Dozens of Indonesian Primates Seized by the Police

Online, November 9, 2009 (Newswire.com) - Two weeks after ProFauna Indonesia, a wildlife protection organization, launched its survey report on protected wildlife being traded in the animal markets (locally called bird markets) in Java Island, the East Java Police Department with the assistance of ProFauna Indonesia the Humane Society International (HSI), seized dozens of rare wildlife in Ngawi City, East Java on 5th November 2009. The rare animals included 21 slow loris (Nycticebus coucang), 15 Javan langurs (Trachypithecus auratus), a White-bellied Sea-eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster), and a leopard cat (Felis bengalensis).

The team busted the wildlife vendor who sold his illegal commodities on the main road near the R. Soerjo Monument. The road has been notorious for selling and displaying openly some protected primates like the slow loris and Javan langur for years. Providing the East Java Police Department with the survey report, ProFauna encourages the government department to reduce and stop the illegal wildlife trade in Ngawi City.

In addition, the team was successful to arrest a suspect. According to ProFauna's records, the suspect has been selling protected primates like the slow loris and Javan langur. A slow loris could fetch around 75,000 to 250,000 IDR (or about 7.5 to 25 USD) while a langur cost 200,000 IDR (or about 20 USD).

ProFauna applauds the East Java Police Department for their good work in tackling the illegal trade. ProFauna Indonesia's campaign officer, Radius Nursidi, stated,"The illegal wildlife trade violates the no. 5 1990 Wildlife Act concerning the Conservation of the Natural Resources and its Ecosystem. It is great that the East Java Police Department has enforced the law by confiscating the wildlife as well as apprehending the suspect."

The law enforcement by the Police Department in Ngawi should be emulated by other government authorities in other regions. Since based on ProFauna's latest report, 70 bird (animal) markets in Java Island still trade protected species openly and the trade level is still high. One of the surveyed locations is in Ngawi.