Smoking pipes carved from elephant ivory, multi-coloured cockatoos, and an Australian frilled lizard: these are just some examples of wildlife and their products offered for sale online, illegally, in Indonesia. They were among 996 adverts, posted by 421 social media accounts, logged in a survey conducted by Indonesia’s environment ministry and NGO the Wildlife Conservation Society between April 2021 and March 2022.

Parrots were the most frequently listed live animal, with 20 different species documented in the survey, while elephant ivory was the most recorded body part, representing 56% of all adverts logged.

“There is an indication of an increase [in online wildlife trafficking] during Covid-19,” Krismanko Padang, one of the survey authors, tells China Dialogue.

In January 2023, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry stated in a press release that in 2022 it had found 638 social media accounts selling protected wild animals. A total of 1,163 protected animals were being offered for sale on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, as well as major e-commerce sites such as Tokopedia and Kaskus, the ministry stated.

Padang says that platforms generally respond to reports of illegal wildlife trade online by immediately taking down the offending account.

“But this is not effective because if one account is closed down, they can just set up another 10 new accounts,” notes Dwi Adhiasto, an independent consultant and expert in wildlife trafficking based in Bogor, West Java. Instead, he says, stricter punishment that is written into the law is necessary to tackle online wildlife trafficking.

Revising Indonesia’s Wildlife Law

Indonesia’s House of Representatives is currently discussing a revision of the Law on Conservation of Living Natural Resources and their Ecosystems. This law, which came into force in 1990, prohibits trade in protected wildlife, and is still the legal basis for indicting wildlife traffickers, including those operating online.

Between 2007 and 2008, the then-Forestry Department (now known as the Ministry of Environment and Forestry) initiated a public consultation on updating the 1990 law. The conversation was only resumed in 2016.

In 2017, the lawmakers in the House of Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat, or DPR) released a bill on amendments to the law for discussion with the government. It aims to strengthen law enforcement, improve management and funding for conservation, and acknowledge Indigenous peoples.

Based on a draft wording of the law obtained by China Dialogue in April, some of the changes lawmakers proposed include:

• Sanctions for businesses and corporations operating within important ecosystems outside conservation areas
• Expanding the range of evidence admissible in court to include electronic information, electronic documents, and maps
• Additional fines to support ecosystem recovery, replanting, and preservation
• Increasing minimum jail terms and fines for wildlife trade-related offences
• Including a definition of ‘Indigenous peoples’ and acknowledging their participation in protecting their customary lands

In 2018, the government decided to stop progress of the bill, saying a revision was not necessary and the existing law was still relevant.

However, lawmakers decided to continue the discussion, approving it as a ‘DPR initiative bill’ in 2022. Debate is now happening under Commission IV of the DPR, which oversees issues relating to the environment and forestry, fisheries, peatlands, mangroves and agriculture. At the time of publication, discussions between lawmakers and related stakeholders, including civil society groups and the environment ministry, are ongoing.

Daniel Johan, a member of Commission IV from the National Awakening Party, says it is important to revise the law because of the severe threat that illegal wildlife trade and poaching pose to biodiversity and ecosystems. “Hopefully it [a revised law] can target the main actors, not only the low-level trader actors in the field,” Johan says.

Conservation groups call for stricter punishment
Under the current law, those convicted of illegal wildlife trade in Indonesia face a maximum punishment of five years’ imprisonment and a fine of 100 million rupiah (US$6,426). Several conservation groups China Dialogue interviewed argue that this is not strict enough.

“We can understand that [the law] was made in 1990 and, probably at that time, that amount of money was a lot,” says Adrianus Eryan, a researcher at the NGO Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL). “But it is not relevant in current years, considering inflation, demand, and the value of these animals, which could be worth a lot more than that.” Eryan adds that, in practice, the maximum sentence is usually around two years rather than five.

“ICEL has been encouraging since 2005… a revision [of the law] and pushing not just criminal fines, but to look at the whole policy,” he says. “It would be worthwhile if perpetrators did not just serve time, but also paid for the recovery [veterinary treatment or rehabilitation] of these animals. The current law does not talk about recovery, and it is not cheap to feed the animals, care for their medicines, and deal with the release.”

If the bill is passed, the revised law would impose a minimum sentence of two to five years’ imprisonment, and a fine of between 600 million rupiah ($40,189) and 2 billion rupiah ($134,013), for cases involving the illegal trade of protected wild animals.

Article 21 of the 1990 law prohibits the capture, injury, killing, possession, transport and trade of any live protected animal, and the possession, transport or trade of any dead protected animal.

Krismanko Padang suggests that Article 21 should be amended to refer to online trading specifically. “I think it will be good to include the word ‘online’ in the revision. For instance, to say: ‘It is forbidden to trade protected animals through online media’.”

Padang explains that under the current law, authorities must expend significant effort to track down the seller in person and prove they are in possession of the illegal item. A revised law could allow electronic transactions to be used as evidence, he says. “If we can just provide electronic proof as evidence and [that] there’s money paid for this transaction, compared to bringing the actual animals, it would make our jobs easier,” Padang says. “Once they post [on social media] and we can ensure that these animals exist, we can enforce the law.”

Adhiasto points out that the current requirement to have the actual animal as evidence is restricting authorities’ ability to apply the law to people higher up in the trade network. “The officials will try to meet [sellers] in person and bring the animals to the transaction. You can do this for the sellers, but not really with the actual organiser, financial backers, or even those managing the network,” he explains.

“We want to bring a deterrent effect to these perpetrators, because [at present] we find that one [perpetrator] can do the same crime at least three times. It means that there’s no deterrent effect,” Padang says, adding that a minimum sentence should be added to a revised version of the law. He also notes that punishment for online trading should be heavier, because such practice holds the potential for illegal cross-border trade that’s accessible anywhere – not just in Indonesia.

Eryan says that the conservation bill must be passed urgently to be able to effectively tackle online wildlife trading. “In terms of law enforcement, this [current] law is really weak. We cannot achieve anything if the foundation is not better.

“If they’re serious, a month is enough [to get the bill passed] because all the answers are there,” he says. “This has been going on for 33 years; there is plenty of research going around. This is just about political will.”

This article was originally published on China Dialogue under the Creative Commons BY NC ND licence.

Jakarta (Greeners) – Throughout 2020, the global community has witnessed how the Covid-19 pandemic has been limiting humans’ social life. State authorities, health experts have come up with rules and adjustments to guide citizens’ safety during the pandemic. It is not only humans who experience changes during an epidemic. Animal conservation practitioners have also witnessed changes due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Field Assistant III Centre for Orang Utan Protection (COP), Ramadhani, shares stories about the process of preserving orangutans in Berau, East Kalimantan (Kaltim). The man who prefers to be called Dhani, explains that since the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus, the East Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) had stopped all types of visiting activities. It includes the orangutan rehabilitation center.

“The rehabilitation center has three work locations: the rehabilitation center, the pre-release island, and the release location. At the end of March 28, the location is vacated. We withdrew all animals and employees,” said Dhani in the 2020 Greeners’ webinar Hari Cinta Puspa dan Satwa: The Challenge of Fauna Conservation in the Pandemic Era, Thursday (12/11/2020).

Facing Pandemic, COP Designs SOP for Orangutan Conservation

Further, Dhani explains that after the withdrawal, orangutan rehabilitation activities were minimal. COP also arranged the workers’ holiday schedule not to have much physical contact with the outside community. His party does not want to take risks, given the relatively high spread of Covid-19 cases in Berau. Further, studies on the impact of the Covid-19 virus on primates have not been carried out, so COP must be extra careful. They are worried that the Covid-19 virus will be bad for orangutans, considering that their DNA from humans is only 3% different.

After almost five months of inactivity, his office has developed a health protocol for orangutan preservation in the form of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). The SOP, Dhani continues, was a form against the never-ending Covid-19 pandemic. On the other hand, the orangutans have been spending five months entirely in the cage.

“In August, we dared to make our SOP. We thought that Covid-19 must be ‘fought.’ Usually, after work, employees can take a break, now they must quickly clean up. It includes doing rehabilitation activities,” he explains.

WCS: Declining Demand, Shark Landings Decrease

Another view of animal conservation during the Covid-19 pandemic emerged from the water sector. On the same occasion, Marine Policy Coordinator, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Ita Sualia, says that for shark and stingray conservation activities, there was a positive impact from the Covid-19 pandemic. Sharks and rays, she continues, are the top predators in the sea, so it is vital to maintain the ecosystem’s balance. However, the two species’ exploitation activity is also high, both from within the country and abroad.

With the Covid-19 pandemic, marine activities such as shipping, transportation, and tourism have been closed. Threats to sharks and rays such as fishing, overfishing, etc., have also decreased. The price for both of them has also reduced given the lack of demand.

“In the Lampulo Aceh area, Tanjung Luar, if we look at the number of sharks that have been landed, it is very significantly lower. It is because the market demand and shipments were stagnating. This is a positive thing from the reduction in fishing effort pressure,” says Sualia.

Baca juga: Government Ignores Komodo Researchers on Rinca Island Project

Animal Conservation Activists Suspect Increased in Animal Poaching during Covid-19 Pandemic

Both Dhani and Sualia argue that most local communities turn to make animal hunting their livelihood during the pandemic. Not only as a hobby, but some parties hunt to sell their catch, given that the Covid-19 plague also resulted in many employees being laid off (PHK).

“Several companies that have laid off their employees have also triggered an increase in hunting. Confusion of the village people led them by entering the forest and hunting for animals,” says Dhani.

Echoing Dhani, Sualia assesses that the sluggish tourism sector has made coastal communities turn to fishers. On the other hand, Covid-19 pandemic also limited the conservationist process of monitoring trade and arrests. Sualia concludes that specific individuals can take advantage of the situation.

“We cannot do the monitoring and verification of catches in the field. It is only through cellphones. The opportunity for entrepreneurs or individuals to replace identified products is very high. Apart from that, for marine patrols, the budget has been diverted to prioritize Covid-19,” she says.

Talking about poaching and illegal animal trade, the Executive Coordinator of the Asian Waterbird Census Indonesia from Wetlands International Indonesia, Ragil Satriyo Gumilang, argues that law enforcers’ ability to prevent illegal hunting activities is minimal. For that, he invites the participation of the general public to help through complaint information.

Gumilang also urges the law enforcement agencies related to illegal hunting to improve their handling system. For example, to block access to information on poaching or illicit trade. Gumilang says that reports from the public have to go through a lot of bureaucracy before there is any action.

“If (reporting handling) is systemized, it’s good. No need for a long and bureaucratic process,” Gumilang concludes.

Reporter: Muhammad Ma’rup

Editor: Ixora Devi

Jakarta (Greeners) – Sepanjang 2020, masyarakat global telah menyaksikan bagaimana pandemi Covid-19 membatasi kehidupan sosial manusia. Penguasa negara, pakar kesehatan, menelurkan aturan dan penyesuaian untuk menjadi panduan keselamatan warga selama pandemi. Bukan hanya manusia yang mengalami perubahan di masa pandemi. Praktisi pelestarian satwa di darat, udara, dan laut pun menyaksikan adanya perubahan, serta menerapkan penyesuaian, karena dampak pandemi Covid-19.

Field Assistant III Centre for Orang Utan Protection (COP), Ramadhani, membagi cerita tentag proses pelestarian orang utan di Berau, Kalimantan Timur (Kaltim). Pria yang karib disapa Dhani ini menjelaskan sejak merebaknya virus Covid-19, Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam (BKSDA) Kaltim menghentikan segala jenis aktivitas kunjungan. Termasuk di dalamnya untuk pusat rehabilitasi orang utan.

“Di pusat rehab punya tiga lokasi kerja, yaitu pusat rehab, lokasi kedua adalah pulau pra rilis, dan lokasi pelepasan. Di akhir bulan tanggal 28 Maret lokasi dikosongkan. Hewan dan karyawan ditarik,” ujar Dhani dalam webinar Hari Cinta Puspa dan Satwa 2020 Greeners, bertema Tantangan Pelestarian Fauna di Era Pandemi, Kamis (12/11/2020).

Hadapi Pandemi, COP Rancang SOP Pelestarian Orang Utan

Dhani menjelaskan pasca penarikan itu, minim sekali aktivitas rehabilitasi orang utan. Bahkan, jadwal libur para pekerja juga COP atur agar tidak banyak kontak fisik dengan masyarakat luar. Pihaknya tidak mau mengambil risiko, mengingat penyebaran kasus Covid-19 di Berau relatif tinggi. Sampai saat ini, studi mengenai dampak virus Covid-19 terhadap primata belum tergalakkan, sehingga COP harus ekstra hati-hati. Mereka khawatir virus Covid-19 akan berdampak buruk bagi orang utan mengingat DNA-nya dengan manusia hanya berbeda 3%.

Setelah hampir lima bulan tanpa kegiatan, pihaknya menyusun protokol kesehatan untuk pelestarian orang utan dalam bentuk Standar Operasional Prosedur (SOP). SOP, lanjut Dhani, merupakan bentuk penyesuaian terhadap pandemi Covid-19 yang tak kunjung berakhir. Di sisi lain, waktu orang utan sendiri selama lima bulan itu benar-benar habis di kandang.

“Agustus memberanikan membuat SOP sendiri. Covid harus  ‘dilawan’. Biasanya setelah bekerja karyawan bisa istirahat, sekarang dipastikan harus cepat membersihkan diri. Termasuk ketika akan melakukan aktivitas rehabilitasi,” jelasnya.

WCS: Permintaan Sepi, Pandemi Sebabkan Pendaratan Hiu Menurun

Pandangan lain mengenai satwa di masa pandemi muncul dari sektor perairan. Pada kesempatan yang sama, Marine Policy Coordinator, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Ita Sualia, menyampaikan untuk kegiatan konservasi ikan hiu dan ikan pari ada dampak positif dari pandemi Covid-19. Hiu dan pari, lanjut dia, sebagai pemangsa teratas di laut sehingga penting untuk menjaga keseimbangan ekosistem. Namun, aktivitas eksploitasi terhadap dua spesies tersebut juga terbilang tinggi baik dari dalam negeri maupun luar negeri.

Dengan adanya pandemi Covid-19, aktivitas laut seperti shiping, transportasi, dan wisata tutup. Ancaman untuk hiu dan pari seperti penangkapan, over fishing, dan lain sebagainya juga menurun. Bahkan harga untuk keduanya juga menurun mengingat minimnya permintaan.

“Di kawasan Lampulo Aceh, Tanjung Luar, kalau kita lihat memang jumlah hiu yang didaratkan sangat signifikan. Ketika Covid-19, tangkapan sudah mulai menurun sebab permintaan pasar dan pengiriman tersendat. Ini hal positif dari penurunan tekanan upaya penangkapan,” hemat Ita.

Baca juga: Tim Operasi Gabungan Aceh Sita Potongan Tubuh Satwa Liar Senilai Rp 6,3 Miliar

Dampak Pandemi: Aktivis Menduga Perburuan Satwa Meningkat

Baik Dhani maupun Ita memantau aktivis masyarakat yang pekerjaannya menghadapi dampak pandemi, beralih menjadikan perburuan satwa sebagai matapencarian. Tidak hanya sebagai hobi, ada juga pihak-pihak yang berburu untuk menjual tangkapannya. Mengingat pandemi Covid-19 juga berbuntut pada banyaknya pegawai terkena Pemutusan Hubungan Kerja (PHK).

“Beberapa perusahaan yang mem-PHK karyawannya juga memicu peningkatan perburuan. Kegabutan orang di kampung dan pelajar yang diliburkan, mereka melampiaskannya dengan masuk hutan dan berburu satwa,” hemat Dhani.

Menggema Dhani, Ita menilai lesunya sektor pariwisata membuat masyarakat pesisir beralih menjadi nelayan. Di sisi lain, proses pengawasan perdagangan dan penangkapan juga terbatas selama pandemi Covid-19. Sehingga oknum tertentu bisa memanfaatkan situasi tersebut. Ita melanjutkan, selama pandemi tantangannya yang dia hadapi yakni montoring perdagangan.

“Monitoring, verifikasi tangkapan tidak bisa di lapangan, Jadi hanya lewat handphone saja. Peluang pengusaha atau oknum untuk mengganti jadi produk yang diidentifikasi sangat tinggi. Selain itu, patroli laut, anggarannya dialihkan untuk prioritas Covid-19,” katanya.

Masih dalam konteks perburuan dan perdagangan ilegal satwa, Koordinator Pelaksana Asian Waterbird Census Indonesia dari Wetlands International Indonesia, Ragil Satriyo Gumilang, menilai kemampuan penegak hukum dalam mencegah aktivitas perburuan liar sangat terbatas. Untuk itu dia mengajak partisipasi masyarakat umum untuk membantu melalui informasi pengaduan.

Ragil juga menuntut pihak penegak hukum terkait perburuan liar harus meningkatkan sistem penangannya. Sebagai contoh, untuk menutup akses informasi perburuan atau perdagangan liar. Ragil mereken selama ini laporan dari masyarakat harus melewati banyak birokrasi sebelum ada penindakan.

“Kalau (penanganan pelaporan) sudah tersistem, enak. Tidak perlu proses panjang dan birokratif,” pungkasnya.

Penulis: Muhammad Ma’rup

Editor: Ixora Devi

Jakarta (Greeners) – Kementerian Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan mengimbau masyarakat untuk tidak memelihara, memburu, mengonsumsi, dan memperdagangkan satwa liar tanpa izin. Pemeliharaan satwa liar juga berpotensi meningkatkan persebaran penyakit zoonosis ke masyarakat.

Direktur Konservasi Keanekaragaman Hayati KLHK, Indra Exsploitasia menuturkan, satwa liar semestinya dibiarkan hidup di habitatnya dan menjalankan fungsinya sebagai bagian dari keseimbangan ekosistem. “Memelihara satwa liar harus mengantongi izin,” tulis Indra dalam keterangan resmi KLHK, Selasa, (22/04/2020).

Selain melanggar hukum, Indra mengatakan memelihara satwa liar yang dilindungi tanpa izin dapat membahayakan keselamatan dan kesehatan pemiliknya. Meski sudah dirawat sejak lama, satwa tersebut masih memiliki sifat liar dan buas terhadap manusia dalam situasi tertentu. Satwa juga berpotensi menjadi media penyebar penyakit.

Baca juga: Sampah Medis Meningkat Selama Wabah Korona

“Meski lebih besar potensi satwa menularkan kepada manusia, ada kemungkinan manusia juga dapat menularkan penyakit ke satwa,” ucapnya.

Indra menilai kepemilikan satwa liar yang dilindungi oleh figur publik dan dijadikan bahan konten media sosial bisa menjadi pemicu bagi masyarakat untuk memelihara satwa liar dilindungi. “Banyak pihak yang mengkhawatirkan terjadinya perburuan liar untuk mendapatkan satwa liar dilindungi dan potensi penyebaran penyakit Covid-19 dari manusia ke satwa liar yang dipelihara oleh selebritas,” ujar Indra.

Induk monyet rhesus dan anaknya. Foto: shutterstock.com

Pemerintah kemudian mengajak semua lapisan masyarakat terutama para figur publik agar mematuhi ketentuan peraturan perundang-undangan yang berlaku, khususnya mengenai pemeliharaan satwa liar.

Ketentuan pemeliharaan satwa liar mengacu kepada Surat Edaran Direktur Jenderal KSDAE Nomor: SE.4/KSDAE/KKH/KSA/4/2020 tanggal 9 April 2020. Di dalamnya memuat agar manusia yang berhubungan secara langsung maupun tidak langsung dengan satwa, perlu memerhatikan protokol kesehatan sesuai standar Kementerian Kesehatan. Pemeliharaan satwa juga diminta agar mengikuti aturan kesehatan sesuai standar World Animal Health Organization (WAHO/OIE).

“Ini untuk mengantisipasi agar tidak terjadi penularan Covid-19 dari manusia ke hewan. Contoh sudah ditemukan kasus di Bronx Zoo New York, seekor Harimau Benggala telah dinyatakan positif Covid-19 yang ditularkan oleh petugas kebun binatang tersebut,” kata Indra.

Baca juga: 50 Tahun Hari Bumi: Krisis Iklim Ancam Masa Depan Bumi

Sementara itu, Wildlife Trafficking Specialist dari Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Dwi Adhiasto, mengatakan terdapat dua aspek yang berkaitan dengan pemeliharaan satwa liar. Dari sisi aturan, kata Dwi, memelihara satwa liar memang diperbolehkan.

Legitimasi tersebut diatur dalam Pasal 37 Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 8 Tahun 1999 tentang Pemanfaatan Tumbuhan dan Satwa Liar (TSL). Sedangkan dari potensi penularan penyakit zoonosis yang berasal dari hewan, menurutnya satwa liar banyak yang memiliki zoonosis.

“Jadi berbicara aturan dan ancaman zoonosis dari satwa liar tidak akan pernah nyambung. Satwa liar harus hidup di alam, (saat) berinteraksi dengan manusia tidak cocok dari sisi perilaku satwa dan ancaman zoonosis. Selain itu juga berpengaruh kepada eksploitasi satwa dan ekosistem,” ujar Dwi.

Ia mengatakan, di alam, satwa liar mengembangkan bentuk-bentuk imunitas yang diperlukan untuk bertahan. Ketika hewan tersebut dipelihara dan dirawat oleh manusia, secara alamiah mereka akan kehilangan fungsi-fungsi liarnya.

Penulis: Dewi Purningsih

Editor: Devi Anggar Oktaviani

Depok (Greeners) – Wildlife Conservation Society Indonesia, University of Indonesia and UK Embassy, to enhance research on wildlife genetics to support the law enforcement in tackling illegal wildlife crime.

DNA analysis can provide accurate data on quota settings of wildlife in Indonesia under the 1999 Government Regulation on Plants and Wildlife Use.

Noviar Andayani, country director of WCS Indonesia, said that the mission is to support Indonesian government to save wildlife, on lands and on waters.

One of the technologies recommended by WCS is through DNA analysis allowing the tracking of wildlife trade provide more evidence for illegal traders, especially beyond national borders.

“This DNA genetics analysis is not something new and we are not applying new [method]. The new thing is the orientation of DNA genetics not to be used for management and law enforcement but to protect critical endangered wildlife in its habitat and protect the habitat. That is the biggest task,” said Andayani in Depok on Wednesday (19/12/2018).

READ ALSO: Antigraft Commission: Gratification of Protected Animals Still Rampant in Indonesia 

Furthermore, she said that the priorities for this DNA genetics analysis are Sumatran elephant, Sumatran tiger and Sumatran rhinoceros as the three animals are critically endangered due to hunting and conflict with humans.

“To develop this research, we were supported by Faculty of Mathematics and Science of University of Indonesia, which is known for its biodiversity researches,” she said.

Abdul Haris, dean of the faculty, said that tackling illegal wildlife trade in the country requires new approaches, including technology, for example DNA based wildlife forensics.

“We have sufficient research tools for this DNA genetics analysis. To identify or do DNA analysis can also be done by collecting samples of feces, blood, hair, dirt, urine, bone, feather, and saliva, along with other samples collected from confiscated items or from its habitat in the nature,” said Haris.

READ ALSO: Activist Urges Illegal Wildlife Trading to be Included in the Penal Code Draft 

Muhammad Haryono, head of genetic resources at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, said that government’s policy on genetic resources is being discussed through the revision of the 1992 Law on Animals, Fishes and Plants Quarantine.

“Current quarantine law has yet to cover wild plants and wildlife, let along genetics. In the revision, it will include on plants, wildlife and genetics, so the monitoring in the entrance or exit such as in the airports on illegal wildlife and genetic can be heightened,” said Haryono.

Furthermore, he said that DNA genetic analysis will help the government to conserve wildlife and law enforcement against illegal wildlife. In conclusion, the efforts for strong collaboration need to be developed to protect Indonesia’s biodiversity.

Reports by Dewi Purningsih

Depok (Greeners) – Wildlife Conservation Society Indonesia dan Universitas Indonesia bekerjasama dengan Kedutaan Inggris memperkuat riset terkait genetika satwa liar untuk mendukung aparat penegak hukum dalam menangani kasus-kasus kejahatan terhadap satwa liar. Analisis asam deoksiribonukleat (deoxyribonucleic acid/DNA) ini dapat menyediakan data akurat terhadap pengaturan kuota untuk pemanfaatan satwa liar yang berkelanjutan di Indonesia di bawah PP Nomor 8 Tahun 1999 tentang Pemanfaatan Jenis Tumbuhan dan Satwa Liar.

Noviar Andayani selaku Country Director WCS Indonesia mengatakan misi WCS adalah membantu pemerintah untuk menyelamatkan kehidupan satwa liar di darat maupun di perairan. Salah satu teknologi yang direkomendasikan WCS untuk pemerintah adalah analisis DNA genetika yang memungkinkan untuk melacak jalur perdagangan satwa liar dengan memberi bukti tambahan yang dapat memperberat tuntutan terhadap pelaku kejahatan, terutama pada kasus-kasus perdagangan satwa liar ilegal trans-nasional.

“Analisis genetik DNA ini bukan hal yang baru dan kami tidak melakukan hal yang baru. Yang baru adalah orientasi genentik DNA ini tidak hanya digunakan untuk pemanfaatan dan penegakan hukum tapi juga lebih ke perlindungan satwa liar yang benar-benar kritis di habitatnya, dan melakukan perlindungan habitat itu merupakan pekerjaan besar,” ujar Andayani saat ditemui dalam Seminar Teknologi Genomik dan Forensik Molekular Satwa Liar di Margo Hotel, Depok, Rabu (19/12/2018).

BACA JUGA: Aparat Penegak Hukum Kompak Perangi Perdagangan Satwa Liar Dilindungi 

Andayani mengatakan prioritas WCS untuk analisis genetik DNA satwa liar adalah gajah sumatera, harimau sumatera dan badak sumatera karena ketiga satwa tersebut sudah terancam kritis (critical in danger). Untuk harimau dan gajah kedua spesies tersebut di bawah tekanan yang besar dari perburuan dan konflik manusia.

“Untuk mengembangkan riset ini kami dibantu oleh Fakultas Matematika dan Ilmu Pengetahuan Alam (MIPA) UI yang memang memiliki kapasitas yang baik di bidang penelitian keanekaragaman hayati,” ujar Andayani.

Dekan Fakultas MIPA UI, Abdul Haris mengatakan penanggulangan perdagangan satwa liar ilegal di Indonesia memerlukan berbagai pendekatan baru, misalnya penggunaan teknologi terkini yakni forensik satwa liar berbasis DNA.

“Kami memiliki alat penelitian yang cukup memadai untuk melakukan analisis DNA Genetik ini. Untuk mengidentifikasi atau melakukan analisis DNA ini bisa dilakukan dengan cara mengambil sampel seperti feses, darah, rambut, kotoran, urin, tulang, bulu, dan juga liur serta sampel-sampel yang dikumpulkan dari barang-barang sitaan maupun populasi satwa liar di alam,” ujar Abdul.

BACA JUGA: Kejahatan Satwa Liar dan Tanggungjawab Korporasi dalam RKUHP 

Di samping itu, dari sisi pemerintah dalam hal ini Kementerian Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan (KLHK) yang diwakili oleh Kepala Sub Bidang Sumber Daya Genetik Direktorat Konservasi Keanekaragaman Hayati Muhammad Haryono mengatakan kebijakan pemerintah dalam pengelolaan sumber daya genetik Indonesia saat ini sedang diupayakan melalui Revisi UU Nomor 16 Tahun 1992 tentang Karantina Hewan, Ikan, dan Tumbuhan.

“UU Karantina yang ada sekarang belum mengkaver tumbuhan, satwa liar apalagi genetik. Pada revisi ini akan dimasukan (tentang tumbuhan, satwa liar dan genetik) sehingga pengawasan di pintu masuk atau keluar seperti di bandara terhadap perdagangan satwa liar dan genetik bisa diperketat,” ujar Haryono.

Ia juga mengatakan bahwa dengan adanya analisis genetik DNA ini akan sangat membantu pemerintah dalam mengkonservasi satwa liar maupun penegakan hukum terhadap perdagangan satwa liar. Intinya hal-hal seperti ini harus terus dikembangkan karena menyelamatkan keanekaragaman hayati di Indonesia diperlukan kerjasama yang kuat.

Penulis: Dewi Purningsih