On December 26, 2004 tsunami tragedy devastated and wiped out Aceh.  Thousands bodies of the victims scattered the region. Most buildings are destroyed and hundred of thousands people lost their families and their homes. For decades the Acehnese live in constant fear because of the civil war and the martial laws. Now they are suffering even more due to the natural calamity. The tsunami attack came in seconds without warning and wiped out their entire dream for peace.

Millions of people from all over the world pour their sympathy and lend their hands to the tsunami affected countries including Aceh. National and international humanitarian aids continuously flowing. People in Indonesia are mourning. In many regions outside Aceh, people collect donations for Aceh because they care with this humanitarian tragedy.

              Aceh after tsunami

However, there is something, which is forgotten by the world. How has this tsunami attack affected the other lives, other than humans? What about the lives of the wildlife and other domestic animal in Aceh?

ProFauna team from Indonesia went over to Aceh to witness and survey the destruction caused by tsunami in mid of January 2005.
Aceh after tsunami

The team is led by Suparno (ProFauna Jakarta office Coordinator) assisted by Afrizal Akmal (ProFauna member Aceh) and Rudi H Putra (ProFauna member Medan). We are relieved to know that 7 members of ProFauna who live in Aceh are safe and well. However, we have no news about the rest of our members who live in Aceh.

Suparno (Jakarta office coordinator) 

The suffering of wildlife in the Aceh mini zoo:



Pig tail macaque on Wulandari mini zoo in Banda Aceh




The natural disaster causes the suffering for human as well as animals. There are 6 wildlife left in Wulandari mini zoo in Banda Aceh in a very poor condition and hungry. These species are; monkey (pig tail macaque), angora cat, python, turtle and crane/stork. The owner of the zoo has fled the area when the disaster struck, and left the wildlife behind. When ProFauna team visited this mini zoo, there is no food available for these wild animals. The cages are full of rubbish and are flooded.

 
bird on Wulandari mini zoo in Banda Aceh

ProFauna’s members are deeply touched to see their dire condition, but there is not much they can do, as there is no fund to look after and feed these wild animals. Previously there are other endangered wildlife in this zoo which are protected by law such as orang-utan, sun bear and eagle.

However these animals were confiscated by the BKSDA (council of conservation of natural resources) Aceh. Sadly those rescued wildlife placed at BKSDA’s site in Aceh also affected by the disaster. The cages are destroyed. On the ruined cages there is evidence of clumps of tiger’s flesh and fur, we have no idea what is the fate of that tiger. 

Department of Forestry Aceh building after tsunami

The staff of BKSDA, department of Forestry Aceh suffer serious injury. The head of BKSDA Aceh, Andi Basrul, has not been found until now. There are 70 member of the family of BKSDA Aceh staff which are declared missing. There is no office equipment which is working. The interior of the office is still soaked with mud and debris. Due to the severe damage and trauma affecting the office and the staff, BKSDA Aceh is not operational.

During the survey ProFauna see no serious impact on other wildlife in Aceh, except the wildlife which live in the mangrove forest on the coast. Wildlife in the deep forest is relatively safe. Rudi H. Putra, the ProFauna member from Medan reported that 4 days following the tsunami strike there is no wildlife remains are seen.

Domestic animal scattered in the town

Thousands of herds and domestic animals who escaped the tragedy now are scattered in the town. These animals have no owners, as most of them are killed. Human survivors can no longer look after the animals as they are too busy to rebuilt their own lives and their suffering families.

cow in front of mosque

The type of domestic animals are:  cow, goat, cat and dog, which are scavenging on the road side, in front of the mosque, on the ruin of the towns, looking for whatever they can eat. They also scavenge on the rubbish. ProFauna team saw bodies of some cats and goats on the roads run over by cars.

Cattle scavenge on the rubbish


bodies of animals on the roads run over by cars
 

Action needed for people and animal in Aceh

ProFauna team counted there are approximately 200 of such domestic animals seen in the city of Bandar Aceh.  Majority are cows followed by dogs. The people of Aceh and Indonesia are still mourning from the loss due to the tsunami in Aceh. Up until mid of January there are still thousands of corpses which have not been evacuated. People are still traumatised and tired. They are tending to their own and their family needs, no time to look after the animals. Meanwhile the neglected animals without owners would soon develop diseases, which could transmit to human.

Animals on Forestry Dept. of Aceh

 

Based on the survey, ProFauna team discussed the issue with their Acehnese members, these are actions need to be taken: 

• We need funds for the office equipment (especially computer) of BKSDA, Departement of Forestry Aceh. This is to return the BKSDA office to normal function.
• The need to evacuate the remaining wildlife from Wulandari mini zoo out of Aceh.
• The need for free vaccination for all loose herds and domestic animals scattered in the areas to prevent transmission of infection to humans.

For further information please contact:

Drh.Luki K.Wardhani
mobile: +628155509748
Email: izw@telkom.net

ProFauna Indonesia HQ
Ph. (0341) 570033