Social Minister Releases Rare Brontok Eagle In Tahura Menumbing West Bangka

WEST BANGKA - Social Minister Tri Rismaharini released a protected rare animal in the Bukit Menumbing Forest Park (Tahura), Muntok, West Bangka Regency, Bangka Belitung Islands.

The arrival of Social Minister Risma was a working visit in the framework of the commemoration of the National Social Solidarity Day (HKSN) and the 2021 Social Solidarity Service Month (BBKS).

Together with the South Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) and the Alobi Foundation Babel Wildlife Conservation Center (LKPPS), the Minister of Social Affairs released a dark-faced brontok eagle at the top of Menumbing Hill.

"This brontok eagle is one of the protected animals that was entrusted by the South Sumatra BKSDA on August 6, 2021 and has undergone an adjustment period to be released into the wild," said LKPPS Chair Alobi Babel Langka Sani, quoted by Antara, Sunday, December 19.

According to him, the release of these animals is a form of environmental conservation, especially in protecting animals from becoming extinct.

The dark-faced brontok eagle (Spizaetus cirrhatus) that was released was about five years old, for this type of animal can be found scattered in several areas, including Sumatra, Kalimantan, Java, Bali to Nusa Tenggara.

"We were entrusted with the eagle which we named this Tahura from the South Sumatra BKSDA on August 6, 2021 and it is an honor and motivation for us because today it was released directly by the Minister of Social Affairs, Mrs. Risma," he said.

Based on data from the South Sumatra BKSDA, the number of animals released into their natural habitat since 2014 is 7,137 individuals, consisting of several species of birds, slow lorises, deer, deer, crocodiles and others.

"The release locations are throughout the South Sumatra BKSDA working area, including on the islands of Bangka and Belitung," he said.

With these efforts, it is hoped that animals that are threatened with extinction can still be preserved and are also expected to support efforts to move the economy in the tourism sector.

Animals, especially the brontok eagle, have an important role in maintaining the sustainability of the ecosystem, for now the number is very limited and is a rare type of eagle so it should be preserved.

The release of the brontok eagle at the top of Menumbing Hill was carried out by Minister of Social Affairs Risma after visiting the exhibition room of the Menumbing Pesanggrahan, the location of exile for a number of Indonesian Independence fighters in Muntok in mid-1948-1949.