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Leonardo DiCaprio could face ban from reentering Indonesia

An Indonesian government spokesperson responded to the post by threatening to prevent Leo from visiting the Southeast Asian country again.

Oscar-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio might face ban from returning to Indonesia after he criticized the nation's palm oil plantations for destroying rain forests.

The environmental activist, 41, visited the Indonesian island of Sumatra last month and posted on Instagram that the palm oil industry was threatening such wildlife in the Leuser Ecosystem as Sumatran elephants, tigers and orangutans.

"The expansion of palm oil plantations is fragmenting the forest and cutting off key elephant migration corridors, making it more difficult for elephant families to find adequate sources of food and water," DiCaprio had written.

Heru Santoso, a spokesperson for the Indonesian government, responded to the posts by threatening to prevent the "Wolf of Wall Street" actor from visiting the Southeast Asian country again.

The lowland #rainforest of the Leuser Ecosystem are considered the world’s best remaining habitat for the critically endangered Sumatran #elephant. In these forests, ancient elephant migratory paths are still used by some of the last #wild herds of Sumatran elephants. But the expansion of Palm Oil plantations is fragmenting the #forest and cutting off key elephant migratory corridors, making it more difficult for elephant families to find adequate sources of food and water. The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation is supporting local partners to establish a mega-fauna sanctuary in the Leuser Ecosystem, last place on Earth where Sumatran orangutans, tigers, rhinos and elephants coexist in the wild. Click the link in the bio to stand with @haka_sumatra as they fight to protect the Leuser Ecosystem. #SaveLeuserEcosystem #Indonesia

A photo posted by Leonardo DiCaprio (@leonardodicaprio) on

"We support his concern to save the Leuser ecosystem," Santoso said.

"But we can blacklist him from returning to Indonesia at any time if he keeps posting incitement or provocative statements in his social media."

Also read: Leonardo DiCaprio finally nabs Oscar gold

Leo, who has been an environment crusader, has not only donated millions of dollars to the cause, but has also invested time and energy to raise awareness about dwindling natural resources. The actor made headlines in February when he decided to address the issue of climate change during his Oscar winning speech.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle with agency inputs )
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