Two captive-bred Javan hawk-eagles, a female and a male, were released into the wild on Monday at the foot of Mount Gede Pangrango in West Java.

Taman Safari Indonesia (TSI) director Jansen Manansang said the release was part of a captive breeding program by the Javan Hawk-eagle Conservation Center (PSSEJ) and TSI.

Jansen said the hawk eagles (Nisaetus bartelsi) were equipped with GPS tracking devices.

The release was a cooperation between the Environment and Forestry Ministry, Mount Halimun Salak National Park (TNGHS), the Natural Resource Conservation Center, the PSSEJ, TSI and mining company PT Smelting.

TNGHS chief Wasja said the hawk eagles were an endemic species of Java Island, and were raptors that played an important role in the island's ecosystem.

The Javan hawk-eagle, which served as inspiration for Indonesia's national symbol, the Garuda, was made the mascot of endangered Indonesian species in 1992 due to its majestic crest and conservation status.

The endangered brown bird is facing many threats from illegal poaching and deforestation.

The captive breeding program was started in 2018 to increase in the population of the eagle through monitored breeding. (dre)

Source:
courtesy of THE JAKARTA POST

by Theresia Sufa (The Jakarta Post)

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