“The two protected species were handed over by their owners to BKSDA Yogyakarta,” said the agency’s head, Junita Parjanti, on Thursday.

She further said the spotted kestrel was handed over to the BKSDA in 2013, followed by the crested serpent eagle a year later. The two raptors later underwent a rehabilitation process at Wildlife Rescue Center Jogja in Pengasih, Kulonprogo.

“We named the female crested serpent eagle Rahayu,” said Junita.

She said Mount Tumpeng was chosen as the release site because its forests were mostly preserved and food sources were available for the raptors. Mount Tumpeng is part of the Menoreh limestone mountain, which is heavily forested.

“We will continue to monitor these two raptors after their release,” said Junita.

Jatimulyo village head Anom Sucondro said the natural environment in the bird-friendly village was beautiful and blessed with high biodiversity.

“We had issued Village Regulation No. 8/2014 on environmental conservation,” he said

Those who take part in activities harmful to the environment, such as poaching or poisoning, are issued a warning and undergo the legal process upon repeated violations.

“The two raptors spent one week in a rehabilitation cage before they were released to adapt to their new habitat,” said Wildlife Rescue Center Jogja spokesperson Rosalia Setiawati. (ebf)

Back to speed: A crested serpent eagle perches on a branch in a rehabilitation enclosure near Mount Tumpeng in Kulonprogo regency, Yogyakarta. The protected species spent a week rehabilitating prior to its release into its natural habitat. (JP/Bambang Muryanto)