Press Release

[Guest guest]

26 September 2006

Press Release

 

MINISTRY OF FORESTRY WITHDREW THE REGULATION TO HARVEST OF TURTLE EGGS IN RIAU

ARCHIPELAGO, SUMATRA

 

The Indonesian government has taken a positive step towards stopping the

harvesting of marine turtle eggs in the Tambelan district of Riau Archipelago,

Sumatra. Previously, a the Foretry and Agriculture sub-ministerial decree had

legalized the hunting of green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill turtles

(Eretmochelys imbricata), including the harvesting of their eggs, despite the

fact that all turtles are protected by the law.

 

The Indonesian state's legislation no. 5 of 1990 on Conservation of Natural

Resources and Eco system forbids the exploitation of sea turtles and their body

parts. Offenders will be jailed up to 5 years and fined Rupiah 100 Million

(US$11,000). In addition, according to the State's legislation no. 7 of 1999 on

the conservation of fauna and flora, all marine turtles are protected by law.

Indonesia has further signed the Indian Ocean - South East Asian Marine Turtle

(IOSEA) Memorandum of Understanding on 31 March 2005 in Bangkok, Thailand, to

protect sea turtles and their habitats.

 

 

 

The issuance of sub-ministerial decree no 750/kpts-II/1999 which declared that

the green and hawksbill turtles are animals for hunting, prompted The Animal

Advocacy NGO (LASA) to write and lobby the government urging the cancellation of

this decision which could harm the conservation of the turtles. On 17th July

2006, the Indonesian Minister of Forestry, M. S. Kabaan therefore cancelled the

above ministerial decision no 750/kpts-II/1999 and replaced it with his own

decree, no. SK.392/Menhut-II/2006.

 

" We hope the local authority of Riau archipelago would respect and conform with

the decree issued by the Minister of Forestry which forbids the harvesting of

turtle eggs in Tambelan district of Riau " stated the director of LASA, Irma

Hermawati S.H.

 

LASA, an animal advocacy institute and a member society of ProFauna Indonesia,

is an NGO which proactively conducts advocacy work to protect Indonesian

wildlife. LASA works closely with ProFauna Indonesia to protect marine turtle

from poaching and illegal trade.

 

" ProFauna welcomes the Minister of Forestry's new decree regarding the

protection of the sea turtle. This will increase our government credibility and

awareness of conservation of marine turtles " said ProFauna's Turtle Campaign

Coordinator, I Wayan Wiradnyana.

 

For further information please contact:

 

a.. Irma Hermawati, SH (Direktur LASA)

HP. 0812 8101907, Email: lasa

 

a.. I Wayan Wirdanyana (coordinator Kampanye Penyu ProFauna)

HP. 0816 4714188, Email: profaunabali

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lembaga Advokasi Satwa (LASA) / Animal Advocacy Institute

Komplek Deplu Fatmawati

Jl. Cenderawasih V/7 Gandaria Selatan

Jakarta Selatan 12420 Indonesia

Phone/Fax : +62 21 7501557

Mobile : +62 812 810 1907

Email : lasa

Website : www.lasa.or.id

[Guest guest]

*

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/prisoners-of-greed---puppy-mills-breed-misery

*

 

*SUB: A DEMONSTRATION BY ANIMAL BREEDERS AGAINST AN NGO THAT RAIDED EXOTIC

SPECIES AND DOGS IN A BREEDER'S SHOP*

http://beaware-ncr.blogspot.com/

 

*We, the undersigned NGOs, Friendicose-SECA, Wildlife SOS, Citizens for the

Welfare and Protection of Animals (regd.)* *and International Organization

for the Protection of Animals (OIPA) and PFA Haryana *strongly condemn the

commercial breeding of exotic and companion animals by private persons.

There is no kindness in trafficking in wildlife and continuously breeding

animals for the purpose of profit.

 

We are therefore surprised to know that some animal breeders and exotic

animal traders have chosen fool the public by grouping under the banner of

'Pet Lovers Association' and calling themselves 'animal lovers' whose

mission is to promote 'compassion towards animals' by breeding and selling

animals.

 

*TRADE IN EXOTIC SPECIES BY BREEDERS:*

 

Breeders are creating a consumer market for endangered species by selling

exotic species and this is against the spirit of international cooperation

endorsed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of

Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) of which India is a member country. CITES is an

international agreement between governments on trade in specimens of wild

animals and plants. To implement it requires coordination between countries.

India cannot demand cooperation from other countries to control trafficking

in rhino horns and ivory products if some persons irresponsibly create a

consumer market for the Brazilian macaw and North American snake varieties.

 

The situation is worsened by a complete absence of laws to protect and

monitor imported exotic wildlife species imported by breeders. If released

into local ecosystems by accident or design, such a biological invasion of

non-native species (by predation, competition and spread of disease) can

have a far reaching impact on agriculture, forestry, fisheries and

development.

 

But trafficking in rare and exotic wildlife is big business in India! And it

is being conducted in utter anarchy in a legal vacuum. Every year, hundreds

of animals enter the exotic pet trade but no governmental authority will own

the responsibility of tracking imported exotic animals and ascertaining

whether they have been released into the local habitat.

 

WE BELIEVE THAT :

 

- the only way to stop the proliferation of the exotic animal trade and

the suffering in it causes is to stop the breeding, bartering, trading, and

sale of exotic animals for personal profit and amusement, and to teach the

public that wild animals belong in the wild, not in our homes

 

 

 

*TRADE IN COMPANION ANIMALS BY BREEDERS:*

 

There has been a proliferation of 'backyard breeders' in the NCT of Delhi of

late. These persons do not care or know about genetics and bloodlines, do

not properly screen potential buyers, raise the animals in poor conditions

and practice irresponsible inbreeding as a result of which more and more

cases of dogs with hip dysplasia, epilepsy, respiratory ailments, kidney

failure, umbilical hernias, heart murmurs, eye defects, hemophilia,

problematic pregnancies, etc. are brought to veterinary clinics. These are a

direct consequence of breeding brother to sister or parent to child.

 

We are appalled by the lack of responsibility taken by government officials

in keeping a check on the inhumane conditions of commercial breeding kennels

in Delhi. Such establishments are a disgrace to our community. While there

are laws worldwide to check and control commercial breeding, there are no

laws in current usage to keep a check on whether adequate care is being

provided to animals bred for commerce by breeders and whether they are

living in substandard living conditions in effort to increase profit.

 

WE THEREFORE DEMAND :

 

1. That breeders provide (a) breeding charts, (b) documentary proof on

whether they have bred dogs that at least two years old, © proof whether a

resting period has been maintained for bitches between litters, (d) whether

they have been tested for any genetic health problems before the breeding,

and (e) information on what happens to animals when they cannot breed

anymore.

2. That checks be implemented by the Municipal Corporation of

Delhi/Animal Welfare Division (Ministry of Environment and Forests) to

ensure that breeders (a) compulsorily provide information on the health

testing of most of the immediate relatives of the animals bred, (b) offer a

guarantee against genetic health problems, © rationalize the prices of

dogs and (d) provide authentic papers with animals sold by them.

3. That the Animal Welfare Division and the Wildlife authorities (a) take

strict action against those breeders who import and breed exotic species of

monkeys like marmosets, snakes, tortoises and fishes as pets, (b)

immediately rectify the lacunae in the Wildlife Protection Act that allows

such wildlife species exemption from seizure, © track such animals

imported and provide proof to the public that such species have not been

dispersed into the environment by the breeders by accident or design thus

causing an unquantifiable disturbance to the ecology.

 

*WE, THE UNDERSIGNED NGOs:*

 

- oppose the mass breeding of animals for profit because of the

suffering, exploitation and trauma of the animals involved. It is foolish

that on the one hand the Municipal Corporation of Delhi sterilizes dogs and

on the other hand allows the unchecked breeding to carry on without

controls.

- believe that as a society we have domesticated the dog and the cat and

in doing so now have a responsibility to treat them as domestic animals and

not livestock.

- support the elimination of breeding establishments through enactment of

new legislation, and public education to eliminate the market for such

animals.

- oppose the deliberate capture and confinement, import and the breeding

of wild or exotic animals as pets.

 

 

 

WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE ADOPTION OF PETS FROM ANIMAL SHELTERS. COMPASSION

IS NOT A TRADE. DOMESTICATED ANIMALS ARE COMPANIONS NOT A COMMODITY TO BE

SOLD FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROFIT BY BREEDERS.

 

EXOTIC ANIMALS ARE BEST LEFT IN THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

COMMERCIAL BREEDERS AND TRAFFICKERS OF EXOTIC ANIMALS MUST BE URGENTLY

BROUGHT TO BOOK BY THE CONCERNED AUTHORITIES AND DRASTIC CHECKS AND CONTROLS

MUST BE PLACED ON THEM. BETTER STILL, SUCH FACILITIES SHOULD BE ELIMINATED

ALL TOGETHER.

 

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------

sonya ghosh <sonyaghosh

Sat, Aug 30, 2008 at 1:05 PM

press release

animal saviour <animalsaviour, rjainindia, Naresh

Kadyan <kadyan.ipfa, Sujata Nag <sujata.nag, Navtej

Johar <nsjohar, scatchat, Geeta Hotmail <

geetaseshamani, " kartick " <

kartick

 

 

 

 

 

--

Naresh Kadyan,

OIPA -http://www.oipa.org

Representative for INDIA,

-http://www.oipa.org/oipa/news/oipaindia.html

-http://www.oipa.org/oipaindia.html

-http://www.pfaharyana.in

-http://nareshkadyan.blogspot.com/

Mobile - +91-9813010595

- +91- 9313312099