AGAM - The West Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA West Sumatra) released a rare species of pangolin (manis javanica) into the forest area of the Maninjau nature reserve, Agam Regency, to coincide with Environment Day on June 5, 2022.
The head of the West Sumatra KSDA Center, Ardi Andono, said the protected animal was found by Yosa Mahendra, a resident of Jorong Bamban, Nagari Ampek Koto Palembayan, Agam with two of his friends while crossing the highway last Wednesday.
Afraid of being crushed by passing vehicles, he and his friends tried to save and then reported it to the local nagari apparatus.
"The animals were then evacuated by the Baringin Nagari Children's Patrol team (PAGARI) and handed over to the Maninjau area conservation resort officers," he explained in Padang, Antara, Monday, June 6.
The animal with the IUCN conservation status, critically endangered (Critical) was brought to the Maninjau Resort office in Lubuk Basung for observation.
From the results of observations, the pangolin is known to be male, weighing up to 8 kilograms, 110 centimeters long, and there are no injuries or defects on his body. Under these conditions, the pangolin will soon be released into the forest area of the Maninjau nature reserve in conjunction with World Environment Day on 5 June 2022.
He expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the residents who have participated in efforts to save protected animals, and hoped that this would be an example for others.
Pangolin is a rare animal that is mostly hunted by criminals of wildlife.
These animals are hunted for their meat to be consumed while their skin scales are traded as medicinal ingredients because they are believed to contain certain substances.
In international trade, pangolins are included in the Appendix I group, which means that they should not be used and traded. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, pangolins are protected according to the Regulation of the Minister of the Environment Number 106 of 2018 and Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and their ecosystems.
In accordance with Article 21 paragraph of the law, everyone is prohibited from capturing, injuring, killing, possessing, storing, maintaining, transporting and trading protected animals, whether alive, dead or their body parts and their processed products.
At least five cases with ten perpetrators of illegal trade in pangolin animal body parts have been revealed by the West Sumatra BKSDA and other parties throughout 2021-2022.
"In the future, BKSDA will continue to improve socialization, education and supervision of the circulation of wild animals," he said.
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