TEMPO.CO, Samarinda - Wildlife protection group ProFauna (Protection of Forest and Fauna) Indonesia has revealed and reported the killing of a honey bear (Helarctos Malayanus) in Berau district, East Kalimantan.
The slaughter of the protected animal was revealed through photos uploaded to a Facebook account. The photos show the four people are skinning a honey bear in a way similar to skinning a goat: the mammal is hung by one of its legs to a tree.
ProFauna chairman Rosek Nursahid said the case had been reported to the police as a criminal offense. “It is clear that honey bears are protected animals. It’s not allowed to catch them, let alone kill them,” Rosek told Tempo on Thursday, June 12, 2014.
The killing of the honey bear took place in Sambukarat hamlet, Berau district, East Kalimantan. The four locals discovered the bear caught in one of the traps in the forest that were used to catch boars.
Rosek said the four took the honey bear as a replacement for the boar. The bear was later skinned and its meat consumed.
ProFauna has reported the case to the Berau Police on Sunday, June 8, 2014. The police have reportedly yet to take any action to follow-up the case.
Honey bears are part of the protected wildlife animals as stated in the Government Regulation No.7 Year 1999 in the Constitution No.5 Year 1990 concerning the Conservation of Natural Resources, which carries a penalty of five years’ imprisonment against violators.
FIRMAN HIDAYAT
