PRWeb, April 12, 2006
The First-ever Release of Endangered Salmon-crested
Cockatoos Back into the Wild Following Their Confiscation from
Smugglers
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On March 16, 2006, history was made on the island of Seram, in the Maluku
archipelago, Eastern Indonesia, with the first-known "soft-release" of three
Salmon-crested (Seram) cockatoos back to the very forest where they were trapped
eighteen months previously.
Pope Valley, CA (PRWEB) April 12, 2006 -- On March 16, 2006, history was made on
the island of Seram, in the Maluku archipelago, Eastern Indonesia, with the
first-known "soft-release" of three Salmon-crested (Seram) cockatoos back to the very
forest where they were trapped eighteen months previously.
The birds had been confiscated on September 23rd, 2004 when Forestry officers from
Manusela National park rescued nine Salmon-crested (Seram) cockatoos C.
moluccensis along with seven other parrots and arrested a smuggler from Sulawesi.
The birds had been bought from members of Huaulu village (an indigenous people
located on the mountains about 20 km from Opin). The subsequent disposition of the
birds was relinguished to the Indonesian Wild Animal Rescue Centers
(www.jaringanPPS.org). The birds were subsequently cared for by Yayasan Wallacea
and Project Bird Watch at the Kembali Bebas Avian Rehabilitation Center, located in
the Sawai district of north Seram Island.
It is well accepted that Indonesia's avifauna rivals that of any country on earth.
Unfortunately, that same richness has provoked intense poaching which, in
combination with both legal and illegal logging of requisite forest habitat, has
endangered many magnificent birds and brought some close to extinction. Four of the
five world's cockatoos now listed on Appendix 1 of the Convention on the International
Trade in the Endangered Species (CITES) are Indonesian. In a country where high-end
business salaries amount to less than $2,000 per year, some local villagers
participate in the illegal trapping and trading of exotic animals, and parrots in
particular, to supplement their livelihood. The result has been a decimation of local
wildlife populations, leaving some exotic species such as the Salmon-crested and
Sulphur-crested cockatoos endangered and in need of protection.
The decision to release birds confiscated from smugglers, with its attendant risks to
the birds and the ecology of the region, received support from the World Conservation
Union (2002) as well as CITES (Conf. 10.7, "Disposal of confiscated live specimens of
species included in the Appendices", 1997) wherein it is stated that "returning
animals to the wild makes a strong political/educational statement concerning the fate
of the animals and may serve to promote local conservation values. However, as part
of any education or public awareness programme, the costs and difficulties
associated with return to the wild must be emphasized."
In, fact, many of the people from the nearby village of Masihulan, and the children from
several local schools, came to witness the first release, because it was seen as a
major event on the island and hopefully a new beginning for more endangered birds to
go back to their forest homes. To minimize risks to the animals and the environment,
this release followed the principles of both CITES and IUCN. Prior to the release, each
bird had been fitted with an open stainless-steel leg band; tagged with an Avid
micro-chip; and had its tail feathers marked with a different color of 'indelible' ink for
short-term, post-release monitoring.
Ir. M (Theo) Latupeirissa, Head of the Department of Forestry for Manusela National
Park (http://www.balaitnmanusela.org/), was the individual chosen to open the release
door, situated atop the release cage. In less than fifteen minutes, all birds had left the
cage and flew strongly to a nearby copse of trees. Their flying ability, as well as
maintenance of a panoply of the wild behaviors needed to survive when back in the
forest, had been assured during careful observation for 18 months in a Socialization
Cage. Monitoring of the fate of these cockatoos will continue for an indefinite period.
Project Bird Watch/The Indonesian Parrot Project (www.indonesian-parrot-project.org)
is a non-governmental, nonprofit corporation with its primary mission to conserve and
protect the endangered wild cockatoos and parrots of Indonesia, while providing
sustainable alternate means of income for local villagers in order to reduce trapping
and bolster self-esteem. In addition, the NGO serves as a source of information and
education about Indonesian parrots, and works to improve the welfare of parrots in
captivity.
Yayasan Wallacea is a conservation-directed and socially-minded NGO based in
Ambon, directed by Ceisar Riupassa , which manages the Kembali Bebas Avian
Rehabilitation Center. Project Bird Watch has worked closely with Yayasan Wallacea
in all of its projects since 1999. They bring indispensable knowledge of the people and
social customs of Maluku, as well as closeness and communication with the
villagers.
The Indonesian Wild Animal Rescue Centers ("Pusat Penyelamatan Satwa" in
Indonesian; PPS) manages the nation-wide program for the rehabilitation and release
of protected Indonesian animals. A strategic function of PPS is to support the law
enforcement effort of conservation of Indonesian protected species. Internationally,
Indonesia is a signatory to CITES, and has declared itself to be bound by its
provisions.
For more information, photographs or video footage, please contact Bonnie
Zimmermann at (707) 965-3480.
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