Tackling wildlife crime to keep tigers safe
As you may know, SOS supports the Forest and Wildlife Patrol (ForWPU) . They work together with Sumatra’s authorities to tackle wildlife and forest crime within Leuser. This is a vital component of the ongoing work to keep orangutans, elephants, tigers and other species safe in the wild.
On Monday 1st July, thanks to the combined efforts of the team and Gunung Leuser National Park (GLNP) officials, an alleged wildlife crime perpetrator was arrested with two pieces of tiger skin. Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae) are Critically Endangered and the market demand for body parts is one of the major factors contributing to their decline through poaching. Undercover officers caught the perpetrator when he tried to sell them the pieces of tiger skin. He will now be charged under Indonesian law and faces a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of 100 million IDR (around 6300 euros).
Undercover agenten hebben de dader ingerekend terwijl hij probeerde hun de stukken huid te verkopen. Hij zal nu volgens de Indonesische wet beschuldigd worden van stropen en kan maximaal 5 jaar gevangenisstraf en een boete van 100 miljoen IDR (omgerekend zo’n € 6.300).
Work like this is tough. It takes a long time, and it can be dangerous. We all owe a debt of gratitude to the people who are willing to undertake it and protect endangered species from the illegal wildlife trade.
It is also important to remember that people who poach or in any other way contribute to wildlife crime are still human beings – often with very few other options to make money. This is why all the projects we support are inclusive of people and take their needs, rights and feelings into account.