"The Wildlife Rescue Unit (WRU) team (of the BKSDA) in Singkawang along with the Planet Indonesia Foundation rescued 63 protected songbirds from illegal trade," Head of the West Kalimantan BKSDA Wiwied Widodo stated here Monday.
Widodo noted that of the 63 protected songbirds, 56 were Malay serindit birds (Loriculus galgulus), four Javanese spectacled birds (Zosterops flavus), and three sepah raja honeybirds (Aethopyga siparaja).
All three species are protected under Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and their Ecosystems.
Earlier, the agency had received public reports through social media on the suspected illegal trade of the protected songbirds.
"The team then searched for the perpetrators and found out that the perpetrator was still a student. He claimed to have been unaware of the fact that these animals were protected species," Widodo revealed.
The perpetrator admitted that the birds were bought from bird traders in Pontianak City. Most of these birds came from Kapuas Hulu District and are planned to be sold in Sambas District.
The authority did not arrest the perpetrator but asked him to sign a statement confirming that he would not repeat his unlawful action.
The WRU team also provided coaching and awareness about protected wild plants and animals to the perpetrator.
Currently, he said, the rescued birds have been taken to the Wak Gatak Songbird Rescue and Rehabilitation Center for health checks before being released back into their habitat.
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Translator: Helti Marini S, Sri Haryati
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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