goodmorningpapua.com – During the 77th, 77th anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia, the Papua Natural Resources Conservation Center (BBKSDA) released 17 aves species. The activity took place on Saturday 20 August 2022 in the Isyo Traditional Forest, Rhepang Muaif Village, Nimbokrang District, Jayapura Regency.
The species of animals released were 2 cabaret parrots (Psittrichas fulgidus), 3 king cockatoos (Probosciger aterrimus), 8 black-headed musk parrots (Lorius lory), 3 parrot parrots (Eclectus roratus), and 1 chef’s cockatoo (Cacatua Galerita).
A Head of the Planning, Protection and Preservation Section of the Papua BBKSDA, Lusiana Dyah Ratnawati, explained that the 2 cabare parrots were the result of securing wild plants and animals by the Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation of the Papua Police on July 18, 2022. While the other animals were the result of securing wild plants and animals by BPPHLHK Maluku Papua Section III Jayapura on 26 July 2022.
According to Lusiana, all the animals have undergone a period of habituation in the Buper Waena animal transit cage, are declared to be in good health, and ready to be released into the wild.
Regarding the status of animals, Lusiana said that all these animals are protected by law based on Law no. 5 of 1990, whose list of animal species is contained in the Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia Number: P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018.
Meanwhile, in the IUCN list, all animals have the status of Least Concern / LC (low risk), except the cabare parrot with the status of Vulnerable / VU (vulnerable). On the other hand, the CITES list lists all these animals in Appendix II, except for the king cockatoo which is listed in Appendix I.
At this moment, the Head of the Papua BBKSDA, A.G. Martana expressed his gratitude to all parties involved, either directly or indirectly, in this animal release activity.
“Every wildlife release activity always goes through a long process. We devote a lot of energy to returning animals to their natural habitats. For that, I again invite all parties to continue to build and raise awareness of protecting wild animals and their habitats. Let’s think about the future, that the universe, the wilderness and its contents, are entrusted to our children and grandchildren who live in the future. We are obliged to maintain and preserve it,” said Martana.
He further said that the Isyo Customary Forest as one of the locations for the wild animals of the Papua BBKSDA requires the support of all parties to continue to preserve it. The figure of Alex Waisimon, the manager of the Isyo Indigenous Forest, who is visionary and has reached a very high level of awareness in protecting nature, which requires regeneration. Papua, even the entire archipelago, needs to create a conducive climate for education, information, and insight so that conservation heroes will continue to be born.