Assessing Habitat Readiness: Unud Biology Supports Community Initiatives for Bali Starling Conservation in Tabanan

• By Admin
• Minggu, 19 Mei 2024

PENEBEL, TABANAN – Efforts to preserve the iconic Bali Starling (Leucopsar rothschildi), the pride of the Island of Gods, continue to gain momentum through strengthened synergy between academics and indigenous communities. Throughout March and April 2024, a joint team from Udayana University conducted a comprehensive habitat assessment in the Tingkih Kerep Traditional Village, Tengkudak Village, Penebel District, Tabanan Regency.

This scientific assessment is a crucial pre-release step to ensure a successful reintroduction of the Bali Starling into the wild. The initiative involved the Center for Excellence in Ornithological Research (PUP Ornitologi), the Frank Williams Bird Statue Museum, and the Biology Study Program of FMIPA Udayana University. It was further invigorated by the participation of the Udayana Biology Student Association (Himabio) and the Biodiversity Study Club (BSC) Curik.

The expert team was led by Prof. Dra. Luh Putu Eswaryanti Kusuma Yuni, M.Sc., Ph.D., alongside Prof. Dr. I Ketut Ginantra, S.Pd., M.Si., and I Made Saka Wijaya, S.Si., M.Sc. The primary focus was to analyze the local plant and bird communities within the Tingkih Kerep area. "The success of any wildlife release depends heavily on the habitat’s carrying capacity. We conducted a plant species inventory to ensure the availability of food sources and nesting trees, while also monitoring local bird communities to understand the dynamics of competition and coexistence that may occur," explained Prof. Yuni.

What makes this program remarkable is that the plan for the release originated directly from the Tingkih Kerep Traditional Village community. The local residents have demonstrated high ecological awareness and a strong desire to protect biodiversity, aiming to make their territory a safe sanctuary for Bali's most iconic endemic bird. In implementing this vision, the community collaborated closely with the Friends of Nature, People, and Forest (FNPF), a foundation with an extensive track record in Bali Starling conservation. The role of the Unud Biology team was to provide scientific guidance, ensuring that this noble community initiative is grounded in robust and measurable data.

Recognizing that the Bali Starling is a strictly protected species under Indonesian law, all activities were conducted in close coordination with the Bali Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA Bali). As the governing authority, BBKSDA Bali provided essential guidance to ensure that every stage—from habitat assessment to the future habituation process—complies with national conservation standard operating procedures (SOPs). Through this collaboration, it is hoped that Tingkih Kerep Traditional Village will serve as a role model for other villages in Bali, showcasing how local wisdom can effectively harmonize with scientific expertise in environmental preservation. This habitat assessment acts as a guarantee that the released Bali Starlings will thrive, reproduce, and once again grace the skies of Tabanan with their presence.