Fires rage in Indonesia’s Tesso Nilo National Park.
Indonesia is a haven for dolphin abuse
The Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN) asked the government to shut down a dolphin traveling circus because they are abusing animals. JAAN said that when traveling from one city to another, the dolphins often only covered with Vaseline or a damp towel to keep their skin wet. JAAN is in the midst of a social media campaign to immediately close all dolphin circuses in Indonesia.
Hundreds of hotspots burning in Tesso Nilo National Park
Hotspots of fires have been detected in Riau’s Tesso Nilo National Park. According to data obtained from the WWF Riau Program, the number of hotspots reached its peak in the third week of June 2012. Tesso Nilo has been heavily affected by encroachment and logging.
Are there more Sumatran tigers than originally believed?
A new camera trap-based assessment suggests there could be more Sumatran tigers surviving on the island of Sumatra than originally believed. The research, conducted by Harimau Kita, says there could be 600 tigers in Sumatra, 100-200 more than an earlier estimate.
Another dead Sumatran elephant
Another Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) was found dead in the middle of an oil palm plantation in Kampar regency, Riau on Friday, July 20. The male elephant’s tusks had been removed.
Mee tribe in Papua claims company cleared their traditional forest
A group of Mee tribespeople in Yaro, a mountainous area in Nabire, Papua, claimed that PT Jati Dharma Indah cleared their traditional forest land, damaging hunting grounds and water supplies. Yohana Mekey, head of Ororodo village, said that the company has failed to generate jobs for local people, instead hiring transmigrants from other parts of Indonesia.
5 anti-mining protesters shot
Five villagers were shot by police after protests against gold exploitation by PT Manunggal Eternal Light in the village of Tanjung Balaesang, Donggala, Central Sulawesi. Villagers burned two pieces of heavy equipment during the protest. One of the shooting victims later died in the hospital.
Stalemate in conflict between farmers, state palm oil company
Negotiations between Ogan Ilir farmers with state-owned company PTPN VII over dispute land hit a dead-end. The farmers claim the land allocated for new oil palm plantations belong to them.
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