REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Natural Resources Conservation Center (BBKSDA) of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) returned 23 Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita eleonora) to Maluku Natural Resources Conservation. These protected animals were unleashed to their natural habitat in Maluku on Tuesday (15/6). All cacatuas are obtained from citizen of Central Java. The process of handling and return are in cooperation with: PT Angkasa Pura I Eltari Kupang Airport, Agricultural Quarantine Center Class I Kupang, Veterinary Technical Implementation Unit of Animal Husbandry Department in NTT, and Maluku Natural Resources Conservation.
The handover of the animals was held to commemorate World Environment Day and a part of Road to HKN 2021. The unleashing of animals is aimed to enrich the variety and increase the population of animals in its habitat. It is in line with the theme “Living in Harmony with Nature: Conserving Wild Plants and Animals of State”.
The chronology of the cacatua is started from August 27, 2020. BBKSDA NTT received 47 birds from Central Java Natural Resources Conservation through Garuda Cargo of Eltari Kupang Airport. Based on identification and morphometric measurements, the 47 birds are Cacatua galerita, which consist of two sub-species: 12 Cacatua galerita triton and 35 Cacatua galerita eleonora. It is also known that the spreader arae of C. galerita triton is Papua, while spreader area of C. galerita eleonora is Aru Island (Maluku).
All of the Cacatua galerita were taken care in temporary shelter by BBKSDA NTT and Veterinary Technical Implementation Unit of Animal Husbandry Department in NTT. The handling is based on Circular Letter of Director General of KSDAE No: SE.8/KSDAE/KKH/KSA.2/5/2020 on Technical Guide of Unleashing Wild Animals during Pandemic Covid-19. Therefore, BBKSDA returned the Cacatua galerita to its natural habitat, especially Cacatua galerita eleonora from Aru Island.
Cacatua galerita eleonora is internationally known as medium sulphur-crester cockatoo. It is a native species of Aru Island (Maluku). Based on Regulation of Minister of Environment and Forestry No P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 on the Second Amendment of Regulation of Ministry of Environment and Forestry No P.20/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/6/2018 on Variety of Protected Plants and Animals, Cacatua galerita is a protected animal. Laws No 5/1990 on Biological Natural Resources Conservation and Ecosystem regulates the prohibition of capturing, hurting, killing, keeping, owning, nurturing, transporting, and trading live protected animals.
The handover of protected animals from citizen to government is very much appreciated. This is people’s participation for wild animal conservation. Government hopes that it becomes an example for other people to stop illegal hunting and start preserving animals so that the balance of population and ecosystem is maintained.
