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Jakarta.  The open sale of endangered tortoises at the Flora & Fauna exhibition being held until today in Lapangan Banteng in Central Jakarta highlights the weak enforcement of conservation laws in the country, activists says.

Ploughshare tortoises, some of the most endangered in the world, and the critically endangered radiated tortoises, both from Madagascar, were being sold openly at the expo for up to $1,700 each, highlighting concerns about the rampant and growing illegal pet trade.

Cages were also filled with rare Indian star tortoises, which are protected under the Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species, and pig-nosed turtles, from Indonesia’s easternmost province of Papua, selling for up to $500 each.

Vendors told the Associated Press that other threatened tortoises and turtles not found on display could easily be obtained for a price.

However, Harry Santosa, the director for biodiversity conservation at the State Ministry for the Environment, denied there was illegal trading going on.

He told the Jakarta Globe on Sunday that the Jakarta Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) had reported that there was no trade in rare and endangered species at the flora and fauna show, known as the Flona.

“I was told on Friday morning that there was such a trade in the expo and I immediately instructed the BKSDA office to check on it,” he said.

“By Friday evening, the BKSDA had reported back that there was no illicit trade in endangered species going on.”

Chris Shepherd, an official with TRAFFIC, a British-based international wildlife monitoring network, said Indonesia had become a major trading hub for endangered tortoises and freshwater turtles, including species from Africa, South America and Asia.

While the government has passed legislation banning the trade, dealers continue to blatantly sell endangered species without fear of arrest, Shepherd said.

“Recent surveys, and this expo, have shown that the trade continues and now involves more illegally imported species than ever,” he said. “Dealers know full well that it’s illegal and are taking advantage of the enforcement agencies’ lack of action.”

Animal welfare and rights group Jakarta Animal Aid Network (JAAN) said the illicit trade and display of endangered species was common at the Flona, held annually as part of the capital’s anniversary celebrations.

JAAN spokesman Pramudya Harzani told the Globe that the group had been monitoring the show each year and had sent a letter to the organizer and the Jakarta city administration outlining its concerns about the open trading of endangered species and the poor condition of animals being displayed in the exhibition.

“It’s ironic that the expo is held to introduce Indonesia’s rich biodiversity, but turns out to promote the endangered ones — even those that are on the brink of extinction,” Pramudya said, adding that the organizer should be firm in laying out the rules and regulation for participating vendors.

He said that even pet animals that were legal for sale were kept in poor conditions, deprived of space, water or fresh air.

Indonesia ratified the CITES in 1978 but Pramudya said this ratification was never followed up by accompanying laws to prosecute rogue traders.

Article 302, an outdated portion of the Indonesian Criminal Code that dates back to before Indonesian independence, is currently used to file charges related to mistreatment of animals.

It prescribes a fine of Rp 4,500 (50 cents) and a maximum jail sentence of three months.