JAKARTA, Indonesia: Indonesian authorities have arrested a 60-year-old man, identified only as “ZA,” for attempting to sell elephant tusks and the horns of critically endangered rhinos through social media.
The suspect was apprehended during a transaction in Palembang, South Sumatra, after police discovered wildlife parts for sale on Facebook.
At the time of arrest, the man was found with a rhino horn and a pipe made from an elephant tusk. Further investigation led to the discovery of seven more rhino horns and at least four elephant tusks at his home.
The illegal wildlife trade is widespread in Indonesia, but offenders face severe penalties, including up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
This arrest follows the June capture of a poaching gang responsible for killing 26 critically endangered Javan rhinos since 2018 in Ujung Kulon National Park. The Javan rhino population has dwindled to about 80, while the Sumatran rhino is critically endangered, with fewer than 50 remaining in the wild.
