Indonesia: Police thwart sale of endangered slow lorises "kukang"

Antara 23 Apr 19;

Palembang (ANTARA) - The South Sumatra Provincial Police were successful in thwarting the sale of eight endangered slow lorises, locally termed "kukang", at a traditional market in the provincial capital of Palembang, on Tuesday.

The police also took into custody two suspects, identified by their initials as Sam and Idr, when they were on the verge of selling the endangered animal species, Chief of the South Sumatra Provincial Police's Public Relations Senior Commissioner Supriadi revealed.

The police are thoroughly probing several witnesses in a bid to catch more suspects in the case, he noted.

Slow loris or Nycticebus coucang is native to Indonesia and listed as endangered by Law No. 5 of 1990 that stipulates the protection of natural and biological resources and their ecosystem. Their trade is prohibited and cannot be kept as pets.

Even though the species belonging to the Ordo primate are protected, but Kukang frequently kept as exotic pets.

Wildlife species, including kukang, are instrumental in maintaining the delicate balance of the ecosystem and in forest conservation.