goodmorningpapua.com – In order to preserve wild animals in their habitat, the Papua Natural Resources Conservation Center (KSDA) released 38 endemic animals in Repang Muaif Village, Nimbokrang District, Jayapura Regency, Papua, Saturday (21/5/2022). Before being released into the wild, this endemic Papuan animal underwent habituation in a transit cage located at the Waena Campground (Buper), Jayapura City, for several months.
A Head of the Planning, Protection and Preservation Section of the Papua BBKSDA, Lusiana Dyah Ratnawati explained, the types of animals released were a Victorian mambruk (Goura victoria), nine chef’s cockatoos (Cacatua Galerita), four black-headed Kasturi (Lorius lory), 18 tails. dark parrot (Pseudeos fuscata), three parrot parrots (Eclectus roratus), and three Papuan butchers (Cracticus cassicus).
“Some of these animals came from translocation (returning to their original area) from East Java and some were handed over from the people in Jayapura,” explained Lusiana in Jayapura, Sunday. According to Lusiana, based on the Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia Number: P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018, all these animals are protected by law, except for the Papuan butcher. As for the CITES list, all of these animals are included in appendix II, namely species that may be threatened with extinction if trade continues without regulation.
“Meanwhile, based on the IUCN list, all animals have the status of least concern (low risk), except for the Victorian cat with near threatened status, with a declining population trend,” he said. Lusiana emphasized that the special wildlife endemic to Papua requires the attention of all parties. “We are obliged to protect them, both in terms of the animals themselves, as well as the habitats in which they live and breed,” he said.
Meanwhile, a Coordinator of the Buper Waena Transit Cage, La Ode Irianto Subu, affirmed that the process for releasing animals by the Papua BBKSDA had met the applicable criteria. “All the animals have undergone the habituation process in the Buper Waena transit enclosure, are in good health, and have returned to their natural nature, so we make sure they are able to survive in the wild,” he explained.
La Ode said that the release of these animals used cages that had been prepared by the Directorate of Biodiversity Conservation. On the same occasion, an Acting Head of BBKSDA Papua, Abdul Azis Bakry, conveyed that the release of endemic Papuan animals into their habitat is the maximum effort in conserving wild animals.
“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 their best to return them to their proper homes,” he said. Azis Bakry expressed his gratitude to the management of the Isyo Indigenous Forest, who has been collaborating with the Papua BBKSDA, especially in terms of animal release.
For him, the management of the Isyo Indigenous Forest is a form of noble responsibility from the community to the state in participating in protecting the habitat of wild animals whose functions are very important for nature.
“Appreciation to the Papua BBKSDA team for the successful release of this animal by referring to SE Director General of KSDAE Number: 8/KSDAE/KKH/KSA.2/5/2020 concerning Technical Guidelines for the Release of Wild Animals during the Covid-19 Pandemic. The team has worked with great dedication so that the activities can run smoothly and well, “he said.