T

he maleo, a bird endemic to Sulawesi and exceptional for its distinctive build and colors, is on the brink of extinction. Its population in the wild has been in rapid decline — estimated at between 8,000 and 14,000 only. The chicken-sized bird with its bright unique crest joins Indonesia’s long list of endangered species.

As today’s Special Report reveals, this species is vulnerable to predators and poaching as this distinctive bird, the icon of Central Sulawesi, lays eggs in open sandy riverbanks, coastal areas or lagoon beaches, making it an easy target.

However, animal predators, experts say, are no match for the most dangerous threat to the maleo: humans. People capture the birds to keep them as pets for their elegance and beauty, or steal their eggs to be used chiefly in traditional rituals or sold as mementos. In the past, people hunted the birds for their meat.

Egg poaching continues until today, but there have been no official records on how many thieves have been apprehended. It is largely believed those who steal maleo eggs are master thieves who know exactly when guards are slacking or absent.

Yet, the story about the maleo is not merely about our shared fears of its declining population as concerned parties — local people, NGOs, and the government — have turned to scientific breeding techniques to preserve and simultaneously expedite the growth rate of the majestic bird rather than passively wait for results of the natural breeding process in the wild. Three breeding sites have been established in Central Sulawesi, in Sigi regency, Parigi Moutong and in Banggai regency.

The three sites have demonstrated different degrees of achievements in increasing the hatching rate of the maleos. The overall hatching rate in the breeding sites is still higher than that in the wild, thanks to modern incubation technology.

The success in increasing the bird’s population can be further measured through the survival rate of newborn maleos. At the breeding sites, the chicks will not be released into the wild until they reach the age of 30 days, when they are strong enough to evade predators and poachers. This way, the survival rate of newborn maleos at the breeding sites is higher than that of maleos born in the wild.

Conservation measures have been taken to preserve the maleos. Unless the efforts succeed, we may lose this majestic mascot forever. Let’s not miss this momentum.