Bird poaching declines in Irian

Bird poaching declines in Irian

SORONG, Irian Jaya: Researchers from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) divide the famed bird of paradise, which is protected by law, into 11 species.

Manokwari-based WWF researcher Duncan Nafile said four of the species have "antennae" and are categorized into the king bird of paradise, which are highly popular among Javanese bird lovers.

Nafile identified the 11 species, by their Latin names, as being ptilorii magnificus, cicinnurus regius, cicinius magnificus, paradiseae rubra, paradiseae minor, ptepidophora alberti, paradiseae apoda, paradisae ragiana, lophorina superba, seleusidis melano and cicinnurus resplubika.

He said many of the species can also be found in the jungles of the nearby Maluku province, Antara reported.

Poaching king birds of paradise has declined in Irian Jaya since Indonesia passed a law on conservation in 1990, which threatens poachers with hefty fines and jail terms, he said. (pan)