T

he illegal trade of protected animals remains widespread, despite relevant institutions carrying out regular raids against such practice, an animal watchdog said.

A survey conducted by the Indonesian Pro Fauna and the World Animal Net (WAN), shows East Java has become the province with the highest rate of protected animal trading activities.

Indonesian Pro Fauna chairman Rosek Nursahid said on Saturday that based on the organization's survey, 70 bird markets in Java had traded protected animal species between May and July 2009.

He said the survey team found 183 animals from 25 species of protected animals sold at bird markets there.

The protected animals found in markets also include the coucang, the Javan langur, the Western tarsier, the black eagle and the rhinoceros hornbill.

The survey conducted at 70 bird markets in 58 cities and regencies across Java shows 14 bird markets sold capped lorry and cockatoo birds, 21 bird markets sold primates, 11 bird markets sold mammals and 13 bird markets sold raptors.

The team also found 11 markets selling protected singing birds, including the black-winged starling and the olived-backed sunbird.

East Java is noted for being one of the largest markets for protected animal trading. Meanwhile, the Depok bird market in Surakarta, Central Java, has become the largest market for the illegal trade of protected animals, followed by Ambarawa, also in Central Java.

The trading of protected animals in Surabaya, Semarang and Jakarta, said Rosek, was conducted under the radar, with sellers hiding protected animals at their houses.

The bird market in Semarang is best known for selling cockatoos, while the Pramuka bird market in Jakarta and Mantingan in Ngawi, East Java, are famous for selling primates. The bird market in Jatinegara, Jakarta, is well-known for its raptors.

The price of protected animals varies according to the animal's age, its protection status, its availability and the buyer's location.

The Tarsius primate, for example, costs Rp 500,000 (US$50), and a cockatoo between Rp 750,000 and Rp 1,000,000.

Tri Prayudhi, a campaign officer for Pro Fauna, said the illegal trade had not been reined in because of poor law enforcement.

Based on regulation No.5/1990 on the conservation of natural resources and its ecosystem, protected animal traders could be jailed for five years and fined up Rp 100,000,000.

Tri said Indonesia was famous for its rich fauna, such as its 515 species of mammals and 600 species of reptiles.