WCS Indonesia - Saving Wildlife and Wild lands

Elephant Trapped In The Wells In Way Kambas NP, Lampung

A baby elephant was trapped in the well in Way Kambas NP on 6th March 2007 by the closing wells team. It is located near Braja Yekti village or about 12 km fro elephant training center. The baby elephant female, approx 3 years old, 500 kg, fell to the 3 meter old well and guess stayed in well during 7-10 days. Her condition was really bad, severe dehydration, wound around the body and lacerated wound on leg, paralysis in hind legs and can't standing. WCS and the partner of WKNP rescued this female by using truck form the well and also tame elephant.

Since June 2007, WCS have closed some of the well in those area, but it stopped in November 2007. With our limited budget, we did only 213 wells. Right now, there are about 2500-3000 well in the southern part of WKNP and also about 500-800 wells in the northern part.

From our data, there were 5 calves that trapped since 2006. Three survived and being moved to elephant training center in WKNP. If we can have emergency money for helping the NP for closing the wells, that might be a good option for continuing our work for closing the wells.

This time, the baby elephant named Sakura, stayed in Elephant camp for intensive care monitoring, our plan is checking with the x-ray on back legs to make sure no fracture there. This is the second incident. The first incident happened in 22February 2008, but we can save that baby elephant and we bring it back to its herds. The first incident is not too far from thelast one (2.4 km see the attachment on the map).

Mining In Conservation Zone

Activists against mining in conservation zone

- October 26, 2007

Jongker Rumteh, The Jakarta Post, Manado

Environmentalists in North Sulawesi warn traditional gold mining activities pose a threat to the Bogani Nani Wartabone conservation zone.

They say the conservation zone, in Bolaang Mangondow regency, North Sulawesi, is the largest repository in the province of local floral and fauna.

The zone's traditional role, they say, is under threat because of a rise in gold mining in the area, particularly after the local legislative council moved to legalize the mining activities.

Sulawesi Program Coordinator for the Wildlife Conservation Society, Johny Tasirin, and the director of the Lestari Manado Foundation, Sri Hardiyanti Gunadi, said the rare flora and fauna of Bogani would disappear forever unless the government put a halt to mining in the conservation zone.

Bolaang Mangondow legislative council speaker Sunardi Sumantha acknowledged the council sent a letter to the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry seeking official permission to mine gold in Bogani.

"We sent the letter last year. We hope residents there will be allowed to carry out mining operations in the conservation zone because the gold mining is not concentrated in one area. The combined size of the mining operations would only be about 350 hectares," Sunardi said.

The Bogani Nani Wartabone conservation zone covers more than 287,000 hectares and is home to about 300 species of rare plants.

"The zone hosts 68 percent of all mammals that exist in Sulawesi, 47 percent of birds and 27 percent of reptiles. The maleo bird (Macrocephalon maleo), babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa), anoa (Bubalus quarlesi) and two kinds of monkey species, Macaca nigra and Macaca nigrasence, are some of the rare animals that can be found there," Tasirin said.

"We hope politicians do not use the issue of opening up gold mining in the conservation zone for short-term political purposes, such as a way to win the residents' votes in the upcoming elections in Bolaang Mongondow Utara and Mabagu Utara, because this could endanger the biodiversity there," he said.

He said the conservation zone was not the only place that would suffer the negative impacts of mining in the area.

Extensive mining would decrease the regency's water supply because its sole major river, the Dumoga, has its source inside the conservation zone, he said.

The river is the primary source of irrigation water for farmers in the regency.

"This conservation zone is the only remaining forest in North Sulawesi. All of the people in Indonesia, even the world, would be disappointed if it was damaged," Sri Hardiyanti said.

Tasirin also said the forest in the conservation zone was being threatened by people cutting down trees to supply rattan factories in Gorontalo.

Tasirin and fellow conservationists are working with villagers who live near the forest and local government representatives to protect the forest.

News from The Jakarta Post, October 26, 2007.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20071026.C15

Green Group Calls For Crackdown On Turtle Traders

JAKARTA (JP): Environmentalists from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in North Sulawesi are concerned about the illegal trade in protected turtles at markets in the provincial capital Manado.

They called on the police to take action against those involved in the illegal practice.

The coordinator of the WCS Indonesia Sulawesi program, John Tasirin, said in a press statement a joint team tasked to monitor the illegal trade in protected animals found that protected hawkbill turtles were freely traded in Madado markets.

He referred to the findings of an operation in February and March by a team made up of representatives from several institutions, including the Manado Conservation Bureau, the police, and the WCS Indonesia Sulawesi program.

Steven Siwu, a WCS officer for criminal affairs, said trading in protected animals was punishable by a five-year jail term or a Rp 100 million (US$10,928) fine, according to a law on the environment.

"It is high time Indonesia take necessary measures against violators of the environmental law," Steven said.

Hawkbill turtles are categorized as critically endangered by the International Conservation Union and listed in Appendix I by the Convention of the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). CITES regulates that the trade and transportation of species listed in Appendix I should be restricted.

News from Turkije Reisforum
http://www.wereldwijzer.nl/showthread.php?t=23140

New Species? Magicicada In Binerean

Magicicada is the genera for the red eyed cicadas. As most of the cicadas, their wings are transparent. In Tanjung Binerean, North Sulawesi, where WCS Indonesia Program has started a maleo nesting ground protection project, a red eyed cicada with cryptic, non-transparent wings was found dead on the ground. A new species?

Unfortunately, it is out of focus.

John Tasirin

Konservasi Keanekaan Hayati Sulawesi

Johny Tasirin, Manado, 31 Oktober 2007

Sulawesi adalah pulau yang sangat berharga bagi konservasi biologi karena memiliki tingkat endemik* yang tinggi.

Ada 165 jenis hewan mamalia yang endemik Indonesia, hampir setengahnya (46%) ada di Sulawesi. Dari 127 jenis mamalia yang ditemukan di Sulawesi, 79 jenis (62%) endemik. Hanya di daratan Sulawesi tercatat ada 233 jenis burung, 84 diantaranya endemik Sulawesi. Jumlah ini mencakup lebih dari sepertiga dari 256 jenis burung yang endemik Indonesia. Sulawesi didiami oleh sebanyak 104 jenis reptilia, hampir sepertiganya atau 29 jenis adalah jenis endemik. Itu berarti, dari 150 reptilia yang tercatat endemik di Indonesia, seperlimanya ada di Pulau Sulawesi.

Semenanjung utara Sulawesi (tanah Minahasa, Totabuan dan Gorontalo) merupakan kawasan terpenting di Sulawesi. Kawasan ini didiami oleh 89 atau sekitar 86% dari 103 jenis burung endemik di Sulawesi dan pulau-pulau sekitarnya. Pernahkah anda membayangkan bahwa ada sebanyak 38 jenis tikus endemik Sulawesi. Hampir setengahnya (45%, 17 jenis) ada di semenanjung utara Pulau Sulawesi. Semenanjung utara ini juga menjadi rumah dari 20 jenis kelelawar buah endemik Sulawesi. Itu berarti, sebagian besar (atau lebih dari 83% dari 24 jenis) kelelawar endemik Sulawesi terdapat di kawasan ini.

Sulawesi memiliki sejumlah satwa endemik yang menakjubkan, Hanya beberapa diantaranya yang akan disajikan disini. Maleo (Macrocephalon maleo) menimbun telurnya di dalam tanah dan dierami oleh panas bumi atau matahari. Babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa) memiliki dua cula yang mirip gading pada gajah. Cula ini adalah taring, bagian dari geligi atas pada masa muda yang kemudian bertumbuh dan menembus moncong atas lalu melengkung ke arah mata. Yaki utara, the crested black macaque, (Macaca nigra) adalah primata terbesar di Sulawesi. Yaki betina yang lagi “giang” tidak dapat menyembunyikan hasrat seksualnya karena bagian “pongo-pongo” pantatnya membengkak berwarna merah. Anoa (Bubalus spp.) adalah kerbau katai yang pada saat berdiri hanya mencapai tinggi satu meter dari tanah ke punggung. Kuskus (Ailurops ursinus dan Stigocuscus celebensis) adalah jenis marsupial (hewan berkantong) yang berkerabat dengan kangguru di Australia. Tidak ada marsupial yang ditemukan di seberang pantai barat Sulawesi. Sebaran marsupial berhenti sampai di Sulawesi. Musang Sulawesi (Macrogalidia musschenbroeckii) adalah hewan karnifora (pemakan daging) berukuran besar yang paling misterius di dunia. Tidak banyak dokumentasi gambar dan tulisan tentang satwa yang aktif di malam hari ini. Semua satwa ini bisa ditemukan di semenanjung utara Sulawesi.

Ancaman terhadap kelestarian

Populasi satwa-satwa asli Sulawesi sedang menuju ke kepunahan karena berbagai ancaman. Ada 81 jenis burung, mamalia, reptilia dan ampibi Sulawesi terdaftar dalam Red List of Threatened Animals yang diterbitkan oleh World Conservation Union (IUCN). Perburuan dan perusakan habitat merupakan ancaman serius bagi satwa-satwa asli Sulawesi ini. Perburuan menjadi marak karena orang Sulawesi memakan satwa-satwa ini. Konsumen terbesar ditemukan di Minahasa dan Totabuan. Sudah menjadi hal yang lumrah di sana bahwa orang makan tikus, paniki, yaki dan tuturuga. Tapi kalau ada, babi hutan, kuskus, musang, anoa, babirusa juga disikat rata. Semua satwa asli Sulawesi ini bisa ditemukan di pasar-pasar tradisional di tanah Minahasa. Pasarnya ada Minahasa, sumbernya ada di Bolmong dan Gorontalo. Telur Maleo menjadi sasaran pencurian karena banyak orang menjadikan telur maleo sebagai lauk.

Usaha Konservasi

Penangkapan satwa dan perusakan habitat satwa adalah perbuatan melanggar hukum dan memiliki sangsi pidana. Menahan satwa untuk dijadikan hewan peliharaan juga melanggar hukum dengan sangsi pidana yang cukup serius. Hukum Indonesia melindungi jenis-jenis langka ini karena populasi satwa-satwa ini yang menukik tajam, menuju ke kepunahan. Usaha penyelamatan satwa-satwa sulawesi ini bisa dilakukan dengan menegaskan penegakan hukum bagi para penjahat lingkungan, menghentikan penebangan (legal maupun illegal) di hutan-hutan yang menjadi habitat satwa langka, menghentikan perburuan, menghentikan kebiasaan memakan satwa liar, dan berpartisipasi aktif dalam usaha restorasi habitat dan pembiakan satwa secara alami.

Catatan:

*Jenis endemik Sulawesi berarti hanya ditemukan di Sulawesi, secara alami tidak ditemukan di tempat lain di dunia ini.

Activists Against Mining In Conservation Zone

Bolaang Mangondow legislative council speaker Sunardi Sumantha acknowledged the council sent a letter to the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry seeking official permission to mine gold in Bogani.

"We sent the letter last year. We hope residents there will be allowed to carry out mining operations in the conservation zone because the gold mining is not concentrated in one area. The combined size of the mining operations would only be about 350 hectares," Sunardi said.

The Bogani Nani Wartabone conservation zone covers more than 287,000 hectares and is home to about 300 species of rare plants.

"The zone hosts 68 percent of all mammals that exist in Sulawesi, 47 percent of birds and 27 percent of reptiles. The maleo bird (Macrocephalon maleo), babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa), anoa (Bubalus quarlesi) and two kinds of monkey species, Macaca nigra and Macaca nigrasence, are some of the rare animals that can be found there," Tasirin said.

"We hope politicians do not use the issue of opening up gold mining in the conservation zone for short-term political purposes, such as a way to win the residents' votes in the upcoming elections in Bolaang Mongondow Utara and Mabagu Utara, because this could endanger the biodiversity there," he said.

He said the conservation zone was not the only place that would suffer the negative impacts of mining in the area.

Extensive mining would decrease the regency's water supply because its sole major river, the Dumoga, has its source inside the conservation zone, he said.

The river is the primary source of irrigation water for farmers in the regency.

"This conservation zone is the only remaining forest in North Sulawesi. All of the people in Indonesia, even the world, would be disappointed if it was damaged," Sri Hardiyanti said.

Tasirin also said the forest in the conservation zone was being threatened by people cutting down trees to supply rattan factories in Gorontalo.

Tasirin and fellow conservationists are working with villagers who live near the forest and local government representatives to protect the forest.

News from The Jakarta Post, October 26, 2007.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20071026.C15

Satwa Endemik Sulawesi Nyaris Punah

Manado, Kompas - Populasi beragam jenis satwa endemik Sulawesi terancam punah akibat rendahnya apresiasi masyarakat terhadap alam. Demikian diungkapkan Dr John Tasirin, dari Sulawesi Program Coordinator Worldlife Conservation Society, Minggu (30/4) di Manado, Sulawesi Utara.

Menurut dia, perburuan dan perusakan habitat satwa merupakan ancaman serius bagi satwa-satwa langka Sulawesi. Satwa-satwa itu banyak diperjualbelikan di pasar-pasar tradisional Kabupaten Minahasa, Bolaang Mongondow, dan Gorontalo.

Menurut Tasirin, populasi monyet hitam (Macaca nigra) tahun 1999 ada 500 ekor per kilometer persegi. ”Sejak 2003 tinggal sekitar 49 ekor per kilometer persegi,” ujarnya. Jenis satwa langka itu merupakan daya tarik Sulawesi karena bersifat endemik.

Tasirin meminta pemerintah segera melakukan penegakan hukum secara tegas dan memberikan pendidikan kepada masyarakat untuk menghentikan penebangan liar, perburuan liar, serta restorasi habitat satwa. ”Salah satu bentuk pendidikan masyarakat adalah dengan mengembangkan pusat pendidikan alam dengan membuat kebun binatang,” kata Tasirin.

Pulau Sulawesi, kata Tasirin, bernilai tinggi untuk konservasi sebab tingkat endemiknya tinggi. Dari 127 jenis mamalia, 79 (62%) endemik. Dari 233 jenis burung yang ditemukan di Sulawesi, 103 (44%) endemik. Sementara dari 104 jenis reptilia di Sulawesi, 29 (28%) endemik. Primata Sulawesi juga menakjubkan, yakni dari 11 jenis monyet Macaca di dunia, tujuh jenis endemik di Sulawesi.

Dari sembilan jenis Tarsius (kera kecil) yang telah diberi nama di dunia, enam jenis endemik Sulawesi. Binatang khas Sulawesi lain di antaranya anoa, kuskus (Ailurops ursinus dan Stigocuscus celebensis)—jenis marsupial (hewan berkantong) yang berkerabat dengan kangguru di Australia serta maleo. (FR)

News from Kompas, 1 May 2006
http://kompas.com/kompas-cetak/0605/01/daerah/2619091.htm

Green Message To Help Save Sumatran Forests

Alvin Darlanika Soedarjo, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A green caravan will, both literally and figuratively, embark on a road show through Sumatra's main cities, aiming to raise ecological awareness of the importance of tropical rainforest and biodiversity conservation and sustainable growth.

"Our aim is to collect one million signatures from people from cities in Sumatra. Their 'hope letters' will then be used to convince our government to invest more in our forests there," the Wildlife Conservation Society's (WCS) Indonesia director, Noviar Andayani, told The Jakarta Post.

"We'll urge the government to make a change by investing more. Forest rehabilitation costs a lot of money," she said Thursday during the launching of the project.

The Mobile Information Conservation Center, nicknamed Cimo, will campaign in Sumatra using books, posters, leaflets, stickers, magazines, banners and comics.

In addition to disseminating crucial information and getting more voices on board, the campaigners also plan to hold seminars and creative activities such as drawing and story telling competitions.

There was 19.6 million hectares of forestland on Sumatra, but in 2000 this area was reduced by 5 million ha. The Sumatran tropical rainforest was named a world heritage site in 2004 by UNESCO.

Sumatra currently has three national parks -- Gunung Leuser, Kerinci Seblat and Southern Bukit Barisan -- with a total area spanning some 2 million ha.

Environmentalists traveling with Cimo will visit the cities of Bandar Lampung, Jambi, Padang and Medan, which represent the national parks, from June through to July.

Established in 1985 under the name New York Zoological Society, WSC receives support from a number of NGOs.

Using a scientific, educational and human resource developmental approach, the organization has 100 conservationists and 100 researchers working on various projects around the world.

Former environment minister Emil Salim said education about conservation would determine the future growth of Indonesia.

"Political and social science subjects teach knowledge that will be of secondary importance to the subjects of biology, genetics, marine biology and nanotechnology. The future belongs to people who excel in these subjects," he said.

Emil said that Sumatra's forests had been damaged predominantly by forest fires and both legal and illegal logging.

"Conservation of tropical rain forests is not only for the tigers. It is also for the survival of human beings. Moreover, compared to other countries, our greatest strength lies in our forest resources.

"Biodiversity in our forest is a source of important health products. Some of them can be used as materials to cure cancer and asthma and to treat strokes," he said.

A lawmaker from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, Sujono, said the principal of sustainable growth in Indonesia's forests was in accord with the Constitution and should be enacted promptly.

"The people would be better off if our forests are in good shape. However, now the forests are damaged and our people are not yet better off," he said.

Launching Of Mobile Information Invitation

Dear all, We would like to invite you to attend " Launching of Mobile Information Conservation (MIC)" that will be held on: Date : Thursday, May 31, 2007 Time : 09.00-13.30 Venue : R. Sonokeling, Manggala Wanabakti Jl. Gatot Subroto, Senayan Jakarta Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow. Regards

Demo Perambah TNBBS Tanggamus Di Dukung WALHI

Bandarlampung, 30/3 (ANTARA) - Dukungan beberapa Lembaga Swadaya Masyarakat (LSM) termasuk LSM yang bergerak di bidang lingkungan hidup dan konservasi di Lampung terhadap tuntutan warga yang ditengarai sebagai perambah hutan, mendapatkan kecaman dari berbagai pihak di daerah ini. "Bagaimana itu, kawan-kawan LSM lingkungan `kok malah bisa mendukung tindakan perambahan yang jelas dapat merusak hutan dan merugikan kita semua," tanya Kepala Dinas Kehutanan Lampung, Ir Arinal Junaidi, di Bandarlampung, Jumat.

Secara tegas Arinal menyebut salah satu LSM lingkungan terkenal di Indonesia juga memiliki perwakilan di Lampung, ikut mendampingi warga yang berdemo ke DPRD Tanggamus pada Rabu (28/3), antara lain menuntut hak pengelolaan areal di dalam kawasan hutan di sana. "Apakah mereka tidak mengerti bahwa hutan itu tidak boleh diduduki, apalagi dijadikan areal permukiman," kata Arinal pula.

Dia menilai, tuntutan warga yang didukung aktivis sejumlah LSM termasuk Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia (WALHI) Lampung yang berdalih merupakan hak azasi masyarakat untuk mendapatkan penghidupan yang layak dengan mengolah areal hutan itu sebagai salah kaprah. "Hak azasi memang harus dituntut tapi bukan hak azasi yang tidak ilegal dengan menuntut dapat mengelola areal hutan semaunya sendiri," kecam Arinal lagi.

Kecaman serupa dilontarkan Plt Kepala Balai Besar Taman Nasional Bukit Barisan Selatan (TNBBS), Lusman Pasaribu, yang mengingatkan seharusnya para aktivis LSM dapat membimbing dan mengarahkan masyarakat yang masih berada di dalam kawasan hutan untuk segera meninggalkan aktivitas mereka itu. "Memang kalau mau menerapkan aturan secara tegas, siapapun yang berada di dalam kawasan hutan dan melakukan aktivitas terlarang harus diusir, tapi tentu saja karena menyangkut masyarakat kita tidak bisa bertindak semaunya pula," kata Lusman lagi.

Namun dia mengharapkan para aktivis LSM dan pegiat lingkungan di Lampung tidak mendukung tindakan yang melanggar hukum serta berdampak merusak hutan seperti itu. Kendati begitu, Direktur Eksekutif WALHI Lampung, Mukri Friatna, menepis tudingan bahwa mereka mendukung perambahan hutan dengan berada di belakang aksi para warga yang menduduki dan mengelola areal hutan di beberapa tempat di Kabupaten Tanggamus itu. "Kami justru mendorong agar ada kejelasan tata batas areal hutan TNBBS dengan areal lain, termasuk eks HPH yang tidak dikelola lagi dan diharapkan dapat diserahkan kepada masyarakat yang membutuhkan untuk penghidupan mereka," ujar Mukri pula.

Menurut Mukri, peran mereka dalam aksi demo warga di sekitar hutan TNBBS itu ke DPRD Tanggamus adalah justru untuk membantu mencarikan solusinya karena sudah sekian lama masalah itu tidak ada jalan keluarnya. "Pihak TNBBS harus memperjelas zonasi dan tapal batasnya, sehingga tidak selalu menyalahkan masyarakat yang dituding masuk hutan padahal belum ada kejelasan zonasi serta tapal batas itu," kata Mukri pula. (T.B014/B/M023/M023) 30-03-2007 08:04:18 NNNN