Profauna Indonesia Supporting Appendix I For

Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo At CITES 2004 In Thailand

Around 166 state members of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) will meet in Bangkok on October 2-14 2004 to discuss about the international wild animals and plants commerce. This intends to make the trade will not jeopardize the natural world. The topic is Conference of Parties XIII (XII COP). Indonesia had joint with CITES since 1978.

The conference will decide the chance of about 50 proposal concerning wild animals and plants conservation and their sustainable use. One of them is Sulphur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea) of Indonesia.

Although Sulphur-crested cockatoo have been protected nationally by the law no 5 in 1990 and PP No 8 in 1999, but it is not totally safe from trapping and the trade. ProFauna Indonesia recorded at least 200-300 birds were commercialized in many bird markets in Java and Bali, also smuggled to Singapore through Batam during 2002-2003. In the world markets, the bird usually claimed as a captive breed, although it was possible wild caught. In 2004, ProFauna recorded tens of Sulphur-crested cockatoo caught from the wild were existed in Singapore bird market in Serangoon Ave area and Catucjak Market in Bangkok.

The international had already been trying to protect this bird by putting it in the list of Appendix II of CITES in 1981. It means this bird may be commercialized but with limited or certain quota. In December 14, 1989 the European Union stop the bird import for a while and written down on EC Reg.3626/82 and EC Reg.338/97. United States through US Wild Bird Conservation Act 1992 have also boycotted the entire wild animals trade listed on Appendix II of CITES, including this bird.

The plan to reestablish this species since 1997, which the objectives are decreasing the hunting, law enforcement and public awareness, seems never to be true. The situation force the Indonesian government to ask for help the international to protect this species by putting the bird in Appendix I of CITES.

It means that the all forms of commercial trade of Sulphur-crested cockatoo are prohibited, except for scientific research. It means Indonesia will get more help in protecting her wild animals.

ProFauna Indonesia and more than 70 international organization joined together in Species Survival Network (SSN) will make every effort so that the entire proposal would be agreed. ProFauna Indonesia attend the CITES as the Indonesian observer for the third time after COP XI in Kenya, COP XII in Santiago-Chile and COP XIII in Bangkok-Thailand.

For more detail informations about SSN and ProFauna position in CITES COP XIII could you see at SSN