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.