Posted on 11 March 2011
PEKANBARU – A suspected tiger smuggler has
been arrested in West Sumatra, Indonesia,
following a three-day investigation by the
Natural Resource Conservation Agency in
Riau and West Sumatra Province (BKSDA),
with support from WWF Indonesia’s Tiger
Protection Unit. The investigation also
resulted in the seizure of the skin of an
adult male tiger believed to have been poisoned
inside or near a wildlife reserve in Sumatra’s
Riau Province.
After receiving a report
on 28 February that a poacher had poisoned
a tiger near Rimbang Baling Wildlife Reserve
in Kampar District, BKSDA Riau and WWF Riau’s
Tiger Protection Unit staked out the area
in Kampar District for two days.
“Our goal was not only
to help government arresting the local poacher,
but to see if we could track the tiger carcass
to someone higher up in the smuggling network,”
said Chairul Saleh, Wildlife Conservation
Specialist with WWF Indonesia.
“We need to break the
smuggling networks that are decimating our
Sumatran tiger population, so we have to
go as high up the ladder as possible.”
BKSDA Riau tracked a
courier suspected of picking up a piece
of Sumatran tiger skin and bones from the
poached tiger to Balung, a border area located
between Riau and West Sumatra province.
The courier was later seen handing over
the tiger skin to the suspect, who travelled
to Payakumbuh, West Sumatra. BKSDA West
Sumatra was then called to join the operation.
After detecting the
smell of chemicals often used to preserve
tiger skins at the suspect’s house, a WWF
Tiger Patrol Unit member was able to locate
the skin. The tiger’s bones, which are highly
valued on the black market for their supposed
medicinal value, were not recovered. Other
wildlife was also discovered in the house,
including a live python and body parts of
a Serrow (a local species of mountain goat)
and muntjac, or barking deer, according
to BKSDA.
Kurnia Rauf, Head of
BKSDA Riau said, “We believe the suspect
has a wide international wildlife trade
network in Sumatra; therefore we expect
law enforcement in this case can be done
as soon as possible. We’re ready to help
provide necessary data to help the judicial
process of this case, hoping that the maximum
sentence can be enforced to create a deterrent
effect to other poachers.”
“The BKSDA teams in
Riau and in West Sumatra deserve much credit
for running a highly professional operation
that resulted in the arrest of the suspect
without incident on 3 March,” said Suhandri,
leader of WWF-Indonesia’s Program in Riau.
“WWF strongly urges
law enforcment agencies in West Sumatra
to take this case seriously and to seek
the maximum penalty to deter this poacher
and others. Sumatran tigers are critically
endangered and poaching is one of the top
threats to their survival.”
The suspect continues
to be detained at the Payakumbuh Police
Station in West Sumatra. A minivan allegedly
used to transport the tiger skin has also
been confiscated as evidence.
The arrest comes as
Indonesia and the 12 other nations that
still have wild tigers embark on building
the Global Tiger Recovery Programme, an
initiative launched at the International
Tiger Conservation Forum in Russia last
November that seeks to double the number
of tigers within the next 12 years. A follow-up
meeting, the International Conference on
Tiger Conservation, will be held from March
28 – 30 in New Delhi, India.
“As a follow up to the
Indonesian Ministry of Forestry commitment
in Russia, we’re also committed to reducing
the threat to the Sumatran tiger population
by strengthening law enforcement and stopping
Sumatran tiger poaching and illegal trading,”
said Kurnia Rauf, Head of the BKSDA Riau.
“The Ministry of Forestry
is also strengthening its collaboration
with partners on the protection of Sumatran
tiger population in its natural habitat
to increase population of Sumatran tiger
by 3 per cent per year as mandated in the
National Strategic Plan of Sumatran Tiger
Conservation 2007-2017.”
The Sumatran tiger population
is estimated at 400 individuals, with as
few as 3,200 tigers remaining in the wild
across Asia.
+ More
Economic adversity doesn't
stop Greece protecting biodiversity
Posted on 11 March 2011
Athens, Greece: The Greek parliament yesterday
took the bold step of voting in the country's
first national biodiversity law – setting
aside a preoccupation with the current unprecedented
economic crisis to put in place safeguards
for the future.
WWF, noting that the
economic crisis is putting Greece's natural
environment under increasing pressure, praised
the courage and foresight of Greek Minister
for Environment, Energy and Climate Change,
Tina Birbili, the goverment and parlimentarians
who stood by the legislation during a grueling
debate over several weeks.
“WWF Greece has actively
campaigned for this law which we consider
an important step for nature conservation
in Greece," said Demetres Karavellas,
CEO of WWF Greece.
"Despite the views
expressed by certain MPs, asking for more
building rights within protected areas,
the voted law is a sign of hope that Greece’s
natural heritage will not be ignored or
sacrificed in the quest for rapid financial
gain.
“The greatest challenge
however lies in implementing the provisions
of this law. WWF stands ready to assist
in making this happen.”
Urgent action now possible
on rapid species decline
The law sets out plans
for an integrated and science-based system
of protected areas, with simple designation
procedures and improved administrative support.
Urgent conservation measures will be able
to be adopted in cases of rapid species
decline and the framework for sanctions
on crimes against biodiversity will be strengthened.
A new legal framework
will be provided for the protection of small
island wetlands, and conservation measures
will also be set out for marine species
and habitats.
And despite opposition in the parliament,
new regulations will be established for
building within the boundaries of Natura
2000 protected areas.
“This new law is an
important tool in implementing critical
European legislation such as the Wild Birds
and Habitats Directives," said Tony
Long, Director of the WWF European Policy
Office.
"With the right
vision of promoting and celebrating its
wonderful natural heritage, investing in
nature conservation should also assist Greece
in finding a way out of the challenging
financial crisis.”
