The Javan eagle (Nisaetus bartelsi) captivated Zaini Rakhman, 44, when he first saw the big bird flying around Mount Gede, West Java, 23 years ago.
By
Tatang Mulyana Sinaga
·4 minutes read
The Javan eagle (Nisaetus bartelsi) captivated Zaini Rakhman, 44, when he first saw the big bird flying around Mount Gede, West Java, 23 years ago. Since then, his path in life has been dedicated to preserving eagles and their protected relatives.
Several birds of prey screamed one after the other at the Kamojang Raptor Conservation Center (PKEK) in Garut regency, West Java, on Friday (22/11/2019). The pitch of their shrieks was like the morning rhythm in the Citepus Block at Kamojang Crater Natural Park.
Zaini went around monitoring the rehabilitated birds. As the operational manager of the PKEK, he is obliged to follow the development of the rehabilitation of every raptor there.
He checked various cages, from treatment cages, observation cages and rehabilitation cages to flight exercise cages. Zaini also did not miss the display cage, where the birds are kept that cannot be released into their natural habitat due to some permanent disability. "Although they cannot be released, these birds are still needed to educate visitors," he said.
Zaini is not alone. He shares his duties with several keepers and veterinarian Dian Tresno Wikanti who were observing the raptors’ physical health that day. The busy schedule that morning illustrated the routine at the PKEK since it was established in October 2014.
Zaini\'s interest in raptors began when he climbed Mt. Gede in 1996. At that time, he saw Bas van Balen, a Dutch eagle researcher, watching the Javan eagle. Out of curiosity, Zaini continued to watch him. Van Balen also lent binoculars to him. "The eagle looked very beautiful and handsome. I was immediately hooked and continued to look at the bird," he said.
A year later, he joined Birdlife International-Indonesia, a program to help with research into and conservation of the Javan eagle. His experience grew while helping the Mountain Hawk-Eagle Project in the research and conservation of eagles in the Suzuka Mountains, Shiga Prefecture, Japan, 1997-1998.
After returning from Japan, Zaini joined the Pribumi Alam Lestari Foundation in Bandung from 1999 to 2005. The foundation is engaged in research into and conservation of the Javanese eagle, the Sulawesi eagle (Nietetus lanceolatus) and the Flores eagle (Nisaetus floris).
He has assisted in raptor-conservation organizations in several countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.
Zaini\'s activities continued when he joined the Asian Raptor Research and Conservation Network (ARR-CN) Secretariat in 2006-2010. He has assisted in raptor-conservation organizations in several countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.
After ARRCN, Zaini returned to Indonesia in 2010 and became the chairman of Raptor Indonesia, a network of researchers and observers of birds of prey in the country. Four years later, Raptor Indonesia together with the West Java Natural Resources Conservation Center and PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy built the PKEK.
"This is a collaborative effort to stabilize the eagle population in nature through a rehabilitation and release program for raptors," said Zaini.
Since its inception, the PKEK has rehabilitated 250 different types of raptor, including Javan eagles, crested hawk-eagles, snake eagles (Spilhoris cheela), brahminy kites (Haliastur indus), brown eagles (Butastur liventer), oriental honey buzzards and black kites.
The majority of raptors in the PKEK are the result of confiscation from illegal owners. A total of 47 of the birds have been released into the wild with a success rate of 74 percent. This means that most of the birds are able to live in the wild.
Conservation challenges
According to Zaini, the challenge of raptor conservation in Indonesia is very complex. Not infrequently, the PKEK accepts birds that are damaged or do not have hunting instincts so that they are threatened with death if they are released into the wild. In addition, the illegal animal trade also threatens conservation.
Meanwhile, the habit of collecting birds of prey means the protected animals continue to be hunted for sale.
Zaini realized that raptor rehabilitation could not rely solely on the conservation institution. The role of the community is far more important. Forest encroachment increasingly threatens the birds’ habitat. Meanwhile, the habit of collecting birds of prey means the protected animals continue to be hunted for sale.
Therefore, the PKEK also carries out an educational function. The aim is for the community to understand the damage hunting does to the environment and that it threatens the bird population in nature. This education has begun to bear fruit.
"A resident gave up his pet eagle after his son visited here. There are local residents who originally hunted eagles and are now becoming informants about the eagle\'s habitat," said Zaini, who also issued an educational book entitled Garuda: Myths and Facts in Indonesia.
Zaini did this all because of one thing: he missed seeing eagles flying in the wild.
Born: Bandung,
Feb. 9 1975
Education:
- SD Cibereum XI Bandung (graduated 1987)
- SMPN 7 Bandung (graduated 1990)
Activity:
- Eagle conservationist
- Operational Manager at Kamojang Eagle Conservation Center, Garut