Bogor Botanical Gardens overrun by herons

Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post/Bogor

Staff at the Bogor Botanical Gardens are trying to reduce the number of herons (Nycticorax) in the gardens as the burgeoning population is threatening the existence of the vast collection of plants and disturbing visitors.

The gardens plant collection and maintenance staff member Eli Sjafei said on Sunday that the herons had been in the gardens since the 1970s, when there were only three to five birds.

"But they've grown in number to reach around 1,000 birds in the past three years. At first, we thought the birds migrated here, but they have continued to grow and never leave the park," said Eli (as seen in photo above holding a heron).

Herons are nocturnal animals that come out at night to hunt frogs, fish and eels. The birds live and build their nests atop trees, such as the canary (Canarium burserasum), lychee (Letchi Cihinensis) and 100-year-old mahogany (Sweitenia Mahagoni) trees.

According to Eli, the growing number of herons has threatened the existence of the gardens' plant collection, which is hundreds of years old, as they perch on and build nests on branches, causing them to break and fall under the weight. The birds' droppings are said to be causing the leaves to wither and die. The putrid smell of the birds' droppings also disturbs visitors.

"Many visitors complain because their clothes and food are contaminated by the birds' droppings when they are flying around Lake Gunting," he explained.

Thus, the staff began catching the birds during Ramadhan. Up to now the staff have caught 120 of the herons.

"We are trying to reduce the number, but we don't know where to put them. As a result, we have to bring them home and take care of them on our own, or give them to visitors who are willing to take care of the birds," said Eli.