TEMPO.CO, Malang - An organization called Protection of Forest and Fauna (PROFAUNA) has revealed that the hunting and trading of protected wildlife in Indonesia is still on the rise. About 22 cases had happened within January until June 2014, ANTARA reported.
"As many as 22 cases were successfully uncovered by the police, but the truth is there is higher number of uncovered cases. From these 22 cases, thousands of protected wildlife was confiscated," said Rosek Nursahid, the Director of PROFAUNA Indonesia earlier today.
The protected endangered species such as orang utan, kukang, javan lutung, siamang, Sunda pangolin and many more, were smuggled for both domestic and overseas market.
However, PROFAUNA Indonesia activist Swasti Prawidya Mukti said the organization appreciated the police' effort to raid illegal trading although the dealers were given light punishment in many cases.
"We hope that the police are more active in halting the illegal dealing and hunting of the protected animals since many of the species almost extinct. [We also hope] for the court to give heavy punishment as a deterrent effect," said Swasti.
ANTARA FITRI SUPRATIWI