A Rare Elephant-footed Turtle Released By The Agam KSDA To The Maninjau Nature Reserve

Brown Baniang heading into the Maninjau Nature Reserve, Friday, September 3 (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Natural Resources Conservation Resort (KSDA) of Agam, West Sumatra, released a rare and protected species of elephant foot turtle or brown baning turtle (Manouria emys) into its habitat in the forest area of the Maninjau Nature Reserve, Friday, September 3. "The animal was released into the wild after it was confirmed that it was healthy, there were no injuries or defects and it still has a wild nature, so it deserves to be released back into the wild," said the Head of the Agam KSDA Resort, Ade Putra in Lubukbasung, quoted by Antara, Friday, September 3. it was received from Uzi M Fikri (37), a resident of Jorong Malabu, Ampeknagari District, Tuesday, August 31. He obtained the animal when he saw several local residents carrying the animal. Feeling sorry for the animal being used as a toy, Uzi asked for it and took care of it for a few days. After that, he reported it to the KSDA Resort considering that the animal was rare and protected by law. The KSDA Resort officer immediately identified the reptile. Based on the results of the identification, it is known that the type is a male elephant foot turtle or brown baning (Manouria emys) with a shell size / carapace of 50 cm x 44 cm, weighing up to 10 kilograms and is included in the type of protected animal. Agam to observe.

"I express my gratitude and highest appreciation to the reporter who has cared and assisted in efforts to save endangered and protected species," he said.

The brown baning animal (Manouria emys) continues to experience a decline in its population in nature, for that reason the world conservation organization, IUCN since 2000 has placed this brown baning in the status of Endangered (EN, Endangered). wild animals are protected in accordance with Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems and Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry Number P.106 of 2018 concerning Protected Types of Wild Plants and Animals. resembling an elephant's foot, with indistinct toes. The hind legs have five nails and the front feet have four nails, tapered in shape, the scales on the feet are thickened like shielded nails. Ade hopes that if residents find wild animals to immediately contact and report them to the local KSDA officer or to the West Sumatra BKSDA call center at 081266131222 .