Illegal trade a major threat to Javan Hawk-eagle's survival

Illegal trade a major threat to Javan Hawk-eagle's survival

By Stevie Emilia

JAKARTA (JP): Hawkers offering their merchandise to passersby
is a common sight in the Blok M area, South Jakarta. But it is
sad to discover that one of the goods on offer is a Javan eagle,
an endangered and protected species.

"This is elang Jawa (the Javan Hawk-eagle)... It's a rare
bird, buy it. It's not expensive. For you, it's only Rp 200,000,"
the hawker promoted the bird in a friendly manner to curious
onlookers.

His "promotion" did make some people stop to take a real look
at the eagle. But none of them seemed to be aware that it is
illegal to buy or sell the bird.

When further questions were asked about the eagle, the seller
suddenly changed his attitude and looked suspicious. He declined
to say more. "Are you buying or not?" he snapped.

Indonesia is home to more than 1,500 kinds of birds or 17
percent of the bird population worldwide. Unfortunately, many of
them are now on the brink of extinction. The widespread illegal
trading of endangered species has increased the problem.

It is estimated that there is only about 250 to 300 of the
Javan Hawk-eagles left in the wild. A female eagle can only
produce one egg a year.

The Javan Hawk-eagle (Spizaetus bartelsi), which is often
referred to as the mythical burung garuda -- the country's
national symbol, was declared the national bird by the government
in 1993.

Since then, the Ministry of Forestry's directorate general of
Forest Protection and Nature Preservation (PHPA) and some
environmental organizations, such as BirdLife, have conducted
numerous conservation studies in relation to the species. The
bird is often found in the forests of Java from the lowlands to
3,000 meters, but prefers the lower slopes between 200 and 1,200
meters.

Law No. 5/1990 on the conservation of natural resources and
their ecosystems stipulates that endangered species must not be
caught, wounded, killed, stored, possessed, transported or traded
-- alive or dead -- without government permission.

According to the Directorate General of Forest Protection and
Nature Conservation, Indonesia has 218 endangered species,
including 82 rare indigenous birds. Only the breeding of
protected species, with government permission, is allowed under
the existing law.

But the law is not effective even though it cites that anyone,
who violates the ruling, can face up to five years in prison or a
Rp 100 million fine.

In an effort to promote the need to protect the eagle, a
series of activities that include a two-day dialog and video
screening on the eagle took place recently at the Japan
Foundation. It involved, among others, the BirdLife International
Indonesia Programme and PHPA.

BirdLife's species programme officer Iwan Setiawan told The
Jakarta Post that there was not enough being done by the
government to stop illegal trade in the eagle.

"Local PHPA officials only conducted operations (against the
illegal trade) once in a while. And in every operation, they
always failed to find the eagle. It seems that the traders
already learn about the operations beforehand," he said.

NGOs do not have the right to arrest the illegal traders but
they often inform the PHPA about the crime and make
recommendations on how to deal with it. "But, their response is
very slow," Iwan said.

He cited that investigation by NGOs from the Animal
Conservation for Life, in 16 bird markets in Java from April 1997
to January 1998, discovered that 11 Javan Hawk-eagles were sold
in seven markets. Two of them were sold at the Pramuka bird
market here for Rp 350,000 each.

Another investigation conducted by Telapak Indonesia from
August 1996 to April 1997 in Bogor and Sukabumi in West Java
found that 12 Javan Hawk-eagles had also been traded. A young
eagle was priced at Rp 75,000 at the local bird markets, but it
could reach up to Rp 250,000 in the main bird markets.

The government had managed to confiscate a few Javan Hawk-
eagles. Unfortunately, the confiscated eagles were not properly
treated. At least two of the birds died after they were
confiscated by officials after receiving reports from two NGOs,
Yayasan Pribumi Alam Lestari and Forum for the Indonesian Nature
Conservation Cadre.

A breeding project by the Safari park in Cisarua, West Java,
was also not a success. Iwan said that of the previous six Javan
Hawk-eagles in the park, only two of them were still alive.

But serious bird lovers will not let Javan Hawk-eagles become
extinct. Local and international NGOs have worked hand in hand
with the government to produce the Javan Hawk-eagle recovery
plan.

Iwan said that the project was already completed and was
scheduled to be published in October.

The plan consists of detail of the bird's biology and
highlights habitat loss, fragmentation and capture for trade, as
among factors contributing to the species' decline.

Iwan said the plan was expected to become an excellent means
of sharing responsibility and promoting real action for the
species.

The plan calls for the establishment of a reserve in Central
Java in the areas of the Dieng and Slamet mountains. As part of
the execution of the plan, the PHPA has begun preparing a
proposal to secure a large area of lowland forest as a protected
area.

Other recommendations include a regular market check by PHPA,
identification of additional priority sites which might be
suitable for protection, building participation with the people
in the protection and securing of nest trees, and implementation
of awareness programs aimed at local people.

The survey work for the plan was supported by BirdLife and
undertaken by Telapak Indonesia, Cibodas Birdwatching Association
and NINA-NIKU of Norway and focused on nest sites at Halimun
mountain, Ujung Kulon in West Java, Salak mountain, Gede mountain
and Pangrango mountain.