JAYAPURA: Animal protection organization ProFauna Indonesia is organizing a two-week-long campaign to save the lives of birds in Manokwari, Papua, with the slogan, "Parrots and cockatoos are more beautiful in nature".
"The campaign aims to encourage Papua's young generation to love their surroundings and be proud of the native species that can only be found here," said ProFauna Indonesia's campaign officer Tri Prayudhi. He added that the campaign would run from Oct. 24 to Nov. 6 and was aimed at students from five elementary and five senior high schools.
Based on ProFauna Indonesia's 2001-2002 investigation, about 15,000 parrots and cockatoos caught in Papua had been illegally sold and exported.
The most popular threatened species include the Nuri Kepala Hitam (Lorius lorry), Kakatua Jambul Kuning (Cacatua galerita), Bayan (Eclectus roratus) and the Perkici Pelangi (Trichoglosus haematodus).
ProFauna Indonesia estimates that, so far this year, about 9,765 parrots and cockatoos have been caught and sold to domestic and foreign customers.
The NGO estimates the illegal activities are a Rp 10 billion (US$835,000) a year industry.
The two birds are found only in Wallacea and eastern parts of Indonesia, such as in Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi, Maluku and Papua. Fourteen of the estimated 85 species of the native bird are considered endangered species. --JP
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