TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Some 20 hectares of conservation forest at the Mount Gede Pangrango National Park (TNGGP) is damaged by a massive hunt for Sonari worms, cutting down trees in the process.
"It took less than a year for the forest to be damaged," the TNGGP acting director Adison told Tempo, Wednesday, May 17.
In the last few months, locals have been hunting for the large worms, Sonari and Kalung. This activity is illegal and anyone who is proven to commit it could be jailed.
The hunters look for the works in trees that grow in high altitudes. "They deliberately entered the TNGGP and climbed to the mountain top," Adison said.
To reach the Sonari worms' habitat, hunters must hike for up to 16 hours trough steep paths. Adison said they can camp in the area for seven to 10 days, bringing back five to six buckets of worms, each bucket weighing up to 6 kilograms.
The hunters have cut down at least 300 trees. "They even cut down trees that don’t have Sonari worms just so they can put up their tents," Adison said.
M SIDIK PERMANA
