Head of the TNRAW Office, Ali Bahri, noted that the reduced number of endemic animals was the result of illegal hunting by residents, who were not monitored by officers.
"As a precautionary measure against illegal hunting, we conduct routine patrols in monitoring sites for the priority animal, carry out independent patrols at the animal's habitat, and disseminate information on wildlife protection," Bahri noted on Saturday in the company of head of the Section II National Park Management (SPTN) Benny E. Purnama.
Before migrating to other places during the 2000-2002 period, the deer population had reached 40 thousand, Bahri pointed out.
The disappearance of this species in the Rawa Aopa Watumohai National Park, spanning an area of 105 thousand hectares, is due to illegal hunters that intentionally enter the park and hunt these animals for daily consumption and also for selling in public markets, he remarked.
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"In the past several decades, there were many deer at this national park. Apart from deer, there were also Anoa and Pig deer, but these two types of animals were already classified as rare or rarely found in this area," Bahri noted.
Data in 2019 indicated that the number of Anoa at the Watumohani National Park reached between 15 and 20, comprising four to five highland anoa and 11-15 lowland anoa.
Meanwhile, one pig deer currently lives in a cage behind the TNRAW Office. The two species of wild animals can only be seen through a trap camera.
However, the data may have increased in the past two years since all animals in the wild in this national park have been breeding, Bahri noted.
Apart from anoa, the Watumohani National Park is home to maleo birds, small yellow-crested cockatoos, water birds, aopa, and mangroves.
Bahri stated that the park still has an estimated 30-36 maleo birds, 10-15 small yellow-crested cockatoos, 24 species of Aopa, and 23 species of mangroves.
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Translator: Abdul Azis, Resinta S
Editor: Suharto
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