Officials Seized Dozens of Parrots in Ternate

Ternate Nature Conservation Agency conducted patrol to monitor wildlife distribution in Ternate on Thursday (18/1). The patrol supported by PROFAUNA Indonesia was a success, as the patrol team seized at least 13 parrots from residents.

Among the parrots seized were 4 Chattering Lories (Lorius garrulus), 4 White Cockatoos (Cacatua alba), 4 Eclectus Parrots (Eclectus roratus), and 1 Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita). Alongside the parrots, officials also confiscated a number of bracelets made from sea turtle shell and Akar Bahar coral.

This patrol was a follow up to PROFAUNA North Maluku's monitoring on Facebook, where parrot trade is widespread. Therefore, PROFAUNA appealed to the Nature Conservation Agency to take a round in Ternate City. The target areas were the district of Santiong, Gamalama, Tanah Tinggi Barat, Tabona, Kalumpang, Fitu, and Sasa.

"The bracelets were seized from a seller in Gamalama Market. Sea turtle shell bracelets are sold for IDR 500,000 apiece, while Akar Bahar bracelets are sold for IDR 30,000 each," stated Ekawati Ka'aba, the coordinator of PROFAUNA North Maluku.

The patrol result indicates that most of the parrots were bought through Facebook groups where both protected and unprotected species are being sold.

Afrizal Maulana Abdi, PROFAUNA's campaign officer added, "Today, people prefers online transaction because it is safer."

However, the patrol was not without difficulty. For instance in Fitu, a parrot owner tried to stall the confiscation when the patrol team explained that the Eclectus parrot is a protected species and cannot be kept as a pet, otherwise the owner is subjected to legal penalty.

"This is the third time we seize parrots from this house," said Abas Hurasan, Head of ternate Nature Conservation Agency who led the patrol.

In Sasa, owner of the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo resisted the confiscation. Officials decided to take a persuasive approach so the owner would hand over the parrot.

To reinforce the law enforcement effort, PROFAUNA also holds campaigns and education programs including putting anti-parrot poaching banners in public spots around North Maluku. This is aimed at raising public awareness  towards the importance of parrot protection in North Maluku.