PROFAUNA and University Students Promote Parrot Protection in North Maluku

Forest and wildlife protection organization, PROFAUNA Indonesia, and students from different universities in North Halmahera staged a public campaign to promote parrot protection in Tobelo, Saturday (12/5).

The campaign was a response to the rampant parrot trade in North Maluku, as indicated by cases cracked by authorities including the one on 9 May 2018 when North Halmahera police department seized 31 parrots from illegal traders. Among the parrots confiscated were 17 Eclectus Parrots (Eclectus roratus), 12 White Cockatoos (Cacatua alba), and 1 Chattering Lory (Lorius garrulus).

"Parrot trade is still taking place in North Maluku despite the remarkable effort shown by authorities like the Nature Conservation Agency, National Park rangers, and police for the past 2 years. Therefore, PROFAUNA decides to contribute by conducting campaigns to raise public awareness towards the importance of parrot conservation," stated Afrizal Maulana Abdi, PROFAUNA's campaign officer.

During the campaign, activists put on parrot costumes and displayed banners containing messages about parrot conservation, asking people to stop buying and keeping parrots as pets. This message is on point due to the fact that 95% oftraded parrots were captured from the wild.

"Not buying traded parrots means that we are cutting the trade chain, thus reducing the poaching rate in their natural habitat. Hopefully, parrot poaching and trade will cease," added Afrizal.

The public campaign staged in Tobelo involved university students from Hein Namotemo University, Halmahera University, and Universitas Padamara.

"PROFAUNA warmly welcomes the students' participation in this campaign, as they are our future generation which bears great potential to stop parrot exploitation in North Maluku," concluded Afrizal.

© 2003 - ProFauna Indonesia

ProFauna Indonesia is an Indonesian society for the protection of
wild animals and their habitats