Indonesia makes arrest in case of smuggling protected wildlife

JAKARTA, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Indonesian officials say they arrested an international wildlife trader who specialized in smuggling baby primates, Komodo dragons and other protected wildlife.

The arrest was made in Bali by forest rangers from the Ministry of Forestry who confiscated four endangered Javan gibbons, four baby siamangs -- a type of gibbon -- and two palm cockatoos, officials said.

The alleged trader is connected to illegal wildlife trafficking rings in Russia, Singapore, Thailand, and Cyprus, the Wildlife Conservation Society's Wildlife Crimes Unit, which participated in the investigation, reported Thursday.

The trader, whose name has not been released by Indonesian officials, allegedly shipped two Komodo dragons to Thailand last month and has sent hornbill beaks and threatened turtle species to Singapore, the WCS said.

"WCS congratulates BKSDA Bali and the Jakarta National Police Investigation Division for arresting this notorious trader," WCS Executive Director for Asia Programs Joe Walston said. "This arrest sends a message that Indonesia is serious about protecting its wildlife heritage from the ravages of the illegal wildlife trade."

Javan gibbons, siamang, Komodo dragons and palm cockatoo are all strictly protected under Indonesian law, and all are listed as Endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, except for Komodo dragon which is listed as Vulnerable.