We should all be concerned about the ongoing issue of illegal wildlife trade in Indonesia. Throughout July 2024, we have recorded approximately 29 cases of illegal wildlife trade throughout Indonesia. of the 29 cases were successfully seized and secured as much as more than 7,800 live individual animals, of which 95.21% were birds, namely 7,489 birds.

Most of the birds seized were songbirds., which amounted to 7,429 (99.20%) and also parrots as many as 44 individual (0.59%). The number of birds seized this month clearly increased compared to the previous month. Almost all of these confiscated songbirds have been released into the wild after being confirmed as healthy.

On July 20, 2024, also 377 other wildlife were rescued from illegal wildlife trade, such as reptiles and mammals, and more than 66 kg of pangolin scales were confiscated. Other wildlife rescued included 194 reptiles, whose majority came from eastern Indonesia, 27 mammals such as orangutans and langurs, and more than 150 Belangkas, which are protected arthropod species in Indonesia.

The amount of wildlife that is saved from illegal wildlife trade indicates that there is still a great deal of demand in wild animals, particularly songbirds. These songbirds will be kept as pets. They will be kept in small cages for the rest of their lives for their songs.

In order for future generations to appreciate the beauty and exquisite sounds of these magnificent creatures in the wild, songbird poaching and the illegal trade must be stopped.