+the news

Leonardo DiCaprio threatened with deportation from Indonesia

Written by . Published: April 01 2016

Indonesian government officials have threatened to deport Leonardo DiCaprio from their country.


The Revenant star is visiting the jungles of the Asian nation to raise awareness of the plight of endangered species living on the island of Sumatra.


Although the island's rainforest is within the country's Mount Leuser National Park, environmental campaigners argue the expansion of Indonesia's Palm Oil industry is destroying the rare habitat and threatening the Sumatran elephant and other animals with extinction.


Leonardo criticised the industry in a post on his Instagram page, writing, "The expansion of Palm Oil plantations is fragmenting the forest and cutting off key elephant migratory corridors."


His presence in the country to highlight the issue has not gone down well with Indonesian government officials, one of whom, Immigration Director Ronny Sompie threatened to have the Oscar-winner deported if he breached the conditions of his visitors' visa.


"If there are statements that discredit the government and the interests of Indonesia, he could be deported," Ronny told the country's Republika newspaper.


Pointing out that the star's visa conditions only allow him to act as a tourist, he adds, "If he is in Indonesia for other purposes, by engaging in activities that disrupt public order and harm the interests of Indonesia, immigration authorities are ready to deport him."


The Hollywood superstar is in Asia working for the environmental foundation he founded in 1998 in trying to help locals create a well policed wildlife sanctuary covering Sumatra's rainforest.


He and actor friends Adrien Brody and Fisher Stevens have also visited an orangutan research facility while in the country.


The long time environmental activist used his speech when accepting his first Academy Award in February (16) to make a plea for people to save the environment and halt global warming.


"Climate change is real, it is happening right now. It is the most urgent threat facing our entire species, and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating," he said.

Error! Unable to retrieve any Images!