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  WWF website, 17 Jun 05
Orang-utans and gibbons under threat by trade in Indonesia
full report on the WWF website

TRAFFIC website, 18 Jun 05
More efficient law enforcement needed to stop illegal orang-utan and gibbon trade in Indonesia
full report on the TRAFFIC website

Extracts:
Jakarta, Indonesia: Orang-utans and gibbons are still traded and kept as pets in Java and Bali despite having been legally protected in Indonesia since 1931, according to a new report from TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network. The report, released today at a joint press conference with WWF-Indonesia, is calling for greater awareness among the judiciary, enforcement agencies and general public to ensure that trade in the endangered primates is treated a serious crime.

The TRAFFIC Southeast Asia report, In Full Swing, An Assessment of Trade in Orang-utans and Gibbons on Java and Bali, Indonesia analysed data from 1994-2003 based on information collected from 35 wildlife markets in 22 cities across the two islands. TRAFFIC investigators found a total of 559 orang-utans and gibbons during the surveys, many on sale or being illegally traded in "bird markets" locally known as pasar burung.

However, the TRAFFIC report found that people who hunt, keep and trade in orang-utans and gibbons are rarely punished. In all, fewer than 10% of all persons that had specimens confiscated from them were actually prosecuted. It appears that many law enforcement personnel, including judges and prosecutors do not see trade in or possession of protected species as pets as a serious offence.

"A large-scale awareness building and education programme targeting general public and law enforcement officials should be set up to increase the understanding of the protected status of wildlife, and effectiveness of law enforcement in the field," said Dr Mubariq Ahmad, CEO of WWF-Indonesia. "Trade must be addressed in conjunction with increased protection of the lowland forest ecosystems that form the habitat of orang-utans and gibbons particularly in Borneo and Sumatra."

The report found that from the estimated 40 000 wild population of the Borneo Orang-utan, trade on Java and Bali alone may be contributing to an annual loss rate which corresponds to up to some 1000 individuals a year, or one to three orang-utans a day. This does not necessarily include loss due to habitat destruction.

Both orang-utans and gibbons are hunted and traded to satisfy persistent demand for pets. Orang-utans are the most expensive primates for sale in the markets of Indonesia and are kept in households as status symbols. Orang-utans are also in trade for the entertainment industry. In November 2003, the Thai Authorities seized 115 orang-utans from the premises of Safari World in Bangkok and the source of these great apes was reportedly from Indonesia. The case is ongoing, and the Government of Indonesia has requested the repatriation of the remaining orang-utans from Thailand on a number of occasions.

"Also, the general public needs to understand that buying and keeping an orang-utan or gibbon as a pet is contributing to the depletion of wild populations," added Compton. "Not only is it against the law to purchase and keep these animals in Indonesia, but it is destroying the country's precious natural heritage."


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