Ministry Busts Protected Wildlife Trafficking in Central Java

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Forestry has dismantled an illegal wildlife trafficking operation in Magelang, Central Java.

In a coordinated raid, enforcement officers rescued several protected species and detained two individuals suspected of managing a distribution hub for endangered animals.

The operation, carried out on Thursday, January 15, 2026, followed community reports of suspicious transactions in Mertoyudan Subdistrict.

A joint team from the Forestry Law Enforcement (Gakkum) and the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) conducted field verification before moving in to secure the suspects and the wildlife.

Aswin Bangun, Head of Forestry Gakkum for Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara (Jabalnustra), said the arrests mark only the beginning of a wider investigation. “The action in Magelang is a gateway to tracing transaction patterns, distribution channels, and the people behind them,” he stated on Tuesday, January 20, as quoted by Antara.

Investigators are now analyzing digital evidence and transaction records to dismantle the broader network.

Authorities found the animals in poor condition, crammed into bags and baskets without ventilation. Among the mammals recovered were one live Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica), one deceased pangolin, and three jungle cats (Felis chaus), along with 500 grams of pangolin scales.

Birds rescued included a black-winged kite (Elanus caeruleus) and a rare yellow-crested cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea).

Two suspects, identified as MU (22) from Temanggung and AR (24) from Magelang, were taken into custody. Both face up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to Rp2 billion for their roles in the trafficking network.

Dyah Sulistyani, Head of the Central Java BKSDA, underscored the ecological impact of such crimes, noting that pangolins, jungle cats, eagles, and cockatoos are vital for ecosystem balance.

She said the rescued animals are undergoing health stabilization to recover from severe stress caused by the illegal transport conditions. The BKSDA will assess whether the animals can be released back into the wild or require long-term care at certified conservation institutions.

Aswin reaffirmed that the Ministry will continue combining enforcement with preventative measures to reduce the hunting and trafficking of protected wildlife across Java. ***