RRI.CO.ID, Ambon - Reinforcing Indonesia's commitment to biodiversity preservation and wildlife law enforcement, the Maluku Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) has successfully released 11 protected birds into the wilderness of Manusela National Park in Central Maluku.

The operation marks a critical triumph against illegal wildlife trade, as all the released birds were rescued through routine wild flora and fauna protection sweeps and completed conservation criminal law enforcement processes.

By returning the animals to their natural environment, authorities hope to bolster local populations of the archipelago's highly targeted avian species.

Head of BKSDA Maluku's Region II Masohi Conservation Section, Meity Pattipawaej, confirmed on Thursday,July 16, 2026, that the birds chosen for repatriation represent three highly prized regional species: five Seram cockatoos (Cacatua moluccensis), five rainbow lorikeets (Trichoglossus haematodus), and one Ambon parrot (Eos bornea).

"Prior to being released, all animals underwent a process of rescue, rehabilitation, and health examination until they were declared fit to return to nature," Meity said in Ambon, as quoted by Antara.

According to Meity, Manusela National Park was strategically selected as the release site because it provides the ideal, pristine habitat necessary for these three endemic and protected species, giving them the best possible chance to adapt, survive, and breed in the wild.

The repatriation initiative was executed through a joint inter-agency partnership involving the Manusela National Park Authority, the Central Maluku Prosecutors' Office, and the Central Maluku District Court.

This collaborative framework underscores the rising synergy among law enforcement, judicial bodies, and conservation institutions to strictly uphold environmental laws.

BKSDA Maluku continues to firmly advise the public against capturing, keeping, domesticating, trading, or trafficking protected wild animals, noting that such actions directly destabilize natural ecosystems and carry severe legal consequences.

"The public is also expected to play an active role in maintaining the sustainability of wildlife by reporting to the authorities if they find suspected criminal acts against flora and fauna, so that biological natural resource conservation efforts can run sustainably," Meity urged.

Under Article 21, paragraph (2), letter a of Law No. 5/1990 on Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems, any individual found intentionally capturing, injuring, killing, storing, possessing, domesticating, transporting, or trading protected wildlife faces strict legal repercussions.

Violators can be sentenced to a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of up to IDR 100 million (USD 6.1 thousand) under Article 40, paragraph (2) of the same law. ***