Police Arrest 4 Perpetrators of Slaughtering Tapir that Crosses the Street

Illustration: protected wildlife tapir crossing Jalan Lintas Register 45 Mesuji Regency on Thursday (2/7). (ANTARA/HO-Personal Documents)

JAKARTA - The Mesuji Police (Polres) arrested four suspected perpetrators who killed a tapir wildlife that crossed Jalan Lintas Register 45 Mesuji Regency, Lampung, on Thursday (2/7).

"Polda Lampung together with the Mesuji Police moved quickly to follow up on public information until they were able to secure four people suspected of being involved in the murder of a protected animal of the tapir type," said Head of Public Relations of the Lampung Police, Kombes Yuni Iswandari, as reported by ANTARA, Friday, July 3.

He explained that after receiving information about the killing of protected animals in Forest Registration 45, the Mesuji Police immediately followed up by investigating the whereabouts of the perpetrators.

"After finding the whereabouts of the four people, the Mesuji Police immediately arrested them," he said.

He said the four people had different roles, namely those who carried, beheaded and slaughtered their heads and distributed them to residents.

"The perpetrators are suspected of violating Article 40A paragraph (1) letter d of the Republic of Indonesia Law Number 32 of 2024 concerning Amendments to Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning the Conservation of Natural Living Resources and Ecosystems, because they are suspected of hunting and killing protected animals," he said.

Kombes Yuni Iswandari Yuyun emphasized that the disclosure of this case was a form of the Lampung Regional Police's commitment to prosecuting any crime against protected animals.

"We appeal to the public not to hunt protected animals and immediately report if they find similar incidents to the police or related agencies," he said.

For information, a tapir viral on social media appeared on Jalan Lintas Register 45 Mesuji Regency and shocked the surrounding residents.

In the video that went viral, a large-sized tapir seemed to be walking leisurely on the road. A number of drivers chose to slow down their vehicles, even stopping to watch the black and white animal directly.