Expo, discussion on Javan eagle

JAKARTA (JP): Does the Garuda, the national symbol of Indonesia, really exist? Or is it just a traditional mythological figure, verbally passed from one generation to the next?

These questions will be answered at a Javan Hawk-Eagle exhibition here.

Film screenings, an open discussion and slide presentations on the species will be held at the Japan Foundation, Sumitmas building, Jl. Jend. Sudirman, South Jakarta, from Friday to Sunday. An eagle captor, environmental activists, an animal trader and poet Eka Budianta will partake in the open discussion on Saturday.

The event is being organized by the working group for the preservation of the Javan Eagle (Spizaetus bartelsi) and the Japan Foundation.

The species has been declared endangered, the declining population caused by the bustling illegal trade and the reduction of its natural habitat.

Open to the general public, the event is seeking to increase awareness of the importance of hawk-eagle conservation. For more information contact BirdLife International (0251) 333-234 or the Japan Foundation (021) 520 1266. (46)