Rare Bali starling on the brink of extinction

Pariama Hutasoit, Contributor, Jembrana, West Bali

Back then, Bali was famous for its beautiful Bali starling (Leucopsar rothshildi) with millions of these magnificent birds flying freely above the island's Bali Barat National Park in Jembrana.

As time goes by, due to the ceaseless practice of illegal hunting and trade of this rare species, its numbers have been drastically cut. This year, only six birds remain in their original habitat in the national park.

Perversely, demand for the species has continued to increase among domestic bird collectors. A large number of irresponsible hunters and traders have enjoyed a lucrative business by poaching and selling the Bali starling.

Stung by fear that the rare bird will finally become extinct, the national park's management struggles in vain to protect and save the last-remaining birds.

In Tegal Bunder breeding center near the national park, the center now has 49 Bali starlings, comprising 30 breeding-aged birds, aged between three and five years, 10 young birds aged 10 months, two pairs of handicapped birds and a handful of baby birds.

According to bird expert Bas van Ballen, the safe population for the Bali starling in its habitat should be at least 500.

But the center faces great challenges in its work. Last year, 39 adult birds were stolen from the breeding center, making it impossible for the management to free more Bali starling in the national park.

Between 1998 and 1999, there were 13 Bali starling released in the national park. The center is planning to release five pairs of birds this December.

"They (the five pairs) are now being trained to adjust themselves to their original habitat," said Soedirun Darto Soewarno, head of the national park.

He admitted the biggest challenge faced by the park was preserving the rare species.

"Some of the illegal hunting and trading of Bali starling were backed and financed by influential figures," he said without divulging names.

A Bali starling can fetch more than Rp 10 million each on the black market.

Ironically, in a number of bird markets in Europe and the United States, these birds are sold for just US$25 to $50 each. Breeders in England and the United States have been successfully mating the rare species.

For instance, England started breeding the species in l931, while the San Diego Zoo in the United States followed in l962.

Apart from illegal hunting, the Bali starling's existence in the wild is directly affected by several natural factors such as climate, geology, a lack of freshwater, predators, genetic quality, age, disease and breeding capability.

Soedirun said there were other important factors which had contributed to the bird's decline in the wild, including a lack of supporting human resources, facilities and people's awareness of the need to protect this rare species.

Most of the people living near the national park, he said, were poor families who had no sources of income other than plundering the forests.

In order to solve these problems, the national park's management is now trying to invite concerned groups or individuals to discuss conservation.

Included are local and international non-governmental organizations, such as the Bali Barat Working Network (JKBB) and BirdLife International, along with experts and local figures.

The park has also tightened its security systems by increasing the number of patrolling officers.

The Bali starling's existence was first reported by noted English scientist Dr. Baron Stressman. With his recommendation, another expert, Dr. Baron Victor Von Plessenn, continued the research in l925 and discovered that the bird's population spread from Bubunan to Gilimanuk, covering a 320-square-kilometer area.

In l928, five Bali starlings were brought to England and have bred there since l931. In l962, the San Diego Zoo began a similar program in l962.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources included Bali starling in its Red Data Book in 1962 -- a list of endangered and protected plants and animals.

The species is also included in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), meaning the Bali starling is listed as one of the most endangered and protected species with any kind of trade of the bird strictly prohibited.

The Indonesian government ratified CITES in 1970 and issued laws to protect the species.