Sales Of Tiger Skin And Deer Fetus In Riau Successfully Foiled

Singingi Sector Police personnel in Kuantan Singingi Regency, Riau, escorted BAT, a suspected Sumatran tiger poacher / Antara

JAKARTA - The team from the Directorate General of Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry together with the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Center, along with the local police thwarted the sale of a Sumatran tiger skin and two deer fetuses in Kuantan Singingi Regency, Riau.

"We will continue our investigations to fully uncover the hunting network for protected wildlife. Thank you for the hard work and dedication of the team to protect and preserve protected animals," said the Head of the KLHK's Center for Law and Human Rights in Sumatra, Subhan, in Pekanbaru, as reported by Antara. , Monday, August 30.

The team later also arrested BAT (58), a suspected poacher who was arrested at Sungai Aro Bridge Jalan Sudirman, RT01/RW08, Muara Lembu Village, Singingi District, Kuantan Singingi Regency, Sunday, August 29.

In addition to one tiger skin and two deer fetuses, the team also confiscated two motorcycles and snares. The BAT and the evidence were taken to the Regional Section II Office of the KLHK Balai Gakkum for the Sumatra Region.

The operation began with public information to the Riau BBKSDA Call Center regarding the hunting of the Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae).

“Based on the results of the intelligence operation, the Joint Operations Team moved in and captured BAT. When captured, BAT carried tiger skins and deer fetuses. Based on BAT's information, the tiger was hunted using a snare," said Subhan.

Investigators from the Directorate General of Law and Human Rights of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry will indict BAT under Article 21 paragraph 2 letter d in conjunction with Article 40 paragraph 2 of Law Number 5/1990 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems. The perpetrators face a maximum imprisonment of five years and a maximum fine of Rp. 100 million.

“An environmental crime like this case is an extraordinary crime and has high economic value. We have formed an Intelligence and Cyber Patrol Team to map the illegal trade network of protected plants and animals,” added the Director of Forest Prevention and Security at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Sustyo Irianto.