Authorities Seize 111 Protected Bird Species from Illegal Trafficking in Lampung

RRI.CO.ID, Bandar Lampung - The Lampung Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine Center has intercepted 1,320 birds being smuggled without official documents, including 111 protected species, during a routine inspection at Bakauheni Port’s Seaport Intradiction Gate 2.

Head of the center, Donni Muksydayan, said the case was uncovered when officers, working with Flight Protection Indonesia Birds, inspected a box truck entering the port. Inside, they found 35 baskets and 25 cartons filled with birds of various species.

Identification revealed that 111 of the birds were protected under Indonesian law, including 17 small leafbirds (cica daun kecil), 18 large leafbirds (cica daun besar), 39 blue-winged leafbirds (cica daun sayap biru), 30 Sumatran leafbirds (cica daun Sumatra), one crested jay (tangkar ongklet/cililin), two racket-tailed drongos (ekek layangan), and four Asian fairy-bluebirds (sepah raja).

The remaining 1,209 birds, from 21 different species, were not classified as protected.

The truck driver, identified only as P, failed to present quarantine or transport permits. He admitted to loading 23 baskets of birds in Jambi and 37 in Lubuk Seberuk on February 26, with plans to deliver them to Depok, Serang, and Magelang.

Donni stressed that all inter-regional transport of animals must be accompanied by health certificates and quarantine documents.

For protected species, authorization from relevant authorities is also required, in line with Law No. 21/2019 on Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine and Law No. 32/2024 amending Law No. 5/1990 on Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems. These laws prohibit capturing, keeping, transporting, or trading protected wildlife without permits. ***