September 2016

Forest clearing to make way for new palm oil plantations is occurring on a massive scale in Sumatra and Kalimantan. This has clearly had a big impact on the illegal wildlife trade in Indonesia. As a result of the clearing, it is getting easier to obtain wildlife, especially those with the greatest monetary value like primates and big cats. Government control over traditional bird markets which are used to trade wildlife has increased and as a result, traders are moving online.

Social media platforms like Facebook play a large role in facilitating the market for illegal wildlife trade. Keeping of protected wildlife used to only be done by certain parts of society as a symbol of status and power. Now, it has spread to all parts of society, especially young people. Young people like to communicate via virtual groups. Traders often enter these groups, posing as members and offer their trades. These groups often become off-line groups which meet in person while the trader hides behind their fake identify and account.

Education and awareness raising efforts of COP and Animals are often met with resistance. Traders fight back and challenge law enforcement. COP and Animals believe that prison is the best classroom for them to learn lessons about wildlife protection.

Specialised strategies are needed to enforce the law and make sure that information about operations is not leaked. The monetary value associated with illegal wildlife trade means that it attracts corrupt officials and even those within wildlife conservation such as veterinarians have been found to be involved. Rivalry between law enforcement agencies is also a challenge.
In the last five years, COP and Animals, in conjunction with law enforcement agencies, have carried out 28 operations, have saved 200 live animals including 25 orangutans, 5 bears, 16 Javan langurs and 16 slow lorises. Cases involving orangutan and tigers usually involve professional and highly experienced traders. The value of the transactions can range from 10 to 200 million rupiah ($US 1,000-20,0000).

22 people have been imprisoned for illegal wildlife trade with sentences ranging from 6 months to 2,5 years. The length of the sentence does not seem to be a deterrent to traders. In our experience, some traders return to selling after being released from prison and others change profession and undertake other criminal work resulting from new relationships that they formed in prison.
COP still believes that law enforcement is the best way to tackle the illegal wildlife trade because this issue is not related to ignorance or poverty. We are dealing with sick people who are proud to break the law and are blinded by the benefits of this illegal activity.

YOGYAKARTA – Eleven wildlife protection organisations consists of Centre for Orangutan Protection (COP), Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN), Animals Indonesia, International Animal Rescue (IAR), Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF), Orangutan Information Centre (OIC), Orangutan Land Trust (OLT), With Compassion and Soul (WCS), Orangutan Outreach, Paguyuban Pengamat Burung Jogjakarta (PPBJ) and Orangutan Veterinary Aid (OVAID) urge that supervision for air rifle use and distribution to be tightened. Air rifle bullets frequently found inside the body of animals rescued from conflict, hunting or trafficking. During 2004 to August 2016, at least 23 cases of orang-utans shooting using air rifle. Orang-utan usually found in crical condition, permanently injured, even dead. For orang-utan cases, hunters shot the orang-utan mother then seize the baby for trafficking. According to Erik Meijard in his book “Di Ambang Kepunahan” (on the brink of extinction), one dead orangutan, represents 2 – 10 dead orang-utans. And air rifle is being a serious threat to wildlife extinction. Therefore, we are stating these acts:

1. Kepolisian Republik Indonesia (Indonesian National Police) as the authorised supervisor for rifle distribution, needs to tighten the supervision of distribution and trade.
2. Conduct a raid and law enforcement since there were cases of abuse of rifle rights, which were used for wildlife hunting.

Conservation measures will be lagged if hunting and killing using air rifle are still happening. Head of Indonesia National Police must take a robust step to take action towards the abuse of rifle rights, as stated on Head of Indonesia National Police Regulation, No. 8/ 2012 about supervision and control of rifles for sports. In article 4 clause 3, stated that air rifles are used for target-shooting sports, and continued in article 5 clause 3 that its utilisation in only inside shooting range for competition and practice.

Today, we had action in 10 cities simultaneously : Aceh, Pekanbaru, Palembang, Banding, Yogyakarta, Solo, Malang, Surabaya and Palangkaraya – all asking for the same thing: for the Head of Indonesia National Police Regulation to be implemented. Because with robust law enforcement, massacre of wildlife with air rifle can be reduced.

For further details and interview, please contact info@orangutanprotection.com

SEBELAS ORGANISASI PERLINDUNGAN SATWA LIAR SERUKAN PERKETAT PENGAWASAN SENAPAN ANGIN
Untuk disiarkan segera 14 September 2016

Yogyakarta – Sebelas lembaga perlindungan satwa liar terdiri dari Centre for Orangutan Protection (COP), Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN), Animals Indonesia, International Animal Rescue (IAR), Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF), Orangutan Information Centre (OIC), Orangutan Land Trust (OLT), With Compasion and Soul (WCS), Orangutan Outreach, Paguyuban Pengamat Burung Jogjakarta (PPBJ) dan Orangutan Veterinary Aid (OVAID) menyerukan agar pengawasan terhadap penggunaan serta peredaran senapan angin lebih diperketat lagi. Korban tembakan senapan angin banyak ditemukan pada satwa liar yang diselamatkan dari korban konflik, perburuan dan perdagangan.

Sepanjang kurun waktu  2004 hingga Agustus 2016 setidaknya ada 23 kasus yang tercatat untuk penembakan orangutan dengan senapan angin. Orangutan mengalami kondisi kritis, cacat permanen hingga mengalami kematian. Untuk kasus orangutan, pemburu akan menembak induk orangutan untuk mendapatkan anaknya sebelum di perdagangkan. Menurut Herman Rijksen dan Erik Meijard dalam bukunya  Di Ambang Kepunahan 1 induk yang mati terbunuh mewakili setidaknya 2 – 10 orangutan yang mati terbunuh. Dan senapan angin sudah menjadi ancaman serius akan kepunahan satwa liar dialam.

Untuk itu kami menyatakan sikap sebagai berikut:
1. Kepolisian Republik Indonesia sebagai pemegang otoritas penuh sebagai pengawas peredaran senjata api dan senapan angin perlu mempeketat peredaran dan penggunaan senapan angin.
2. Melakukan razia dan penegakan hukum karena banyak kasus penyalahgunaan senapan angin untuk berburu satwa liar.

Upaya konservasi satwa liar akan terhambat manakala perburuan dan pembunuhan dengan senapan angin masih berlangsung. Kapolri sebagai pimpinan Kepolisian Republik Indonesia harus bisa mengambil langkah tegas dan berani untuk melakukan tindakan penyalahgunaan senapan angin sesuai dengan Peraturan Kepala Kepolisian Negara Republik Indonesia Nomor 8 Tahun 2012 tentang Pengawasan dan Pengendalian Senjata Api Untuk Kepentingan Olahraga. Dalam Pasal 4 ayat 3 disebutkan senapan angin digunakan untuk kepentingan olahraga menembak sasaran atau target serta dilanjutkan di Pasal 5 ayat 3 bahwa penggunaannya di lokasi pertandingan dan latihan.
Dan hari ini kami serentak melakukan aksi di sepuluh kota, Aceh, Palembang, Pekanbaru, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Solo, Malang, Surabaya, Samarinda dan Palangka Raya meminta hal sama agar Peraturan Kapolri tersebut dilaksanakan. Karena dengan penegakan aturan yang tegas dan berani, pembantaian satwa dengan senapan angin akan bisa ditekan.
Untuk informasi dan wawancara dapat menghubungi:
info@orangutanprotection.com