The North Sumatra Wildlife Authority (BBKSDA) of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF), assisted by Scorpion Wildlife Trade Monitoring Group, rescued a Changeable hawk-eagle (Spizaetus cirrhatus) from an illegal owner's house at Jalan Tanjung Anom, Glugur Rimbun Village, Deli Serdang regency in North Sumatra on Wednesday, 9th of August 2017.
The eagle will undergo a reintroduction process at a newly built Wildlife Rescue Center of the MoEF in Sibolangit, some 40 kilometers from Medan, the capital city of North Sumatra province. This eagle will be returned back in the wild habitat if it is considered already have the ability to survive in the wild.
Changeable hawk-eagle is protected by Indonesian Law no. 5/1990. Under the law, a person who captures or keeps protected animal may be imprisoned for a maximum of 5 years plus a maximum fine of IDR100,000,000 (approximately US$7,700). However, in the rescue carried out today, the BBKSDA did not process this illegal ownership by law because the owner, after receiving explanation from BBKSDA officer of animal protection, immediately handed over the bird to the officer.
In addition to the Glugur Rimbun village, two other locations were also the target of operations today, each in Lubuk Pakam and in Batang Kuis. But it only managed to rescue the animal at one location, while in two other locations the animals were not seen in places Wednesday morning.
This eagle was kept illegally for over two years.
BBKSDA and Scorpion team carrying transport cage for translocation of the eagle to Sibolangit Animal Rescue Centre.
Loading the eagle to the car of MoEF.
The eagle was kept illegally in a small cage for over two years. Scorpion team did not find anything to perch inside the cage.
