Several mammalian species are known to potentially carry zoonosis diseases such as leptospirosis and Q fever, while reptiles are at risk of carrying salmonellosis, parasitic infections, and other harmful bacteria that can be transmitted through feces, bite wounds, or direct contact without the application of biosecurity.

The disclosure of this case began with a report from PT Pelni received by Barantin through the North Maluku Quarantine in Bacan regarding the alleged smuggling of wildlife. The information was then followed up through cross-agency coordination and security was carried out while the ship was docked at Ahmad Yani Port.

During the inspection, officers found wildlife hidden in several passenger rooms and ship bathrooms. This act violates Law Number 21 of 2019 concerning Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine which requires every media carrier traffic to be equipped with quarantine documents and reported to officers.

Sugeng emphasized that the North Maluku Quarantine played a role in carrying out quarantine status checks, detention of carriers, and ensuring that every entry and exit of animals meets the requirements.

"This is a preventive step to break the risk of animal disease and zoonotic disease spread, as well as supporting the protection and preservation of endemic wildlife," he said.

The continued handling of wildlife resulting from the disclosure will be carried out in accordance with the authority of each agency while maintaining coordination between related parties.