Sorong, Ekuatorial – West Papua Natural Resources Conservation Agency, or BKSDA, finally released confiscated Victoria crowned pigeons and yellow-crested cockatoos back to their wild habitat in North Salawati Nature Reserve of Raja Ampat, on Saturday (31/1).
This was BKSDA’s third release of wild animals confiscated from illegal trading in 2014. “We have released black-capped lory (Lorius lory), palm cockatoo, and yellow-crested cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea) to Sorong Nature Park and Waigeo Forest Conservation, in Raja Ampat, ” said Adrianus Mosa, unit head of SPORC {Quick Respond Forest Police Unit) of West Papua. The third, they were releasing 45 pigeons and 28 yellow-crested cockatoos confiscated in September 2014.
These birds underwent medical checkups and treatments as most of them were evacuated in critical conditions before they were let go to the wild. To reach the location, Mosa said that they traveled more than two hours to an empty island at the North Salawati Nature Reserve, by sea.
Sumadi Paryoto, Field Manager of Pertamina EP Asset 5 Field Papua, said that the company took part on the release program as its participation to protect biodiversity in Papua, especially in Sorong. Niken Proboretno