There's only one pair left, and we can say that yellow-crested cockatoos are threatened with extinctionPalu, C Sulawesi (ANTARA) - The Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) of Central Sulawesi stated that there are only two yellow-crested cockatoos remaining in the province, located on Pasoso Island, Balaesang Subdistrict, Donggala District.
"There's only one pair left, and we can say that yellow-crested cockatoos are threatened with extinction," Head of Central Sulawesi BKSDA Hasmuni said here on Wednesday.
Hasmuni noted that that one of the causes of the extinction of the yellow-crested cockatoos is the selling of the birds outside the Sulawesi area and even abroad.
"They are endemic birds that live in Sulawesi, but more of them are in Bali because maybe someone brought them there, and eventually the population increased," he noted.
The government, through the Central Sulawesi BKSDA, is currently collaborating with the Faculty of Forestry of Tadulako University, Central Sulawesi, to increase the number of the yellow-crested cockatoo population in the province.
"We have signed the MoU, and what is left is formulating a strategy to save the population," he added.
According to Hasmuni, saving the yellow-crested cockatoos from extinction is also the public’s responsibility. In addition to protecting nature conservation, the community is also asked not to trade protected or endemic animals of Sulawesi that live in the forests of Central Sulawesi.
"This is our task together. Let us save the animals endemic to Sulawesi that still exist today," he said.
In addition to saving the yellow-crested cockatoo population, BKSDA is also making efforts to increase the population of anoa and babirusa, which are endangered and included as protected species.
He attributed the decreasing number of those species to hunting.
Hasmuni affirmed that, aside from carrying out monitoring in the preserved forests, the BKSDA and related parties are also continuing to carry out socialization to the community who live in the forest areas.
"We ask the community to jointly save our animals from extinction," he said.
"Stop hunting and let animals endemic to Sulawesi that live in our forests grow, so that their population continues to increase," he noted.
Related news: Papua's four endemic birds released into natural habitat: BKSDA
Related news: Sumatran tiger captured in North Sumatra's Padang Lawas: BKSDA
Related news: Elephant calf rescued from snare trap in Aceh Jaya: BKSDA
Translator: Kristina Natalia, Raka Adji
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
