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May 2010

Help Save Two Critically Endangered Subspecies (Races) of Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoo


Six birds in tree

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Many of you have grown along with the Indonesian Parrot Project, since 2002. We had been concerned since 1997 about how little was actually known about the magnificent but endangered Salmon-crested cockatoo Cacatua moluccensis. So that specie of cockatoo became our flagship parrot and has remained so ever since. Seram remains a place of indescribable beauty, not just physically, and not even just for its incredible parrots, but for the warmth and friendship of its people, who accepted us virtually as family and shared with us experiences which very few, if any, outsiders, have ever shared in. The ashes of many cockatoos who have "fallen" in homes in the U.S. have mingled with the forest soil of Seram when we had the privilege to cast them from our canopy platforms

But we also realized that, despite the special place which C. moluccensis held in our hearts, other Indonesian cockatoos were, in fact, much more threatened with impending extinction. In fact, the entire species C. sulphurea or Lesser Sulphur-crested (Yellow-crested) Cockatoo [LSC] was upgraded in 2004 to Appendix 1 on CITES, the highest level of endangerment. Of the four subspecies of LSC, two are particularly at risk: the abbotti (less than 10 individuals remaining in the wild) and the sulphurea (nominate) subspecies (probably less than 200 remaining). However, as with the Seram cockatoo, adequate ecological data and census figures were missing or were woefully out-of-date. Therefore we decided to use some of the approaches previously used successfully and extend them to these two new areas. These included our Conservation-Awareness- Pride Program, designed to start a paradigm shift in the way that both children and adults in Indonesia "see" and value their parrots. The field-work was carried out by our wonderful colleagues and collaborators Dudi Nandika and Dwi Agustina in Konservasi Kakatua Indonesia [the sister NGO of IPP].

Funding for the first expedition was provided by us, and funding for subsequent expeditions was generously provided by the Loro Parque Fundacion in the Teneriffe Islands, Spain. However, these were largely ecologic studies and, while designed to reduce cockatoo trapping, did not involve direct investigation of the illegal bird trade there. This trade has played key roles in the population decline of both species. The urgency of the situation is clear, and motivated us to move ahead at maximum speed. To do this, we decided to appeal to you, our "stockholders" , for your help in funding one critical aspect of the work which currently is unfunded ... an undercover investigation of the illegal trade in LSC.

You may recall that in 2004, we published in PsittaScene the results of an undercover investigation of the smuggling of Salmon-crested cockatoos on Seram, in collaboration with ProFauna, the foremost advocacy and conservation group in Indonesia. The results of this study, by identifying smugglers and their methods of operation, led to anti-smuggling efforts by the Forestry department on Seram and Ambon. For example, it led to the closing of operations of the largest smuggler on Seram.

We would like to carry out a similar study in collaboration with ProFauna, this time focusing on LSC. The need for such an undercover study is underscored by the fact that each cockatoo trapped in the wild represents a detectible % of the total population in the wild (about 10% for the abbotti subspecies and approaching 1% for the nominate race sulphurea)

However, no funding is available for such an undercover study, and so we turn to you, our Members.

This is a rare opportunity for each person as an individual to:

Contribute directly to conservation of two of rarest cockatoos on Earth

Decrease the abuse and torture that these birds suffer in the hands of smugglers ....

Demonstrate to local villagers the importance of conservation, and to increase their pride in "their" cockatoos ...

If you are interested in contributing to this Project in any amount , please click the link below, or if you would like to sponsor a wild LSC, please click the "sponsor" link or contact Mandy Andrea.

Most importantly, regardless of donations or not, all of us at the Indonesian Parrot Project/PBW want to sincerely thank you for you interest and support over the last 8 years. Your interest in these spectacular birds motivates us, and we would not be able to accomplish what we have, without your suppor

Sampai jumpa {"Until we meet again"}

Stewart Metz, Director and Bonnie Zimmermann, Vice- President

Coming Soon: A Major Report! "Status of Kembali Bebas Rehabilitation and Release Center on Seram: A Resounding Success or a Glorious Failure?"

Birds at the house of a trafficker

Undercover Photo at the Home of a Smuggler

Eleonora portrait

Portrait of LSC Rescued from the Illegal Trade at Kembali Bebas Rehabilitation Center in Seram

Please Help Save These Birds!