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This “Asian Songbird Crisis” is prevalent in Indonesia, where the long-standing tradition of songbird keeping fuels the high demand for birds. Research has shown that many endemic Indonesian birds have been depleted from forests through decades of trapping in Sumatra and Java, including sought-after species like the Straw-headed Bulbul, White-rumped Shama and Greater Green Leafbird.
Mandai Nature supports FLIGHT’s efforts in tackling the trafficking of wildlife in Indonesia. This includes providing resources for operational support for law enforcement such as surveillance, investigations, and confiscations.
Since its establishment in 2018, FLIGHT has assisted authorities in rescuing more than 33,000 songbirds from illegal trade, as well as other animals including eagles, gibbons, crocodiles, slow lorises and langurs.
FLIGHT actively gathers information on activities of known wildlife traders, including intelligence on shipments of birds smuggled from Sumatra to Java. By providing insights to the authorities, it has resulted in more than 20,000 birds being seized from Bakauheni port in South Lampung between 2016 and 2019 – a location identified as a gateway for the illegal transport of wildlife, particularly birds.
From October 2019 to March 2020, more than 19,000 songbirds of various species were also confiscated across 17 rescue incidents. All surviving birds were released into the wild after a health check by veterinarians.
The increased action by authorities driven by FLIGHT’s involvement has led to higher numbers of bird confiscations as compared to previous years. FLIGHT continues to keep up efforts that result in successful interventions and prosecutions of smugglers that will break the chain of illegal trade.
FLIGHT was formed by Marison Guciano, Nabila Fatma, and Nazia Rahma in February 2018 with a vision to raise the awareness and protect the birds of Indonesia.
FLIGHT’s focus is on investigating and reporting poachers in the forests, documenting illegal birds and traders in markets, and assisting the Law Enforcement and police to stop smugglers and/or traders of Indonesian Birds.
