inp.polri.go.id – Palembang. A total of 118 endemic animals suspected of being smuggled into Thailand were thwarted by the Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimsus) of the South Sumatra Regional Police.
Head of Sub-Directorate for Certain Crimes, Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation, South Sumatra Regional Police, Pol. Grand Commissioner Attendant Rahmat Sihotang explained that the disclosure of this activity began with officers’ suspicions of a HiAce car parked on the side of Jalan Soekarno Hatta, Palembang, some time ago. A search was carried out because the driver was not present.
“Initially we saw the car moving when it was opened, it turns out that many animals have been put in good cages. The perpetrators have fled,” said Pol. Grand Commissioner Attendant Rahmat Sihotang.
The 118 species of animals consisted of 6 King Cockatoos, 7 Orange Crested Cockatoos, 10 Black-headed Parrots and 1 dead, 2 Mambruk Birds, 22 Mazda Parrots, 17 Black Parrots, Parrot Parrots 22 tails, 20 Panama Lizards, 20 Soa Payungs, seven Sugar gliders, 6 Squirrels and 1 albino and 2 Garangan.
The Head of the Certain Crime’s Sub-Directorate of the Special Crime Investigation Directorate from South Sulawesi Regional Police explained from the provisional information, it was suspected that the hundreds of animals were about to be sent to Thailand.
All of the animals found have now been handed over by the police to the South Sumatra Natural Resources and Conservation Center (BKSDA) for rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, Head of the South Sumatra’s Natural Resources and Conservation Center, Ujang Wisnubarata, said that his party had received evidence for rehabilitation and deposited it at Bird Park Jakabaring Palembang. Of the 118 animals that were secured, 31 of them have died due to being in confinement for a long time and long road trips.
“Now it is still under monitoring in a temporary place, our veterinarians are on standby there,” he said.
