Jayapura, Jubi – The Papua Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA) has released 38 endemic animals in the Isyo customary forest in Rhepang Muaif Village, Nimbokrang District, Jayapura Regency, on Saturday, May 21, 2022. The release of these animals was also to commemorate the Biodiversity Day which falls on May 22.
Among the animals released were one victoria crowned pigeon (Goura victoria), nine sulfur-crested cockatoos (Cacatua Galerita), four black-capped lories (Lorius lory), 18 dusky lories (Pseudeos fuscata), three Eclectus parrots (Eclectus roratus), and three Papuan hooded butcherbirds (Cracticus cassicus).
According to the Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation Number: P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/
In the CITES list, all these animals are included in appendix II, or species that may be threatened with extinction if illegal trade continues.
Meanwhile, based on the IUCN list, all animals have Least Concern / LC (low risk) status, except for the victoria crowned pigeon, which status is Near Threatened / NT with a declining population trend.
Acting Head of the Papua BBKSDA Abdul Azis Bakry said that some of the released animals came from translocations (conservatory efforts aiming to return animals to their original habitats) from East Java and some were handed over by the community in Jayapura.
Bakry said that the release of endemic Papuan animals to their natural habitat was the maximum effort in preserving wildlife. “As long as there are wild animals outside their natural habitats, whether due to illegal acts or other special situations, the Papua BBKSDA will continue to do our best to return them to their homes,” he said.
The coordinator of the Waena Campground transit enclosure, La Ode Irianto Subu, confirmed that the process of releasing animals by the Papua BBKSDA had met the prevailing criteria. “All the animals have undergone the habituation process in the Waena Campground transit enclosure, are in good health, and have returned to their nature. We make sure they are able to survive in the wild,” he said.
La Ode also said that this time, the animals were released using animal cages that had been prepared previously by the Directorate of Biodiversity Conservation.
Meanwhile, head of the Planning, Protection, and Preservation of the Papua BBKSDA Lusiana Dyah Ratnawati emphasized that all wild animals, especially those endemic to Papua, need care from all stakeholders. The community is obliged to protect the animals and the habitats in which they live and breed.
“Maybe some people already understand the conservation status of these animals but I hope the public will not get tired of getting this information again because it is very important,” she said.
Conservationist Alex Waisimon, who owns a Bird Watching camp in the Isyo Rhepang Muaif customary forest, expressed his gratitude to the Papua BBKSDA for releasing dozens of endemic Papuan animals in the forest. He said it was a tough job to return these animals as the awareness of the Indonesian people to protect endemic animals was still low.
“Let the Isyo customary forest be an example for people in Papua who wants to protect forests and all its biodiversity,” he said. (*)
