Bali Zoo Releases 12 Timor Deer into Buleleng National Park: Breeding Results

Bali Zoo together with the Bali BKSDA released 12 Timor deer in the West Bali National Park forest, Buleleng Regency, Bali, Wednesday (6/8/2025). ANTARA/Dewa Ketut Sudiarta Wiguna

JAKARTA - The Bali Zoo conservation agency together with the Bali Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) released 12 Timor deer in West Bali National Park (TNBB), Buleleng Regency.

Head of Bali Zoo Public Relations, Emma Kristiana Chandra said this effort was to strengthen the population and maintain the conservation of protected animals.

"A total of 12 Timor deer are the result of our breeding," he said in the West Bali National Park Forest, Buleleng Regency, Bali, Wednesday, which was confiscated by Antara.

In addition to strengthening the population, it is also to enrich genetic diversity, as well as maintain the balance of ecosystems in the 77 thousand hectares of conservation area located in Buleleng Regency and Jembrana Regency.

The animals with the Latin name timorensis deer that were released were six male and female each with a age range of four months to seven years.

Before being released back into nature, the animal with a vulnerable status from the International Union for Natural Conservation (IUCN) has undergone a period of habituation or adjustment at the adaptation cage which has been temporarily made in the TNBB area since July 30, 2025.

During the habituation period, the typical brown animal was introduced to its natural environmental conditions, such as forest sounds, wild vegetation, and open weather.

Intensive monitoring was carried out by the field team of the TNBB Center, BKSDA Bali, Bali Zoo, the Plataran Conservation Ranger team and local traditional security officers or pecalang to ensure the adaptation runs optimally.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Bali BKSDA Ratna Hendratmoko hopes that this conservation effort can inspire and educate all parties in an effort to preserve animals so that they are not threatened with extinction.

"Because the end is how mutual awareness towards joint action is concrete as a form of collaboration between various parties to support animal conservation," he said.

According to the Ministry of Forestry, Timor deer are considered to have adaptability in their natural habitat, including feed needs, including green feed such as grass and leaves.

With the release of the 12 deer, the conservation and education agency currently treats 58 tails with a captivity approach outside the natural habitat (ex-situ).

The presence of additional Timor deer in the natural habitat (in situ) of the West Bali forest is expected to strengthen the population, which is currently estimated to reach around 1,014 heads based on data from the TNBB Center as of 2023.

Previously, the zoo had also released other protected animals in natural habitats, such as Javanese gibbons in West Java, then ten hedgehogs in Tabanan Regency, Bali, and several deer in other conservation areas.

The release of the Timor deer was attended by officials from the Directorate of Species and Genetics Misappropriation of the Ministry of Forestry, Balai TNBB, Head of Buleleng Police Adjunct Senior Commissioner of Police (AKBP) Ida Bagus Widwan Sutadi, Buleleng Regency Government and other relevant agencies.