Maleo birds face extinction

Maleo birds face extinction

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: The population of maleo birds in
Indonesia's easternmost province of Irian Jaya has been dwindling
apparently because of poaching and forest concessionaire
activity, a study said.

Head of the Irian Jaya Forestry Service Sudjud was quoted by
Antara as saying yesterday the government and the public should
make efforts to protect the birds, one of the rare bird species
inhabiting the province's mainland.

A joint study conducted by Cendrawasih University's School of
Agriculture and the Irian Jaya Forestry Service showed maleo
birds live in the regencies of Sorong, Manokwari, Fakfak, Yapen
Waropen, Merauke and Jayapura.

To conserve the maleo birds, the university has been breeding
dozens of the rare species since 1995.

Maleo birds consist of white and red species. Their eggs are
four times bigger than chicken eggs.

According to the result of a study conducted by the World Wide
Fund for the Nature (WWF) representative office in Irian Jaya,
maleo birds lay eggs once or twice a year.