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Indonesia's Birds Face Extinction

A man holds a paper bag with birds for sale at the bird market in Malang, East Java Province, Indonesia, on September 8, 2025. Reports from TRAFFIC in October 2024 reveal that quarantine authorities in Lampung, Indonesia, seize an astonishing 6,514 birds from a single truck. This is believed to be the country's largest seizure of illegal bird shipments from one vehicle. The birds are on their way from Sumatra to Java, the hub of the songbird trade. From 2021 to 2023, over 120,000 Sumatran songbirds are confiscated. Common species involved in these seizures include the Bar-winged Prinia, tailorbirds, white-eyes, and critically endangered species like the Javan green magpie. An expert in July 2025 describes them as ''one of the largest wildlife markets in Southeast Asia,'' which houses legally and illegally traded animals from various countries. The demand isn't just for pets but also for status symbols and participation in lucrative songbird competitions. Champion birds can fetch exceptionally high prices, creating a strong economic incentive for trapping and trading. (Photo by Garry Lotulung/NurPhoto)

Photo Details

Photo ID	#12730527
Date Taken	8 September 2025
Location	N/A
Photographer	Garry Lotulung/NurPhoto
Category	Environmental Issue
Copyright	© 2026 NurPhoto - Garry Lotulung/NurPhoto

Related Keywords

bird market Malang East Java Indonesia TRAFFIC quarantine authorities Lampung illegal bird shipments Sumatra Java songbird trade Sumatran songbirds Bar-winged Prinia tailorbirds white-eyes Javan green magpie critically endangered species wildlife markets Southeast Asia legally traded animals illegally traded animals songbird competitions status symbols economic incentive trapping trading champion birds high prices bird seizures 2025 2024 2021 2023 Garry Lotulung NurPhoto.

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