Contributor
How many Jakartans have seen the Braminy Kite (Haliastur Indus) or know that this endangered bird has been a symbol of the captial since 1995? The falling number of kites can be traced back to the early 20th Century, when Pulau Elang (Raptor Island) was renamed Pulau Pramuka (Scout Island)because few raptors could be found on the island. How many know that the White-Bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) is a protected species? Despite their status as protected species as stated by Regulation No. 5/1990 on Conservation on Natural Resources and Ecosystems and Regulation No. 7/1999 on Flora and Fauna Preservation, they are still threatened by illegal poaching and trade, habitat destruction, public ignorance and the lack of attention from authorities. But there is still hope through the organizations that are working to protect these birds. One of them is ...