Bring 2 Cardboards Filled With Tiger Skin And Organs, Men In Bengkulu Arrested

Tiger skin and organs (PHOTO VIA ANTARA)

BENGKULU - The Law Enforcement Team (Gakkum) of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) arrested one person who traded Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae) in Bengkulu.

Head of the Balai Gakkum KLHK Sumatra Region Eduward Hutapea said the perpetrator with the initials MJY (40) was arrested by officers while crossing Lubuk Sini Village Road, Taba Penanjung District, Central Bengkulu Regency, Bengkulu.

The perpetrator was arrested while carrying two boxes containing the organs of one tiger which had been dissected into several parts, namely skin and bones as well as several body organs such as the head, body, legs and tail on Saturday 19 June 2021.

"Based on the existing skin condition, it is strongly suspected that the tiger was hunted by snaring," said Eduward.

This operation involved several policy makers including the Bengkulu Police, the Kerinci Seblat National Park Center (TNKS) and the Bengkulu-Lampung Region Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA).

In addition to Sumatran tiger skin and organs, officers also confiscated other evidence, namely a motorcycle and a cell phone belonging to the perpetrator.

The perpetrators and all evidence were brought to the Bengkulu Police Headquarters for further investigation and investigation.

According to Eduward, the perpetrator's actions violated the provisions of Article 21 paragraph 2 letter d Jo. Article 40 paragraph 2 of Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems carries a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of Rp. 100 million.

"We will continue to operate and anticipate the practice of hunting and trading of protected animals in order to maintain their sustainability," explained Eduward.

Director of Forest Prevention and Security at the Directorate General of Law and Human Rights at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Sustyo Iriyono, assessed that wildlife trade is an extraordinary crime.

According to him, the perpetrators of this crime have a layered network, considering that the organs of protected animals such as the Sumatran tiger have high economic value.

The government has made various efforts to stop the practice of poaching and trafficking in protected animal organs, including establishing cyber patrols to map the illegal trade in protected plants and animals.

Director General of Gakkum LHK Ratio Ridho Sani added that his party continues to be committed to saving wild plants and animals as a wealth of biological resources.

He considered the loss of biological resources not only to cause economic and ecological losses for Indonesia, but also to the loss of biological resources and the attention of the world community.

"Over the past few years, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry has carried out 389 operations against the illegal hunting and trade of protected animals and 318 cases have been brought to court," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of Public Relations of the Bengkulu Police, Kombes Sudarno, confirmed the arrest of one person selling Sumatran tiger skin and organs in Central Bengkulu Regency.

Sudarno said that his party would immediately expose the case at the Bengkulu Police Headquarters.

"At the moment we don't have much to say. Later, the exposure will be scheduled on Monday," said Sudarno.