"Head of the Komodo National Park (TNK) Sudiono has made a report to East Nusa Tenggara nature conservation agency (BKSDA) that a team of the Indonesian Police has come to help with the investigation, in a bid to disclose the deer mass killing case in TNK," head of the BKSDA Tamen Sitorus said here on Tuesday.
The team would help with the investigation of the deer mass killing in Komodo Island as circulated in social media recently, he added.
He noted that the illegal hunting had allegedly occurred in the area of Komodo National Park, which was evident from the surroundings seen in the image.
"The investigation is still going on, but there is strong indication that the mass killing of dozens of deer, which were then transported in a boat, occurred in Komodo Island," Sitorus explained.
The authority already has the picture and address of the perpetrator, he added.
"The perpetrator is not a resident of East Nusa Tenggara, and the TNK investigators already have his address," he stressed.
The illegal hunting would cut deer population and could furthermore affect the habitat of the Komodo that prey on the deer.
A recently circulated image showing a boat carrying dozens of dead deer has triggered concerns about violations of wildlife conservation at the Komodo National Park.
The deer were reportedly killed by suspected illegal hunters operating in the national park, which is the home to the rare Komodo dragon.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017
