Raid of Tiger Skins Illicit Trade in Jakarta

ProFauna in a Wildlife Raid in Jakarta(Jakarta, 12 February 2009), In a joint raid by the Police, Elang (Indonesian word for Eagle) Brigade of the Government's Quick Response Unit, locally known as SPORC, supported by NGOs: ProFauna; WCS, JAAN, IAR, and LASA, led the arrest of four traders of tiger skins and body parts in Rawabening market, Jakarta. The team also recovered 61 pieces of tiger skins, a tiger skull, a stuffed leopard, a piece of leopard head skin, five pieces of bear skins, and some other body parts of protected animals.

The trade of Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) has become a serious threat towards tiger survival in the wild. In 2008, ProFauna supported by IFAW, surveyed the Sumatran tiger and elephant trade in Indonesia. It showed that among 21 big cities in Indonesia, ten cities or 48% were the locations of the illegal trade of the Sumatran tiger and elephant body parts.

Jakarta is one of the destinations to smuggle tiger parts. Therefore, the arrest of four wildlife traders in Rawabening market in Jakarta is expected to bring deterrent effect towards other illegal traders. According to the 1990 Indonesian wildlife act, the trade of protected animals like Sumatran tiger is prohibited. Offenders will receive up to a 5 year jail sentence and up to IDR 100 millions (US$ 11,000) in fine.

ProFauna congratulates the Police and Forestry Department who have enforced the law and arrested the wildlife traders in Jakarta. ProFauna believes that law enforcement is one of the key factors to tackle the illegal wildlife trade (Updated: 13 February 2009).

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