Indonesian Parrots Being Smuggled to Philippines

The already dwindling population of Indonesian parrots due to deforestation is
further threatened by poaching. About 10,000 parrots (Lories and Cockatoos)
are caught from the wild in North Halmahera, Indonesia, each year to supply the
domestic and the international illegal wildlife trade.

In their latest report entitled ‘PIRATED PARROTS’, the Indonesian wildlife
protection NGO ProFauna Indonesia, revealed the evidence on the smuggling of
wild caught parrots in Sulawesi and North Halmahera in Indonesia to Philippines
during their investigation.

The investigation, which was supported by the Royal Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and conducted in 2007, uncovered the parrot
smuggling network from Indonesia to the Philippines. The parrots poached in
North Halmahera are; white Cockatoos (Cacatua alba), chattering Lorys (Lorius
garrulus), Eclectus parrots (Eclectus roratus) and the violet-necked Lorys (Eos
squamata). The Eclectus parrot is a protected species which is prohibited for
trade.

The catch quota of white cockatoos (Cacatua alba) for 2007, issued by the
General Director of PHKA, of the Indonesian Forestry Department, is 10 pairs
and only for breeding purpose. However, the investigation revealed that at
least 200 white Cockatoos were caught from the wild in North Halmahera in 2007,
which far exceeded the quota.

The red-and-blue Lorys (Eos histrio), endangered species, are also being
smuggled. Fortunately, the red-and-blue Lory poaching and trade have decreased
drastically due to active confiscation operations conducted by the forestry
department rangers in 2005. The local authority’s regulation in the
villages in Karakelang Island, an island in Talaud Islands group, bordering
Indonesia and Philippines, prohibits the poaching of red-and-blue Lory. Thus
helps reduce the trade.

OFFSHORE TRANSACTIONS

Most of the Indonesian parrots come from Halmahera Island, North of Maluku. 40%
of them are smuggled to the Philippines from the port in Pelita Village, Galela
District in northern Halmahera. An illegal wildlife dealer named Mei Lumombo
operates from there. He smuggles the birds to Balut Island or to General
Santos, in the Philippines, using a private boat.

The sea journey alone to smuggle parrots from Halmahera, Indonesia to General
Santos, in the Philippines takes 9 hours. The journey from the forest to
villages and to the port also takes a long time. Most boats carrying the
smuggled Indonesian parrots do not dock at the General Santos port to unload.
The transactions are done offshore or in the sea, where the Philippines dealers
collect the parrots from the Indonesian ships. Upon arrival at General Santos,
the birds are sent to Cartimar market, in Manila, the capital of the
Philippines.

The parrot’s death rate is as high as 40 % by the time they arrive at the
sales points. For every 1000 parrots caught from the wild, 400 birds died in
vain, during the poaching, transportation and trade, due to poor conditions and
cruel handling.