Tackling Wildlife Crime in Sumatra

It is easy to think of deforestation in Sumatra as a process brought about by bulldozers owned by large companies, but that's only part of the story. Illegal logging on a small scale is unfortunately still common in some areas, and tackling it is one of the patrol team's most important jobs. Though small-scale operations don't clear huge swathes of forest in a matter of days, they all add up and cause the forest to become fragmented, making it harder for orangutans and other wildlife to use this vital habitat. 

One recent example is illegal logging activity in Gunung Leuser National Park. The logger is a local farmer who was working alongside several other people to cut down Meranti batu (Shorea uliginosa Foxw, a species classed as Vulnerable by the IUCN), process the timber and transport it out of the park in order to sell it. The patrol team came across the processed timber while it was still inside the park, on one of their routine patrol hikes, once again showing how important it is for the team to keep working consistently. 

Thank you for donating to this project and keeping the team out on patrol. You are making a difference.

The investigations division of the patrol team recently received a report from community members about an illegal zoo in North Padang Lawas. The team visited the zoo and found over 20 protected and endangered species, including:

A Sumatran orangutan (Critically Endangered)

Siamangs (Endangered)

Citron-crested cockatoo (Critically Endangered)

A sunbear (Vulnerable)

Hornbills (Vulnerable)

Sambar deer (Vulnerable)

Komodo dragons (Vulnerable)

and many more - all in inappropriate enclosures and being kept in poor conditions.

Aided by the police, the team questioned zoo staff and found that the zoo did not have a legal permit as a conservation institution. This meant that despite having some legal documents allowing them to undertake animal care, the zoo is not allowed to keep protected wildlife. The police and the forestry authorities therefore confiscated all the animals, and they are now in the care of properly documented institutions including the Batu Mbelin rehabiliation centre just outside Medan. Legal proceedings are now taking place under the care of the Indonesian National Police Special Crime Unit to ensure the owners of the zoo cannot repeat this offence in the future.

Thank you for supporting our Tackling Wildlife Crime in Sumatra project and helping us keep Sumatra's wild mammals, birds and reptiles safe.

Links:

• Find out more about our work to protect Sumatra's wildlife