(ID) animal shelters near collapse

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Animal Shelters Near Collapse, Government Asked To Take Over

Source: The Jakarta Post - November 27, 2007

By Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Malang

 

A noted conservationist has urged the government to take over the

operation of seven Animal Rescue Centers (PPS) across the country,

saying they are on the brink of financial collapse.

 

" Most of these centers can't even generate enough money to feed the

animals. Some haven't been able to pay the salaries of their employees

for quite some time, " Rosek Nursahid said Sunday at PPS Petungsewu in

Malang, East Java. Rosek is the founder and chairman of ProFauna

International, which initiated the establishment of PPS in various

regions in the country. Currently, there are nine PPS in Indonesia,

seven of which -- those in Tegal Alur in Jakarta, Gadog in Bogor,

Cikananga in Sukabumi, Arjasari in Bandung, Yogyakarta, Toho in

Pontianak, and Tasikoki in North Minahasa.

 

Rosek said the two other centers, PPS Petungsewu and PPS Tabanan in

Bali, were still able to fund their operations. He said the financial

difficulties had worsened when the centers' main backer, the Gibbon

Foundation, had terminated its assistance. He added that the

government was obliged under the Convention on International Trade in

Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to set up centers

to house protected animals rescued from poachers, traders and

collectors. Indonesia ratified the document in 1978.

 

" Consequently, the funding for all PPS in Indonesia should be included

in the state budget, " he said.

 

Head of PPS Petungsewu, Iwan Kurniawan, said the government was caught

off guard when the Gibbon Foundation terminated the funding for the

centers.

 

" Actually, the government must be ready to shoulder the financial

burden of each and every PPS five years after their establishment, " he

said. " Compared to the funds needed for reforestation programs, the

money needed to sustain these centers is minuscule, " Rosek added.

 

Iwan said the operational cost of PPS Petungsewu, which houses 180

protected animals, is around Rp. 600 million per year.

 

" That means that to sustain the nine PPS the government only has to

allocate Rp. 5.4 billions per year, " Iwan said. Iwan said that the

government provided regular financial assistance to PPS Petungsewu but

it was far from sufficient.

 

" The government provides PPS Petungsewu Rp 20 millions per month.

After taxes, we only receive Rp 18 million. On the other hand, our

monthly operational cost is Rp 50 million, " he said. PPS Petungsewu

raises money on its own through the Petungsewu Wildlife Education

Center, which offers packages to Indonesian and foreign students.