On 2nd November 2015, Burung Indonesia team in collaboration with the Manupeu Tanadaru National Park (MTNP) managed to thwart an attempt to smuggle 985 Horsfield's Bushlarks (Mirafra javanica). This thwarting attempt was the third successful action taken by both teams since 2009. The birds were taken from East Sumba Regency and planned to be traded out of Sumba Island via Waikelo Harbor in Southwest Sumba Regency.
This arrest was initiated by a report from a resident of Kadumbul Village in East Sumba Regency, who informed a buyer from Bima (West Nusa Tenggara) would come and transport these wild Horsfield's Bushlarks using a black APV. Based on this information, the MTNP Forest Police contacted Burung Indonesia to participate in transportation route monitoring along the Trans-Sumba Road.
The monitoring was carried out since noon and finally paid off when the team saw a vehicle with similar characteristics reported by the villagers on 23.55 WITA. After a chase, an ambush was successfully conducted. The perpetrator was caught, promptly taken to the nearest police station, and checked. In total, there were 985 individuals of Horsfield's Bushlarks which were packed in 20 boxes.
According to the police, the driver was merely a courier who was supposed to deliver the boxes to a buyer who already waited at Waikelo Harbor. Unfortunately, the buyer had already got a notification SMS just a moment before the ambush, thus the investigation on him came to a dead end. The perpetrators were two young men from Bajawa district, each 19 years old (driver) and 16 years old (co-driver). They admitted that they had delivered birds to Waikelo Harbor three times for sale this year, two of which were successful. However, it is not known exactly where the birds will be sold.
According to the police, the driver was merely a courier who was supposed to deliver the boxes to a buyer who already waited at Waikelo Harbor. Unfortunately, the buyer had already got a notification SMS just a moment before the ambush, thus the investigation on him came to a dead end. The perpetrators were two young men from Bajawa district, each 19 years old (driver) and 16 years old (co-driver). They admitted that they had delivered birds to Waikelo Harbor three times for sale this year, two of which were successful. However, it is not known exactly where the birds will be sold.
To the perpetrators, Burung Indonesia conducted an awareness in particular about the importance of birds to the ecology of Sumba Island. After receiving training, they promised not to repeat the same action. Meanwhile, the confiscated birds were released back into the wild on 3rd November 2015. The release was carried out as soon as possible to avoid bird deaths. It was recorded that 18 confiscated Horsfield's Bushlarks suffocated on the way.
The Horsfield's Bushlark is currently not included in the CITES list or among Indonesia’s protected animals. Its natural habitat on Sumba Island is savannas and dry-harvested rice fields. The population is in abundance, especially in the East Sumba Regency. Despite not being included in the endangered list, its presence in the wild has important ecological functions, including as a natural pest control for various agricultural commodities.
That is why some Sumba people, who know the importance of this species in their livelihood, take the initiative to report similar cases. However, the tempting selling price has provoked others to over capturing the birds. Through searches in cyberspace, it is known that Horsfield's Bushlark are rampantly traded with a selling value of between Rp. 50,000 - Rp. 2 million per individual. If uncontrolled capturing continues throughout the year, the local extinction of this species can occur on Sumba Island.
Currently, Burung Indonesia and the National Park on Sumba Island continue to actively provide awareness about the importance of birds for the ecology and survival of all individuals in the world, including on Sumba Island. (Benny Aladdin Siregar)