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missing or were woefully out-of-date.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?"