The Indonesian government has promised to crack down on wildlife crime, according to a report on Mongabay.com
The government made the announcement in response to the growing number of people showing off dead or abused endangered animals on social media.
Several disturbing cases received national attention, including images of dead, critically endangered animals such as Sumatran tigers and orangutans.
As social media has made the issue more visible – the Environment and Forestry Ministry says it intends to strengthen the 1990 Conservation Law to ensure adequate punishments are given to offenders.
However, the Minister of Justice and Human Rights of Indonesia needs to take measures to ensure that time served or fines match up with sentencing.
In one case, while the prosecutor requested a sentence of five years in prison and a Rp100 million ($7,508) fine, the offenders were only ordered to spend one year behind bars and pay Rp40 million.
The wildlife of Indonesia is in desperate need of protection – many species are now critically endangered. Will you join me in urging the government of Indonesia to ensure fines and prison time served for animal cruelty and abuse matches sentencing for crimes committed?
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