Indonesia coffee poachers endanger rhinos

JAKARTA, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Critically endangered hairy rhinos on the Indonesian island of Sumatra are under threat because of coffee poachers in a protected national park.

In a report, the World Wildlife Fund estimated as much as 20 percent of rainforest in the island's Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park has been hacked down by poachers who then plant low-grade coffee plants.

The WWF said those beans are either sold to international food companies to manufacture instant coffee, or mixed in with higher grade beans to add weight.

The loss of the forest, however, is threatening about 80 Sumatran rhinos, also known as hairy rhinos, along with 40 Sumatran tigers and 2,000 Sumatran elephants, the WWF said.

The group's report said companies such as Kraft Foods and Nestle are often unknowingly buying the coffee from corrupt middlemen, a Times of London correspondent reported from Sumatra.

Spokesman Jonathan Atwood of Kraft, which makes Maxwell House and other brands, said the company is scrutinizing its suppliers.

"There is a very complex supply chain and traceability is very difficult," he said. "We are trying to formulate an action plan with WWF, farmers and the Indonesian government."