Scorpion Foundation in a letter dated October 21, 2015 reported to BKSDA North Sumatra concerning the sale of protected species in the wildlife markets in Medan. The report was submitted a few hours after a wildlife trade monitoring in Medan Wednesday where this NGO found violations of the Law no. 5/1990 and Government Regulation no. 7/1999 concerning wildlife protection.
In the monitoring Scorpion find still a violation of the regulations such as the sale of Nias parrot which is listed as protected species in Government Regulation Number 7/1999. These protected birds were seen in the Pasar Bintang wildlife Market in F.L. Tobing Street and in Merak Jingga Street. The protected birds were placed on the inside of the shop so it was not visible from the front of the shop.
In its letter to BKSDA North Sumatra SCORPION expressed concerns that Nias parrot would extinct in North Sumatra if the trade is not restricted. Therefore SCORPION asked BKSDA to confiscate protected animals from the wildlife markets in Medan and subsequently release them back to the wild.
In addition, the SCORPION also informed BKSDA that turtles (Green and “Ninja”) also on sales in Pasar Bintang in considerable amounts. “If the wildlife trade takes place continuously, it is feared wild population will decline,” Scorpion said in its letter.
In Jalan Meteorologi Ujung Scorpion found wildfowl on sale for human consumption. Although the birds are not protected, but when hunting and trade take place without control then eventually the population will be threatened as well.
In addition to requesting confiscation, SCORPION requested BKSDA to carry out awareness progamme to the wildlife poachers and traders to control their activities to avoid extinction of the wildfowl in the province of North Sumatra.
During the visit on Wednesday, SCORPION could not find any fruit bats on sale in Medan because there was no supply from poachers.
Chinese tradition to release wild animals
Although many rare species have been killed for Chinese traditional medicine, there is also another good tradition among the Chinese community in Medan. They often buy birds for release. During the visit Wednesday (October 21), SCORPION witnessed a Chinese man purchased two cages containing approximately 200 birds white-headed munia (Lonchura maja) and released them in front of the shop owner.
Wildfowl on sale at Jalan Meteorologi Ujung.
Jalan Meteorolgi Ujung
Jalan Meteorolgi Ujung
Wildfowl sale at Jalan Meteorolgi Ujung
Pasar Bintang wildlife market.
These turtles called locally Ninja turtle on sale at Pasar Bintang.
Green turtle at Pasar Bintang.
Pig-tailed macaque on sale at Jalan Bintang.
Jalan Merak Jingga wildlife market
