Rare Bird Smuggling Network Uncovered in West Sumatra

A joint team comprising the West Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) and the Agam Police have successfully thwarted an inter-provincial trade of rare birds, apprehending a suspect identified as KZ. The operation, conducted on Saturday, resulted in the seizure of 225 birds across various species. Ade Putra, the Head of the BKSDA Agam Resort in West Sumatra, disclosed that the birds were in the process of being transported via a four-wheeled vehicle from Pasaman Barat, with their ultimate destination being Lampung province. The birds identified by officials included Kapodang, Kutilang Emas, Kapas Tembak, Spectacled Bird (Pleci), Hummingbird, Large Leaf Bird (Cica Daun Besar), and Small Leaf Bird (Cica Daun Kecil). According to Ade, the suspect KZ had acquired these birds from a number of shops and from individual hunters in Pasaman Barat and Mandailing Natal Regency, North Sumatra. The valuation of the birds varied significantly, ranging from IDR 20,000 to millions of rupiah per individual, contingent upon the species. "The package of birds secured now is valued at tens of millions of rupiah," he stated. Ade Putra further suggested that KZ is likely not just a courier delivering for others but is an integral part of a network that has invested its own capital, although some funding may also originate from external parties. The BKSDA, in collaboration with the police, has already obtained preliminary information regarding other individuals within this network. During the examination, it was revealed that KZ had dispatched birds to other regions on multiple occasions, with two such instances occurring this year. For the BKSDA Agam Resort, this represents the first successful uncovering of an inter-provincial bird trade case in the past five years. In September 2025, the BKSDA had organized outreach programs, conducting socialization sessions for almost all bird traders in Agam Regency, Pasaman, Pasaman Barat, and Bukittinggi City concerning the regulations governing the utilization of wild fauna and identifying protected species. Source: Mongabay Indonesia