THE investigation reported by “Pirated Parrot” uncovered Mei Lumombo from Pelita village, 70 kilometers from Tobelo, North Halmahera. Mei was a wholesaler who toured villages to catch birds every two weeks.

In a month he could gather 200 hook-billed birds such as white cockatoos, purple-necked parrots and parakeets. The birds were put together into a cage hidden in the woods around 1.5 kilometers from his home.

These birds were later tran