Rare kangaroos released into New Guinea rainforest
mongabay.com
June 5, 2007
Indonesia released 17 endangered pygmy kangaroos to the rainforest of the Papua province of New Guinea. The marsupials has been confiscated from illegal traders and private collections.
The animals, known as dusky pademelons (Thylogale brunii), have been “reared to survive in their natural habitat,” reports the Associated Press. Still the kangaroos will face pressure from natural predators and illegal poachers in their tropical forest habitat.
The black market for endangered species thrives in Indonesia, says ProFauna Indonesia, a wildlife conservation society.
“Hundreds of thousands of wild animals are poached and traded each year for domestic and overseas ‘exotic pet’ markets,” said Diana Wright of ProFauna Indonesia. “Many animals are inhumanely exploited for bush meat and ‘medicine’. 95% of traded animals are caught in the wild, threatening biodiversity and threatening some species with extinction.”
While Indonesia has laws on the books to prohibit the illegal wildlife trade, rules are poorly enforced, says the group.