Together with local communities, PROFAUNA campaigns on parrot protection in Manokwari, West Papua

ProFauna Campaigns on Parrot Protection in Manokwari, West PapuanThousands of parrots  are caught from the wild in Papu and North Malukuto supply domestic and international illegal wildlife trade. In the 2001-2002 Flying without Wings report, the Indonesian wildlife protection NGO, ProFauna Indonesia (www.profauna.org), revealed evidence that an average of 15,000 parrots were caught from the wild to supply the pet markets. Among the parrots poached from the wild in West Papua are black-capped Lories (Lorius lorry), sulphur-crested Cockatoos (Cacatua galerita), Eclectus parrots (Eclectus roratus), and rainbow Lorikeets (Trichoglosus haematodus).

In 2008, ProFauna Indonesia launched the Pirated Parrots campaign uncovering the acts of parrot smuggling from North Maluku to the Philippines. Results from monitoring the animal markets in Java and Bali (2007) demonstrate that illegal parrot trade in the markets was at a high level. Around  1500 parrots are traded every year. The majority of the traded birds are protected parrots; the black-capped Lory and the sulphur-crested Cockatoo. This trade is  valued at over 1 million USD.

The parrot’s death rate is as high as 40 % by the time they arrive at the sales points. Many birds die during the poaching, transportation and trade, due to poor conditions and cruel handling.

The illegal trade of protected parrots violates the Indonesian 1990 Law concerning Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservations. Accordingly, the perpetrators are liable to a maximum sentence of five-years in prison  and 100 million Rupiah fine (10,000 USD). Unfortunately, the law is not yet being fully enforced by the Indonesian government  which is apparent from the many protected parrots  still being smuggled abroad and sold openly at  markets in Surabaya, East Java, and in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The need of regional regulation

ProFauna believes that Papuan people must proactively protect their natural resources. The loss of wildlife harvested unsustainably for trade removes vital resources and products that are used locally for food, medicines and income-generation. Therefore, between the months of October and November 2008 ProFauna, supported by funding from the World Parrot Trust and also from the Indonesian Parrot Project, is conducting a series of campaign on  parrot protection in the city of Manokwari, West Papua.

ProFauna‘s campaign theme More Beatiful in the Wild includes exhibition, seminar, and unique demonstration in the heart of Manokwari city. The activities engage local people in the hope of raising  their awareness regarding  the need  for parrot protection in Papua.

R.Tri Prayudhi, ProFauna Indonesia’s Campaign Officer stated, “The government of Papua must take action to protect Papuan parrots by legislating regional regulation to ban all parrot species from being harvested and traded. “. The legislation and enforcement of regional laws will ensure  Papuan parrots to  survive in the wild.