JAKARTA, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in Indonesia's Maluku province have foiled an attempt to illegally trade 116 wild animals, many of which are endangered, the provincial Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) said Thursday.
The animals, believed to have been destined for Java Island, were discovered hidden in the ceiling of a ship's cargo hold, said forestry police officer Arga Christyan from the BKSDA.
The confiscated species included 66 live and 22 dead Papuan spiny-tailed iguanas, 14 live blue-spotted tree monitors, one green python, four live and two dead Papuan death adders, and seven live double-eyed fig parrots, according to the agency.
"This discovery shows that these wild animals, some of which are endangered, were likely being smuggled for illegal trade to markets in Java, particularly in East Java province," Christyan was quoted by local media as saying.
The Maluku BKSDA team has coordinated with licensed wildlife distribution centers to ensure the seized animals receive proper care and rehabilitation.
The rescue operation was conducted jointly by the Maluku BKSDA and ship officers. ■
