The Indonesian Navy HAS Failed Efforts To Smuggle Protected Animals In Kumai Bay, Central Kalimantan

Photo: Doc. Antara

WEST KOTAWARINGIN - Banjarmasin National Naval Base (Lanal) succeeded in thwarting the smuggling of protected animals from Papua Island in the Kumai Bay area, West Kotawaringin Regency, Central Kalimantan.

"On Saturday morning, members of the Banjarmasin Lanal and the Mandau Intel Operations Task Force managed to secure the smuggling of protected animals from the Bade Port of Mappi Regency, Papua with the aim of Probolinggo, East Java," said Commander Lanal Banjarmasin Marine Colonel (P) Herbiyantoko, quoted by Antara, Sunday, October 23.

According to Danlanal, his team managed to secure 76 bird species, 13 jasmine animals and one deer horn. The 76 Papuan birds that were successfully secured were seven black king old brothers, 23 yellow guava older brothers.

Then one forest virgin, one gold cucak, 36 black head parrots, three twisted old brothers, one Papuan slaughter, one pleci, two kasuari, and one branjangan.

"In addition to bird species, members also managed to secure 12 long-neck turtles, condro pythons, and deer horns," he said.

Danlanal explained that the chronology of the success of its members in thwarting illegal animal shipments began with intelligence information about the shipment of animals from Papua which had been transported by the MV Vision Global ship since October 14 to Pangkalan Bun.

On October 21, the team and Patkamla Lanal Banjarmasin headed to the Kumai Lanal Post to monitor the arrival of MV Vision Global, and a day later the team managed to dock at the hull of the MV Vision Global ship.

"In addition to successfully securing protected animals, the team also managed to secure six MV Vision Global crew members, namely Budi, Irwan, Hafidz, Mirza, A Munir, and Bima," said Danlanal.

Furthermore, the animals and all MV Vision Global crew members who were successfully secured were handed over to the Base Bun Natural Resources Conservation Center to follow up and conduct inspections.

Head of the SKW II BKSDA Pangkalan Bun Office, Dendi Sutiadi, said all animals would be taken to the Pangkalan Bun BKSDA office for quarantine and health checks by a team of veterinarians from the BKSDA.

"If the animals are in good health, we will coordinate with the center, for further follow-up. As for the perpetrators, later there will be a team of investigators from the BKSDA who will also conduct an investigation," said Dendi.

Dendi said the perpetrators were suspected of violating Article 21 paragraph 2 letter (a) in conjunction with Article 40 paragraph 2 of Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Natural Resources and their ecosystems. The threat of a maximum prison sentence of 5 years and a fine of Rp. 100,000,000.