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The internet is the world’s largest marketplace. Largely unregulated, anonymous, open 24 hours a day and virtually unlimited in reach, it offers endless opportunities for criminal activities, among them a flourishing illegal trade in protected wildlife. Since 2012, COP and Ministry of Forestry and Indonesian Police conducted 11 raids. It saved 146 protected and rare wild animals. At least 14 people grilled and 8 people jailed.
No doubt that COP is one of the most effective group in combating wildlife trafficking in Indonesia. Wildlife trade cause needless suffering for animals.

Yogyakarta – The method for illegal wild animals trafficking is getting more advanced along with technology developments. One of the most common method is by using Facebook or online advertising. Facebook is the easiest communication tool between sellers to trade protected or non-protected wild animals. Mostly, sellers will create a closed communication group to promote and trade wild animals. 

Coinciding with their 8th anniversary, the Centre for Orangutan Protection (COP) launched the APE Warrior 2 car to replace APE Warrior. The APE Warrior vehicle has been retired after 5 years of roaming around Java, Sumatra and Bali. APE Warrior was originally called the Mobile Education Unit (MECU) and was based at COP headquarters in Jakarta. However, the COP ultimately needed to expand it to become a separate team like APE Crusader and APE Defender in Kalimantan. Physically, the APE Warrior 2 vehicle (a 2500 cc Ford Everest) is more powerful than its predecessor (a 1500 cc Toyota Rush). Subsequently, its power can be equated with the other vehicles (2500 cc Mitsubishi Tritons) that are being used in Kalimantan.

Far in depths of the tropical rain forest in northern Kalimantan, the Centre for Orangutan Protection is in the process of building an Orangutan Rescue Centre in the Special Purpose Forest Conservation district (KHDTK) which is governed by government institute DIPTEROCARPA.  The conditions in the Labanan rain forest are ideal for rehabilitating orangutan and any other species which requires special attention before being returned to the wild. The Labanan tropical rainforest is lowland forest and as a result its characteristics and complex biodiversity, differs from other types of forest. In the Labanan rain forest there are several lakes and karst caves which add to the complexity of the ecosystem in an area. 

Still Remember May? Orangutan who recently saved by COP, found by local people were being tortured by palm oil workers. May perhaps considered disturbing the laborers while planting oil palm. And Jo, the trauma baby orangutan whom her mother has been killed by palm oil worker during landclearing activity and now she became an orphanage.

Ministry of Forestry team (Kemenhut) has completed the verification report on eviction of orangutan habitat in the concession area of PT. BSS in Berau. Verification itself witnessed by APE Defender team from COP as the reporter and PT. BSS as the owner of the concession area. The results showed that orangutan habitat is cleared for palm oil plantations. The coordinates reported by COP was located in the concession area of PT. BSS and photo and video documentation is also very convincing. unfortunately, the landscape has completely changed. The landscape has been planted with palm oil. Before, PT. BSS clarified that their company has been formed task force for orangutan. During observation for the last 4 months they have not found any sign existences of orangutan.

PALANGKARAYA – 13 orangutans allegedly killed after the island that located inside PT. SCC concession area burned and the trees been cut down. The island is a forested area with a width of 200 meters and a length of 2000 meters, surrounded by a deep trench. Thus Centre for Orangutan Protection (COP) report to Central Kalimantan BKSDA. Previously, following up on reports of the COP, on 9 November 2013 Central Kalimantan BKSDA already deployed a team to monitor the situation in the location. Those 13 orangutans its remaining 9 (nine) orangutans that had been evacuated by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation Foundation (BOSF) on 19-20 February 2013. BOSF has stop evacuation efforts because the company did not demonstrate sufficient commitment to protect the orangutans.