REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BANDARLAMPUNG -- The Surabaya police investigation has not found any irregularity in the transfer of animals from Surabaya Zoo (KBS) to Lembah Hijau Animal Park in Bandarlampung, Lampung province.
The number of animals transferred matched with the data stated in the agreement between Surabaya Zoo (KBS) and Lembah Hijau, First Inspector Sigit Susanto, one of the Surabaya police investigators, said here on Friday (21/11).
"On our field inspection, we found the data and the number of animals transferred matched, and no animal was transferred to another conservation institution," Susanto stated.
He noted despite the fact that some animals had died mostly likely due to adverse weather conditions, Lembah Hijau Animal Park was in good shape.
Lembah Hijau President Commissioner M Irwan Nasution said he had been cooperative in giving information to the police investigators.
The transfer of animals from Surabaya Zoo to Lembah Hijau had been done in accordance with the proper procedures, he remarked.
Those animals belong to the state and they were temporarily moved to Lembah Hijau, he added.
Earlier, the Indonesian Police Watch (IPW) had urged the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) to take over the investigation of the case concerning the animal exchange program at Surabaya Zoo.
"We urge the National Police's Bareskrim to take over the Surabaya Zoo animal exchange case from the Surabaya Police," Presidium Chairman of IPW Neta S. Pane had stated in Jakarta on Nov. 12, 2014.
Following his meeting with Bareskrim Chief Commissioner General Suhardi Alius, Pane reported that Bareskrim was currently in the process of taking over the case.
The IPW doubts the credibility of the investigation being carried out by the Surabaya Police, he stated.
"The case has been going on for nine months, but, until now, it is still in the 'dark,' as investigators have not named any suspect," he pointed out.
Surabaya Zoo has been facing a number of problems over the past few years after a number of rare animals died or disappeared.
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