14 DAY TRIAL // Authorities in the town of Takengon in Indonesia's Aceh Province have recently sentenced two soldiers to spending two and three months, respectively, behind bars. What's more, the men have been ordered to pay fines of $454 (€336).
Information shared with the public says that they were taken in police custody following a three-month investigation, and that they were both found guilty of crimes against wildlife.
More precisely, it looks like these men were the proud owners of two stuffed Sumatran tigers and a stuffed sun bear. The individuals are said to have hunted the animals themselves, and later turned their bodies into trophies.
Sumatran tigers are currently listed as a critically endangered species, and conservationists estimate that just 400 such felines are left in the wild.
The Wildlife Conservation Society was quick to congratulate the police officers who put these men behind bars, and stressed that these arrests proved that Indonesia was committed to safeguarding local biodiversity.
“While the sentences may seem relatively small, they clearly send a message that Indonesia is getting increasingly serious about prosecuting about wildlife crime,” said Joe Walston, WCS Executive Director of Asia Programs.
Furthermore, “We commend Indonesia’s military police for protecting the nation’s natural heritage.”