VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) has seized 300 kilograms of illegal deer meat packed in seven boxes in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) planned to be transported to the neighboring Bima District in West Nusa Tenggara.

"The 300 kg of meat were allegedly originated from the Komodo National Park," head of the ministry's Law Enforcement Agency for Java-Bali-Nusa Tenggara area M Nur said in a statement here on Sunday.

The authority has named a suspect, convicted with article 40 law no. 5/1990 on natural conservation with maximum five years of jail sentence and Rp100 million in fine.

In addition to the 300 kg of meat, the police has also secured a minivan and a celullar phone for further investigation of the case.

Nur said, the meat were allegedly hunt results from the Komodo National Park which has a large population of deer.

"We will investigate the case to find out the financier of the protected animal hunt," he added.

Nur noted that population of deer, buffalo and other animals in the conservation area should be maintained as important preys for the giant lizard to protect the ecosystem balance.

"Any disturbance to the Komodo habitat must be tackled firmly. Apart from that we also pay attention to the preservation of marine biota and habitat," he said. (antaranews)