Agus Sobari and Sarwo, two traders in Jatinegara market, Jakarta, Indonesia were arrested in a joint raid by the Forestry department, ProFauna Indonesia, the Institute of Animal Advocacy (LASA) and the International Animal Rescue (IAR) last February 3rd 2008, ( http://www.profauna.org/profaunanews/2008news/jatinegara-jkt.html ) and were sentenced to 20 months and 19 months imprisonment respectively, by the Magistrates Court in Jakarta on July 3rd 2008, for selling protected species. Both were charged under the 1990 wildlife law that carried a sentence of up to one million rupiah fine (about US $110).

Sobari pleaded guilty to illegally selling a Leopard cat (Felis bengalensis), four slow lorises (Nycticebus coucang), two Malayan porcupines (Hystrix brachyura), and an otter civet (Cynogale bennetti). Likewise, Sarwo was convicted of trading one leopard cat, four slow lorises, and two Black-winged kites (Elanus caeruleus).

The presiding judge, Siswandriyono, advised the traders, “People should make money in sustainable manners. Just because of the need to feed the family, one can trigger the cause of biodiversity loss by trading endangered animals.”

PROFAUNA’S JAVAN LANGUR CENTER (JLC)

ProFauna Indonesia is to set up a Javan Langur Centre (JLC) in a near future. This centre would offer facilities for species recovery program including rescue, rehabilitation and re-introduction into the wild. In addition, it would support the research on the species, the habitat analysis, the post release monitoring and the population in its natural habitat, etc.

Ebony leaf monkey or Javan langur (Trachypithecus auratus), which has become the logo of ProFauna Indonesia, is classified as endangered species (EN B1+2ab) in the IUCN red list 2007. This monkey is endemic species to Java and Bali Islands. Despite of its legal status as protected species, the population is threatened by poaching for trade.

The Indonesian wildlife law, the 1990 legislation concerning the Natural Resource and Ecosystem Conservations states that the keeping and trading of protected species including its body part is prohibited. Perpetrators will receive jail sentence up to five years and a fine up to Rupiah 100 million.

With the experience in releasing rehabilitated Javan langurs back into the wild, ProFauna is going to specialize in Javan langurs through its Javan Langur Center (JLC).