Princess of Indonesia 2011 from North Maluku Supports Conservation of Endemic Bird

Putri Indonesia (Princess of Indonesia) 2011 from North Maluku, Sasmita Abd rachman, joined dozens of ProFauna's activists  in a campaign to promote parrot conservation in Ternate, North Maluku last Sunday (22/12/2013). Sasmita, who is also the Tourism Ambassador of North Maluku, encourages the people and government of Ternate to be more concerned of the conservation of the province's endemic birds. "I am calling upon all the people and government of North Maluku to support parrot conservation, and not to keep the protected birds at home as pets," said Sasmita during  the campaign in Ternate City Park.

Previously, on 4 December 2013, hundreds of protected birds were about to be smuggled by a member of Mobile Brigade of Gorontalo, into the harbor of Bitung. Among the birds were the Palm Cockatoo, the Yellow-crested Cockatoo, lories, eagles, and several other species; all were transported by KM Lambelu ship. Officers from the Quarantine Agency tried to confiscate the illegal luggage, but the Mobile Brigade personnels threatened the present officers and journalists. They eschwed that the birds were souvenirs, not to be traded.

The coordinator of ProFauna's supporter Ternate chapter, Ekawati Ka'aba criticized the illicit conduct of the authority members who kept or transport parrots out from North Maluku. "Police officers are obliged to ensure firm law enforcement to protect wildlife. In this case, it is clear that they have violated the law by keeping and transporting protected species!"asserted Eka, who coordinated the campaign.

"ProFauna urges the Chief of Indonesian National Police to penalize the malefactor equitably, because not only this violates the conservation law but also defame the authority," claimed Swasti Prawidya Mukti, ProFauna Indonesia's campaign officer. "The involvement of members of Indonesian Mobile Brigade is very disgraceful. It shows us how low is their awareness towards the conservation of wildlife in Indonesia," Swasti concluded.