On February 3rd, FLIGHT (Yayasan Terbang Indonesia) celebrated its eighth anniversary. Reaching this milestone is more than just a celebration of our founding; it is a moment to reflect on the growing impact we have been able to create together. While our primary focus remains firmly on protecting wild songbird populations from the illegal wildlife trade, our monitoring efforts throughout 2025 went well beyond our core mission, leading to unexpected achievements that are reshaping wildlife conservation in Indonesia.

Our hard work last year centered heavily on intensive wildlife rescue operations. Working hand in hand with law enforcement, we helped facilitate the rescue of tens of thousands of wild birds, returning them safely to their natural habitats. For birds injured by poachers’ traps, FLIGHT’s rehabilitation facility provided the medical care they needed to heal and fly free once more.
Remarkably, the tight surveillance network we built ended up doing even more by becoming a lifeline for species outside our usual scope. Our presence on the ground helped save highly protected endemic mammals, including marbled cats, Sulawesi bear cuscuses, and siamangs. We even assisted authorities in dismantling a transcontinental smuggling ring from Africa, intercepting exotic species like pygmy goats, bushbabies, and meerkats before they could be trafficked into Indonesia through neighboring countries.

These achievements prove that FLIGHT now serves as a double shield for biodiversity. We are not just rescuing animals downstream; we are driving systemic change upstream. Our strategy to cut off supply chains at the level of major collectors is paying off beautifully. Several big players who once dominated the inter-island black market in Sumatra have been forced to shut down their operations entirely. This progress is backed by the unwavering commitment of the courts, which are consistently handing down maximum sentences to smugglers. This firm stance is finally shattering the sense of security among wildlife criminals.

We have matched this success in law enforcement by strengthening our social foundation at the grassroots level. In the buffer zone of the Wan Abdul Rachman Grand Forest Park, FLIGHT is working to create a sustainable protection ecosystem by empowering local communities. We support the “Nuwo Baca” literacy room to instill a love for the environment in children from an early age. We are also mentoring local groups through alternative economic programs, like bird-friendly coffee cultivation, driven by the belief that protecting nature must go hand in hand with improving the livelihoods of the people who live near the forest.

The past eight years have shown us that conservation takes dedication, collaboration, and the courage to go beyond routine operations. To look back at our protection efforts over the last year, we have put together a few snapshots from FLIGHT’s Instagram. A massive thank you to our community, conservation partners, and government authorities for your endless support. FLIGHT will keep standing on the front lines, ensuring every wild animal has the chance to live freely in its natural home.