The ministry, through the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BSKDA) in Aceh, conferred the award on Putra who works for Antara bureau in Aceh on Saturday.
"The award is a form of our appreciation to his dedication to prevent and disclose a crime against protected wild animals in Indonesia," BKSDA Chief Sapto Aji Prabowo stated.
The agency also bestowed similar awards upon Agence France-Presse (AFP) photographer Chaideer Mahyuddin and Video Net Tv journalist Munandar Syamsuddin.
Sapto Aji noted that the photo and video journalists deserved the award as they reported the healthcare of the protected wild animals and the effort to set them free to their habitat.
They also disclosed crimes against wild animals in the westernmost Indonesian province of Aceh, he added.
"We are very grateful to all journalists in Aceh for taking active part in preventing the hunting of wild animals through their stories," he remarked.
Journalists play an important role in reporting the rescue of protected wild animals in Indonesia. He expressed hope that journalists will be more proactive in reporting the rescue of protected wild animals in Aceh.
Reporting by Irman Yusuf
Editing by Suharto
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Gusti Nur Cahya Aryani
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
