More than 100 endemic wild animals seized from traffickers

An illegal operation to smuggle 114 wild animals from Indonesia has been thwarted with the surviving animals released back into the wild.  

Tree kangaroos, cuscuses (Australasian possums) and reptiles including snakes, lizards and forest dragons were among the 114 animals found on board a boat sailing from Papua island to Surabaya, a port hub, in Indonesia. They were likely destined for India, where they could have ended up in private zoos or home collections. 

Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN), which works closely with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) to combat wildlife crime, assessed the animals at the local conservation authority office (BKSDA Conservation authority) in Ternate. Many of the animals had already died because of the poor conditions they were kept in and the stress of the travel. 

“This rescue exposes the brutal reality of the illegal wildlife trade: sentient beings treated as commodities, hidden in bottles, boxes, and even boat toilets. The survivors are a powerful reminder of why we work to stop traffickers at every stage of the trade,” IFAW wildlife rescue program director Neil Greenwood said. 

“Working with JAAN, we’re determined to stop traffickers before more animals are torn from the wild.” 

The Ursine tree kangaroos were found inside the toilet cabin on the boat, while the cuscuses were stored in small boxes and the reptiles were kept in plastic bottles. Most of the surviving animals were wounded, severely dehydrated, and sick. 

“Stuffing animals into plastic bottles and tiny boxes is an act of extreme cruelty. No one deserves to suffer like that,” JAAN co-founder Femke den Haas said. 

For the 24 surviving animals, IFAW provided emergency assistance to release them back into the wild, where they belong. All the animals are endemic to Papua, meaning they can only be found in that part of the world. 

The release operation started on March 8 with the animals safely transported onto a boat where they were regularly monitored, fed, and hydrated.  

They arrived at the release sites in West Papua, two days later on March 10. The animals were given time to adjust in enclosures near the release sites before they were released into the wild. 

The kangaroos and cuscuses started climbing trees immediately while the reptiles also quickly moved further into the forest. 

“Seeing these animals disappear back into the forest where they belong gives us hope. This operation shows what is possible when local partners and global organisations work side by side,” Ms den Haas said. 

The smugglers have been arrested by local authorities. 

ENDS 

Press contact: 
Dominica Mack 
dmack@ifaw.org    
+61 460 432 901 

Notes:  

• IFAW has been working with JAAN for more than a decade to disrupt wildlife trafficking networks, train law enforcement teams (including detection dogs), and ensure animals confiscated from illegal trade receive the best care. In most cases, rehabilitation needs to start immediately, so rescued young animals can learn the vital survival skills they would have gleaned from their mothers in the wild. The ultimate goal is to reintroduce these animals back into the wild, where they will join wild populations—helping to ensure these species survive and thrive long into the future. 

About IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) - IFAW is a global non-profit helping animals and people thrive together. We are experts and everyday people, working across seas, oceans and in more than 40 countries around the world. We rescue, rehabilitate and release animals, and we restore and protect their natural habitats. The problems we’re up against are urgent and complicated. To solve them, we match fresh thinking with bold action. We partner with local communities, governments, non-governmental organisations and businesses. Together, we pioneer new and innovative ways to help all species flourish. See how at ifaw.org  

About JAAN - JAAN is a non-profit organisation that strives to reduce animal suffering and provide them better living conditions. We believe that no animal deserves cruelty and no wild animal should spend its life in captivity. At JAAN, we envision a world where all animals are treated with compassion and respect. Our mission is to protect animals from cruelty and exploitation, and to promote animal welfare through proactive measures and community involvement. We believe that education and awareness are key to driving change and fostering a society that values and protects its animal inhabitants.