ProFauna’s Parrot Campaign Progress: Law Enforcement to Tackle Illegal Parrot Trade

(ProFauna Indonesia, 28 January 2009) In their latest report, "PIRATED PARROTS", launched in May 2008, the Indonesian wildlife protection NGO ProFauna Indonesia, revealed the evidence on the smuggling of wild caught parrots in Sulawesi and North Halmahera in Indonesia to Philippines during their investigation.

About 10,000 parrots including white Cockatoo (Cacatua alba), chattering Lory (Lorius garrulus), Eclectus Roratus (Eclectus roratus), and violet-necked Lory (Eos squamata) were smuggled to supply both domestic and international markets. To tackle this illegal trade, ProFauna thinks that law enforcement by government is the effective way, besides public and educational campaigns to raise people's awareness. Through its campaigns and lobbies, ProFauna has always been urging the authorized government agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) of the Forestry Department of Indonesia to curb the trade.

For the last two months, BKSDA of North Maluku has performed its duty well. The government agency has foiled the attempt of parrots smuggling and confiscated the poor birds twice. The first raid was carried out in the end of December 2008 and succeeded in seizing 243 wild animals, 89 of which were endemic parrots of North Maluku consisting of 15 Eclectus parrots, 20 chattering lories, 49 white Cockatoos, and five violet-necked lories, the same species as reported in "PIRATED PARROTS". The animals were about to be smuggled to the Philippines from Tobelo, Halmahera island, North Maluku.

The other operation was conducted on 22^nd January 2009, resulting six Eclectus parrots which would be smuggled outside Halmahera Island. Having medical examination by the Animal Quarantine, the confiscated eclestus parrots are in good condition and ready to be released back to the wild by BKSDA with the help of ProFauna Indonesia.

Even though this shows that the illegal parrot trade is still going on, the government should be applauded for their great work. ProFauna recommends that the perpetrators are prosecuted to the full extent of the law since the illegal trade of protected parrots violates the 1990 Indonesian wildlife act. Accordingly, the perpetrators are liable to a maximum five-year prison term and a maximum 100 millions IDR (10,000 USD) fine.

Advocating the government to enforce the law, ProFauna is conducting a workshop for the officers of some government agencies: Forestry Department, Police, Quarantine, Seaport and Airport Authorities on 29 January 2008. The topic discussed in the event is the strategies to prevent the illegal trade of wild animals, including parrots.