Indonesia ends exports of wild-caught birds Text and Photos By ROSEK NURSAHID, ProFauna Indonesia More than 15,000 parrots are trapped from North Maluku every year. This number is based on a thorough investigation on the parrot trade in Indonesia carried out by ProFauna Indonesia in 2001. The surveyed areas included North Maluku, Papua, Sumba, Java, Bali and Singapore. Most of the birds caught in North Maluku and Papua are then transported to Java. Monitoring by ProFauna at the five biggest bird markets in Java shows that 47% of traded parrots are listed as protected species. Based on Indonesia Law No. 5/1990, the trade in protected species is prohibited and faces penalty of 5 years jailed and fines of 100 million rupiahs (US$10,000/ £6,000). Although they have been protected, there are still many endangered parrots traded freely and openly in bird markets such as Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger atterimus), Moluccan Cockatoo (Cacatua moluccensis), Yellowcrested Cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea), and others. A Moluccan Cockatoo was offered at 500,000-1,000,000 rupiahs (US$100 / £60) at Pramuka Bird Market Jakarta. In 2001, the parrot trapping exceeded the trapping quota issued by PHKA (Forest Protection and Nature Conservation) of Forestry Department Republic of Indonesia. For instance, there was no trapping quota at all for white cockatoo in 2001; in fact, ProFauna investigation result shows that more than 364 of the white Cockatoos are trapped in North Maluku to be sent to animal exporters in Jakarta. Some of the exporters are Hasco, CV (Ltd.) Rahmat and CV Arus Fauna.
As close readers of PsittaScene are well aware, our efforts to end the trade in wild-caught birds take many forms. These efforts include everything from educating bird owners in range states so that their birds can live a long and healthy life, to encouraging the EU to end the barbaric process of taking these animals from the wild. As we reported in the Nov 2002 PsittaScene, we’ve had recent good news from CITES on how and whether certain threatened parrots can be traded internationally. Those decisions alone will save the lives of thousands of wild parrots. On a national level, countries make decisions about whether to export or import wild-caught birds, and indeed, the following story by Rosek Nursahid of ProFauna Indonesia represents a major accomplishment on behalf of the parrots. That is, despite being one of the world’s major exporters of wild-caught parrots, the Indonesian government - with significant prodding and encouragement from Rosek and his colleagues - has reduced their export quotas for wild-caught birds to ZERO. We are extremely pleased with this result and are proud to have been able to support ProFauna on their efforts to educate the Indonesian people about the plight of their unique birds. There will undoubtedly be additional work to be done to address issues like domestic trade in wild-caught parrots within Indonesia and also to confront the potential to export wild-caught birds by calling them “captive-bred,” but the fact that the Indonesian government has been willing to take such a pro-parrot stand, we find extremely encouraging.
Campaigning with celebrities After launching the report “Flying Without Wings” which contains the results of ProFauna’s investigation into the Indonesian parrot trade, ProFauna is now conducting a series of campaigns to protect parrots in Indonesia. We have distributed posters, brochures, and VCD (Video Compact Disk) to school students and villagers. The brochure is funded by World Parrot Trust, while the VCD is funded by RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). To encourage and stimulate youth to protect parrots, on this campaign we have enlisted the help of several Indonesian celebrities. We are excited to report that celebrities such as SLANK, Cokelat Band, and Laluna Band have responded positively to our requests. ProFauna Indonesia then made posters and brochures containing SLANK’s statement about parrot protection.
ProFauna Indonesia with the aid of these two huge balloons funded by Gibbon Foundation is promoting a massive internal campaign in seven Indonesian cities.
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SLANK is 19 years old and the most famous Indonesian rock n’ roll band among Indonesian youth. The posters were distributed to schools, universities, NGOs, villagers and the general public. Some fans of the groups were also visiting ProFauna Indonesia Office and asking for further information about the campaign on Indonesian parrot protection. Beforehand ProFauna Indonesia conducted a campaign
Around 100 villagers, of which 35% are known parrot trappers, crowded next to each other in the house of head of Kosa subvillage to see ’Flying without wings’ film.
tour in seven big cities in Java and Bali. During the successful campaign ProFauna members took two giant balloons resembling parrots. At the crowded centre, the members distributed brochures containing parrot protection messages. The campaign tour attracted the media’s interest. More than 40 media including a national TV station published the program.
Dialogue with House of Representatives ProFauna Indonesia considers the public awareness program a vital activity for villagers living in areas near parrot trapping locations. A campaign in these regions was launched by conducting dialogue, on the 14th November 2002, with the House of Representatives, which in Indonesia is called Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Daerah (DPRD) North Maluku Region. The first dialogue involving five members of ProFauna was not only joined by DPRD members but also by other official government Institutions, such as from Forestry Department and its local office, Tourism Department and other NGOs. On the 28th November 2002, the members of ProFauna again held discussions with DPRD, this time was with DPRD of North Maluku Province. They ran smoothly and achieved positive results. DPRD and also other local governments support ProFauna’s recommendation to stop parrot trapping in North Maluku. The government even indicated that they will withdraw the permit of bird suppliers in Ternate-North Maluku. The members of the House of Representatives and the local government agree that protecting parrots in their own habitat will bring long-term benefits especially on the tourism side.
Education for school students The members of ProFauna Indonesia in Ternate North Maluku also conducted a campaign with school students as the target.
On 12th December 2002, they gathered SMU and SMP (Senior and Junior School) students. Around 450 students were shown the film of “Flying Without Wings” showing the ProFauna’s investigation results on parrot trade in Indonesia. The film show got a very warm welcome from the students. They followed the session with questions and answers to a variety of issues. “ProFauna must not be afraid of members of TNI (Indonesian Army) who usually transport Maluku’s endemic bird to Java”, stated one of the students who felt so furious with the TNI involvement that often takes ‘souvenirs’ of Maluku’s bird after performing duty in North Maluku.
Awareness programme for villagers
Parrot Exports Authorised by Indonesia 1997-2001
Total Wild Total Capt Total Birds
Moluccan King Parrot, Alisterus amboinensis Papuan King Parrot, Alisterus chloropterus Aprosmictus spp. Red-winged Parrot, Aprosmictus erythropterus Olive-shouldered Parrot, Aprosmictus jonquillaceus Umbrella Cockatoo, Cacatua alba Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Cacatua galerita Eleonora Cockatoo, Cacatua galerita eleonora Moluccan Cockatoo, Cacatua moluccensis Pink Cockatoo, Cacatua leadbeateri Little Corella, Cacatua sanguinea Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Cacatua sulphurea Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Calyptorhynchus funereus Black Lory, Chalcopsitta atra Brown Lory, Chalcopsitta duivenbodei Yellow-streaked Lory, Chalcopsitta Scintillata Josephine’s Lorikeet, Charmosyna josefinae Striated Lorikeet, Charmosyna multistriata Papuan Lorikeet, Charmosyna papou Red-flanked Lorikeet, Charmosyna placentas Fairy Lorikeet, Charmosyna pulchella Cyanoramphus spp. Cyclopsitta spp. Double-eyed Fig Parrot, Cyclopsitta diophthalma Double-eyed Fig Parrot, Cyclopsitta diophthalma coxeni Orange-breasted Fig Parrot, Cyclopsitta Gulielmitertii Eclectus spp. Eclectus, Eclectus roratus Red Lory, Eos semilarvata Blue-streaked Lory, Eos reticulata Blue-eared Lory, Eos semilarvata Violet-necked Lory, Eos squanata Red-cheeked Parrot, Geoffroyus geoffroyi Orange-fronted Hanging Parrot, Loriculus aurantiifrons Red-billed Hanging Parrot, Loriculus exilis Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot, Loriculus galgulus Yellow-throated Hanging Parrot, Loriculus pusillus Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Loriculus stigmatus Purple-naped Lory, Lorius domicella Chattering Lory, Lorius garrulous Black-capped Lory, Lorius lory Yellow-billed Lorikeet, Neopsittacus musschenbroekii Plum-faced Lorikeet, Oreopsittacus arfaki Rosella, Platycercus spp. Buru Racquet-tail, Prioniturus mada Golden-mantled Racquet-tail, Prionituris platurus Dusky Lory, Pseudeos fuscata Red-breasted Parakeet, Psittacula alexandri Long-tailed Parakeet, Psittacula longicanda Large Fig Parrot, Psittaculirostris desmarestii Edwards’s Fig Parrot, Psittaculirostris edwardsii Salvadori’s Fig Parrot, Psittaculirostis salvadorii Goldie’s Lorikeet, Psitteuteles goldiei Pesquet’s Parrot, Psittrichas fulgidus Blue-naped Parrot, Tanygnathus lucionensis Great-billed Parrot, Tanygnathus megalorynchos Blue-backed Parrot, Tanygnathus sumatranus Yellow-and-green Lorkieet, Trichoglossus flavoviridis Rainbow Lorikeet, Trichoglossus haematodus * cover Ornate Lorikeet, Trichoglossus ornatus
196 1,517 0 630 0 1,378 0 0 0 0 165 0 0 172 1,070 1,384 509 160 1420 1,603 875 6 0 931 0 368 0 4 4,347 0 0 1,144 501 173 0 1,592 361 923 0 656 0 988 1,026 6 0 510 1,733 1,377 849 707 0 144 0 0 82 0 0 492 5,902 0 35,901
285 64 30 30 112 512 99 802 8 2 45 369 4 232 11 93 0 0 82 14 0 0 32 451 4 30 4 1,229 309 14 3 88 24 0 9 0 10 95 46 664 672 0 0 0 9 41 85 156 0 656 133 189 26 47 0 77 33 16 387 52 8,385
481 1,581 30 660 112 1,890 99 802 8 2 210 369 4 404 1,081 1,477 509 160 1,502 1,617 875 6 32 1,382 4 398 4 1,233 4,656 14 3 1,232 525 173 9 1,592 371 1,018 46 1,320 672 988 1,026 6 9 551 1,818 1,533 849 1,363 133 333 26 47 82 77 33 508 6,289 52 44,286
During December 2002, the members of ProFauna Indonesia CITES trade statistics derived from the UNEP-WCMC CITES Trade Database, UNEP - World conducted awareness Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK programmes to villagers in five districts in North Maluku Province, they were Obi, Bacan, Oba purpose. In addition, ProFauna Indonesia actively encourages the rangers of Forestry Selatan, Wasilei and Jailolo Selatan. The Department to conduct confiscation distance between each district is very far so programmes to stop illegal trade of protected they must travel by ship from one island to parrots. Many of the protected parrots are another. The ship rolls with the great waves confiscated, but it ends up with the problem of the ocean connecting the islands in North of finding a place for the confiscated birds. In Maluku and made anyone not accustomed to it seasick. One needs to be quite fit and have fact, there are no rehabilitation centres for parrots in Indonesia. great stamina to conduct this awareness program! The awareness program was Government pledges to running well, especially when ProFauna showed the “Flying Without Wings” film. stop parrot export Around 100 villagers crowded next to each ProFauna Indonesia also encourages the other in the house of the head of Kosa subDirectorate General of Forest Protection and village in South Oba District to join the film Nature Conservation of Forestry Department show. Around 35% of villagers of this subasking the government to stop trapping and village are parrot trappers. Most of the prohibit the export of parrots taken directly trapped birds are sent to a bird supplier in from the wild. On the dialogue with ProFauna Ternate city, who transports them to several Indonesia, Mr Adi Susminato from PHKA bird exporters in Jakarta. stated that he agreed with ProFaunas ProFauna Indonesia has been conducting recommendation. The Indonesian Government campaigns continuously on parrot protection has pledged to prohibit export of parrots taken in Indonesia, and is also lobbying airlines to directly from the wild and to prohibit also stop transporting parrots for commercial the trapping of parrots in the wild.
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