REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PALU -- The head of Lore Lindu National Park (LLNP), Sudayatna, said several endangered species in Central Sulawesi province are facing a threat from hunters because they have commercial value and end up as food.

"These animals are mountain dwarf buffalo (Bubalus quarlesi), lowland dwarf buffalo (Bubalus depressicornis), hog deer (Babyrousa babyrussa), tarsier (Tarsius tarsier and Tarsius pumilus) and maleo bird (Macrocephalon maleon)," he said here on Wednesday.

He said the population of these animals is decreasing and it is feared that these could become extinct if constantly hunted by people.

"Hog deer and dwarf buffalo are the most threatened because till date, there is no breeding system. We only have a captive place for maleo bird in Saluki village, Sigi district," Sudayatna said.

The captive place for meleo bird is still semi-natural. "We still need a breeding incubator," he said.

According to Sudayatna, hog deer and dwarf buffalo cannot be bred in cages and need hatching places. These should be bred by making puddles for bathing.

Sudayatna said Lore Lindu National Park is not only a national asset, but also one of the world's lungs and needs to be preserved and secured.

The Indonesian national park is spread over 2,180 square km, covering lowland and montane forests (200 to 2,610 meters above sea level).

It provides habitat to numerous rare species, including 77 bird species endemic to Sulawesi.

The national park is designated as part of UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves. In addition to its rich wildlife, the park also contains megaliths dating from before 1300 AD.

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