Durian. Indonesian authorities led by law enforcement division at the Environment and Forestry Ministry and Bukit Tiga Puluh National Park that lies in eastern part of Sumatra Island have combed the protected area to clean it up from human-made traps targeting endangered fauna, endemic of the park.
The operation that was conducted from Aug.27-Sept.7 has found 24 man-made traps, the ministry said in a statement on Sept.14.
Bukit Tiga Puluh National Park is in the area more than 144 hectare in Riau province’sdragiri Hulu and Indragiri Hilir regencies and Jambi province’s Bungo Tabo and Tanjung Jabung regencies.
Endemic fauna at the park including Sumatran Tiger or Phantera tigris sumatrae, Malayan tapir or Tapirus Indicus, Agile gibbon or Hylobates agilis, Sun bear or Helarctos malayanus malayanus, Crested fireback or Lophura ignitaI and Great argus or Argusianus argus argus.
While, endemic of flora is including Jelutong or Dyera costulata, the important substance for chewing gum, Nyahoh or Palaquium spp. that is used for revegetating ex-mine area, Blackboard tree or Alstonia scholaris and Reflesia Hasseltii.
“The team managed finding 22 active traps and two non-active traps. Those traps are different depend on the target such as trap for tiger, muntjac, tragulus, wild boar, hedgehog and birds,” Sustyo Iriyono, director for forest prevention and protection at the Environment and Forestry Ministry said.
He said tracing animal trap was an effort to protect conservation area and its fauna from illegal hunters. In the past, bodies of tiger and elephant were found as the result of trapped and hunt.
The team’s cyber patrol will investigate those traps through forensic analysis to find the owner of them.
“We commit to keep fighting the hunting of protected fauna. We will follow it up by mapping and law enforcement, to get the network of illegal trading of protected flora and fauna,” Iriyono said.
Under Indonesian 1990 Law on Conservation of Natural Resources and Its Ecosystems, those who commit crime towards protected flora and fauna can be punished with maximum five years of imprisonment and fine up to Rp. 100 million ($6,700) if proven guilty.
Management of the national park has been engaging with local communities who are living surrounding the area as a preventive measure and persuasive preemptive to combat illegal activities inside the protected forest, Fifin Arfiana Jogasara, head of Bukit Tiga Puluh National Park said.
For law enforcement, the management works closely with the Environment and Forestry Ministry’s internal law enforcers and external legal apparatus including the Police and the Military, Jogasara explained on Sept.14.
