The Directorate of Water and Air Police of West Papua have secured 92 protected animals that had been hidden in the middle of forest of Suppren Village, Central Salawati District, Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua.
Dozens of those protected animals allegedly about to be sold in Java’s blackmarket. Officials have also secured two persons with the initials of J and R whose responsible is to take care the animals.
According to the investigation results, it has been a month the protected birds have been hidden in the middle of the forest to avoid being secured by the government officials.
Head of Water and Air Police of Southwest Papua Police, Commissioner Budy Utomo, says there are 92 birds that have been secured from the arrest. He continued by saying there are 27 pink cockatoos, 28 yellow-crested parrots, nine palm cockatoos, 28 eclectus parrots. In addition, there are also six monitor lizards.
“Dozens of birds have been hidden in the middle of a forrest and we are able to secure two suspects with the initials of J and R. They are the ones responsible in taking care of those birds under the order of someone who we are currently investigate,” said Budy in Sorong, Wednesday (1/18).
Budy says that the birds have been moved to Southwest Papua Water and Air Police HQ.
“We have already investigate and develop the case on the two suspect. The two are charged with Law No.5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Living Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems, Article 21 junto 40 with imprisonment of 5 years and a fine of IDR 100 million,” explained Budy.
Head of the West Papua Natural Resources Conservation Center (BBKSDA) Johny Santoso appreciates the officials of West Papua, which continues to smugglers of protected animals.
“Dozens of these protected animals, after being handed over to us, will be first examined for its condition and then we will release them,” he said.