A resident of
Sibolangit captured a slow loris in Sibolangit forest area in North Sumatra with
the intent to sell it to a wildlife market in Medan. However, after receiving information
that the slow loris is a protected species, she decided to hand it over to the
Wildlife Authority (BBKSDA) in North Sumatra.
The Indonesian
Species Conservation Programme (ISCP) was the first conservation organisation
to get the information about the capture of the slow loris. After receiving the
information, the Director of the ISCP, Rudianto Sembiring, visited the owner
and explained that the Slow loris is one of the protected species in Indonesia.
Everyone who captures, keeps, transports, or trades this animal could be
sentenced to 5 years in jail and a fine of IDR100,000,000 (about USD7,400).
The owner handed over the Slow loris to the Wildlife Authority (BBKSDA) in North Sumatra on Saturday 5th of November 2016. On the same date, the slow loris was released into the wild in the forest of Sibolangit. The release was done directly by the head of Wildlife Authority (BBKSDA) North Sumatra, Dr. Hotmauli Sianturi. Also, the release of this slow loris was included as part of the celebration of Flora and Fauna National Day by the BBKSDA in North Sumatra.
“The decision of the Wildlife Authority to
immediately release the Slow loris is a very wise one,” Senior Investigator
from Scorpion Foundation, Marison Guciano, commented today (Saturday 12th
of November 2016) on the release of the Slow loris.
“We urge the wildlife authorities all over Indonesia to immediately release all confiscated animals as soon as possible, when/where possible. Keeping them longer will coast money and risk lives of the animals,” Marison added.
Head of Wildlife Authority (BBKSDA) in North Sumatra, Dr. Hotmauli Sianturi signing hand-over document of the the slow loris.
The slow loris a moment before the release to the wild.
The slow loris back in the wild.
