Securing a conservation breeding programme for Bawean Deer in Indonesia

Species Conservation Fund

Jun 7

Written By

Survey and map out potential conservation threats in White-bellied Heron habitat along the Lower Wangchhu river basin
Assess biodiversity conservation status and human-heron interactions in five villages (communities) to better understand ther heron's conservation.
Conduct advocacy and awareness campaign on white-bellied heron conservation 250 households
Establish local conservation support groups

Identified browse preferences and improved the quality of diet: we have identified a number of plants that are favoured by Bawean Deer. This ensures a varied and balanced diet of ex situ populations
Conducted health checks and improved health condition the captive deer population in Pudakit Barat (western Bawean). All the individual deer in the project are now free of parasites.
Assessment of the genetic diversity of ex situ populations on Java as source for introduction at Bawean. The genetic diversity (i.e. allelic richness and heterozygosity) was very low, but similar in the Bawean Deer populations from Bawean and Java. We did not detect hybridisation between Bawean Deer and Sambar and Javan Deer.
Establishing a studbook for Bawean Deer. The studbook for Bawean Deer is maintained by the Prigen Conservation Breeding Ark (PCBA), Taman Safari Prigen, Java, Indonesia
Managed releases and post-release monitoring of captive-born individuals. We have realised a long-planned (re)introduction of animals from captivity to support the wild population on Bawean. Nine deer have been released into the wild. The habitat (i.e. protected secondary forest) appears to be suitable for the deer as our GPS data indicates that the deer utilise the forest almost exclusively.
Identification of threats. The hunting of pigs (with dogs, nets and snares) has most probably a negative impact on the deer population.

Organisation: Association for Nature and Biodiversity (ANB)

Country: Indonesia

Year project started: 2023

Species: Axis kuhlii

Raising the awareness of local communities on the conservation importance of the Painted Terrapin in Karang Gading Langkat Timur Laut Wildlife Reserve