"The dead animals are mostly birds, as they could not survive the prolonged period of confinement in cages inside the car that travelled a long distance," the South Sumatra BKSDA Head Ujang Wisnubarata stated in Palembang, Thursday.
The animals were rescued during a raid on a minivan suspected to be used in an illegal animal trade syndicate. The vehicle was parked on the Soekarno-Hatta Bypass Road, Palembang, on Wednesday (Sept 29).
The officers found 118 wild animals of different species cramped inside the car. The wild animals rescued from the car comprised palm cockatoos, crowned pigeons, loriini birds, blue-tongue skinks, sugar gliders, and javan mongooses, Wisnubrata noted.
Those animals, mostly endemic to the eastern Indonesian region, were found to be in poor health. The rescued animals were then brought to the BKSDA facility, while the sick ones were treated by BKSDA veterinarians, the BKSDA head stated.
"Healthy animals are currently kept at the BKSDA facilities at the Jakabaring Bird Park in Palembang, while the authority is preparing for their release into the natural habitat," Wisnubrata stated.
The South Sumatra BKSDA has coordinated with its counterpart in Jakarta and other regional BKSDAs to release the animals on October 5 or once they are deemed ready to be released, he confirmed.
"We are monitoring the rescued animals' health, and we will expedite our treatment for their quick release into their natural habitat," Wisnubrata stated.
Meanwhile, South Sumatra Police Criminal Investigation Directorate's Special Crime Sub-directorate head Adjunct Senior Commissioner Rahmat Sihotang confirmed that the police was currently investigating the case and the car owner's identity.
"We suspect around three perpetrators are involved in the crime, and our officers are currently investigating data regarding the owner of the car where we found the wild animals," Sihotang stated.
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Translator: M Riezko Bima E, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Sri Haryati
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