Confiscated: Hundreds of Parrots and Cockatoos in Tobelo, North Maluku

Nature Conservation Agency, Military Police, quarantine staffs, and harbor officials collaborated to confiscate hundreds of parrots and cockatoos who were about to be smuggled out from Tobello, North Maluku (31/5/2013). Approximately 250 birds from various species like Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus), Chattering Lory (Lorius garrulus), Violet-necked Lory (Eos squamata), White Cockatoo (Cacatua alba), Red-cheeked Parrot (Geoffroyus geoffroyi) , and 3 cuscuses. Those animals were going to be smuggled through Mentari Cristal ship by people wearing uniforms similar to those of Indonesia National Army.

Some birds were fresh from the forest, but some others have stayed longer in the cages. After being examined by the quarantine staffs, the newly-captured birds were released into the wild by the Nature Conservation Agency with assistance from ProFauna North Maluku. Iskandar Abdullah, ProFauna North Maluku representative coordinator, said "ProFauna demands that such case of bird smuggling must be well litigated. Without firm law enforcement, the smuggling of North Maluku's endemic birds will persist."