Decreasing Population, Javanese Eagle Is Born Again On Mount Salak

Javanese Eagle (Photo: Public Relations Doc of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry)

JAKARTA - The Javanese eagle population is threatened with extinction. How not, currently the number of endemic wildlife is estimated at only 300-500 tail and the decline continues. This eagle only exists on the island of Java.

However, good news came from the Mount Salak I National Park Management Resort, Bogor Region II National Park Management Section. Where in mid-April 2020, another Javanese Eagle (Nisaetus bartelsi) was born.

These births are routinely monitored by the Javan Hawk-eagle monitoring team at the Mount Halimun Salak National Park (TNGHS).

"We named him Wira, the couple's son from Beti and Jalu. We found Wira born on May 2, 2020 and is thought to be around three weeks old," said Head of TNGHS Ahmad Munawir, quoted on Saturday, May 16.

Today, Wira has started to frequently pack his wings and learn to fly in the nest. The color of the feathers on the body and wings begins to brown. The crest on his head also started to grow. Wira can start pecking and trying to shred the prey that the mother carries, but in the process of eating it is still fed by the mother.

The Javan hawk is one of the three key species in GHSNP and is endemic to Java Island. The IUCN categorizes the Javanese eagle as an endangered species and the Indonesian government has designated the Javanese eagle as a protected species.

"Javanese eagles only experience one breeding period in two years and even then the number of eggs is only one egg, so naturally it has a low population. The nesting period is the most important period in the life cycle of birds of prey for their continued existence," he said.

In the ecosystem, the Javanese eagle has a very important role, namely as an indicator of the preservation of a forest area. In general, the Javan hawk habitat is in primary forest and a small part of secondary forest which is adjacent to / bordering ecotone.

The GHSNP area, which is the largest remaining mountain tropical rain forest on the island of Java, is believed to be the best hatitat for this species of eagle.

He said, it was recorded that from 2015 to 2020 11 active Javan hawk nests were found in this national park area. Among other things, eight nests in the Mount Salak area and three nests in the Mount Halimun area.

Of the 11 Javan Eagle nests found, it was recorded that almost all nests experienced successful breeding except for one nest in the Pasir Ngantuk Block, Resort PTNW Kawahratu, Section PTNW III Sukabumi (in the Mount Salak area).

Based on observations, the nests in Bitung Lega Block, PTNW Gunung Salak I Resort, Bogor PTNW II Section (in the Mount Salak area) have the most successful breeding. Recorded three times starting from the beginning of 2015, 2016, and the newest being born in mid-April 2020.

"In fact, in 2018 our Javanese hawk mother pair named Beti (for the female parent) and Jalu (for the male parent) laid eggs too, but did not hatch," he said.

Previously, in 2019 a Javanese Eagle was born in the North West part of Mount Salak named Sabeni. Meanwhile, this year, Wira was born on the North East peak of Mount Salak.

"Hopefully, both of them can carry out their duties as the ruler of the northern sky of Mount Salak, so that the balance of the ecosystem in this area can be maintained properly," he said.