ProFauna Maluku Representative

Since 2000 ProFauna Indonesia has been actively campaigning for parrot protection in Maluku (Moluccas), Eastern Indonesia. ProFauna started the program there by conducting in-depth investigation into the illegal parrot trade in North Maluku which findings were published in May 2002 in a report entitled "Flying Without Wings", uncovering the poaching of 15,000 parrots every year in the area.

Following the investigation, ProFauna has also held intensive campaign to stop the poaching through education, lobbies, advocacy and law enforcement. Thanks to the campaign, the government has been encouraged to hold confiscation operation and warehouse closure in Ternate City, the capital of North Maluku. Until now, the parrot trade in the city has declined by 80%.

On May 22nd, 2008 ProFauna launched another investigation report called "Pirated Parrots" revealing the smuggling of Mollucan parrots to the neighboring country, the Philippines. Responding to the report, the government started regular patrols with several operations and closures.

To achieve more results in protecting parrots, ProFauna works closely with the local government and communities in North Maluku. ProFauna gets support from the Sultan of Ternate Palace, religious leaders and also the Governor of North Maluku Province. This support has been featured in an educational film entitled "Voices of North Maluku" delivering conservation messages from the aforementioned leaders to the people of North Maluku not to capture and trade parrots as their natural heritage. The film has been screened at schools and villages in North Maluku.

In advocacy, ProFauna has been struggling until now to protect the white cockatoo (Cacatua alba), an endemic cockatoo from North Maluku which is not protected while according to the organization's record, the species faces population decrease. In order to enlist the cockatoo which is also usually called the Umbrella Cockatoo as protected species, ProFauna has given recommendation to and urged the government to protect the species. The advocacy has brought some positive results as the local communities and government of North Maluku have agreed with the recommendation of the protection status. While it is still waiting for the Forestry Ministry's decision to protect white cockatoo, ProFauna keeps lobbying until the species is protected by the Indonesian wildlife law.

ProFauna will continue its work to protect and conserve parrots and other wildlife in Maluku , as well as wildlife in Indonesia. Support ProFauna!

For further information, please contact:

• Iskandar H. Abdullah, ProFauna Maluku Representative
  maluku@profauna.net
• Rosek Nursahid, Chairman of ProFauna Indonesia
  rosek@profauna.net