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http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63R35M20100428

Two arrested two over monkey meatballs

Sunanda Creagh

Wed Apr 28, 2010 10:45am EDT

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesian police have arrested a couple who made
meatballs from the flesh of protected monkeys, an animal conservation
group said on Wednesday.

The pair poached dozens of rare Javan langurs, also known as
silver-leaf monkeys, from Baluran National Park in the east of Java
island, according to a statement released by Indonesia-based animal
protection group ProFauna.

"Police found 30 kilograms (65 pounds) meat estimated to come from 20
- 25 individuals, two rifles and a live langur," the statement said.

"The couple admitted that they had known what they did was against the
law and they hunted the monkeys for their meat because beef and
chicken were more expensive than the protected monkeys."

Meatball soup, known locally as bakso, is a popular dish in Indonesia.

The statement said police were now broadening their investigation to
include checks on vendors suspected of selling the monkey meatballs,
while ProFauna was in talks with the national park caretakers to
prevent further poaching.

Indonesian law states that perpetrators of wildlife crimes face a
maximum five year prison term and a fine of 5 million rupiah ($555),
but the law is not always strictly enforced.