Target: Sigit Kurniawan, Director General of Law Enforcement, Ministry of Forestry, Jakarta, Indonesia
Goal: Capture and prosecute the individual allegedly responsible for trapping three critically endangered Javan hawk-eagles in high-tension wire snares, leaving one dead and two with catastrophic wing fractures.
Three critically endangered Javan hawk-eagles were reportedly discovered trapped in crude, high-tension wire snares hidden within the canopy near a conservation forest. Investigators claim two birds struggled against the traps so violently that they suffered catastrophic wing fractures, while the third remained trapped until severe dehydration and exposure claimed its life. The surviving eagles now require specialized orthopedic surgery for injuries allegedly inflicted by the snares.
Unlike many wildlife crimes where investigators have little to pursue, authorities have an identified suspect. Local witnesses allegedly saw a known black-market animal trader fleeing the forest sector on a modified motorcycle as patrol vehicles approached. Specialized climbing equipment, transport cages, and personal belongings were reportedly abandoned nearby. Investigators are analyzing those items for DNA and fingerprints while tracking the suspect across known residences and rural hideouts. He remains at large, and no court has determined criminal liability.
Javan hawk-eagles are critically endangered. Every individual bird matters to the species’ survival. If the evidence confirms that these protected animals were trapped for illegal trade, this cannot end merely with their rescue. Authorities must apprehend the identified suspect, investigate any wider trafficking connections, and pursue the strongest appropriate penalties available under Indonesia’s biodiversity protection laws.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Director General Kurniawan,
A recent poaching case involves three members of one of Indonesia’s most vulnerable protected species. Rangers say they discovered the Javan hawk-eagles trapped in high-tension snares, with two suffering devastating wing fractures and another dying from dehydration and exposure.
Authorities possess potentially valuable forensic evidence, including equipment and personal items allegedly abandoned when the identified suspect fled. Those materials, alongside witness accounts, could help establish responsibility and reveal whether others participated in the wildlife trafficking activity.
Please ensure that every available resource is used to apprehend the suspect. If the evidence supports the allegations, pursue prosecution and the strongest appropriate penalties under Indonesia’s wildlife protection laws. These surviving eagles deserve justice, while the bird that died deserves more than becoming another casualty of the illegal wildlife trade.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Eko Prastyo
