Agency To Increase Rare Animals Population To Three Percent

Sukabumi, W Java, July 4 (Antara) - The Mt. Halimun and Salak National Park Agency (TNGHS) has set a target of increasing the population of rare animal species by three percents annually. "It is because the number of these animals` population is very small and endangered. They included leopard, javan hawk-eagle, sunda slow loris, and silvery gibbon which all have decreased in number caused by certain factors, for example, poaching and habitat destruction or deforestation," Head of TNGHS Agency Agus Priambudi said here on Thursday. Based on TNGHS` latest data in the region only 59 leopards (Panthera pardus melas), about 25 javan hawk-eagles (Nisaetus bartelsi), 1.149 silvery gibbons (Hylobates moloch) and 12 sunda slow loris (Nycticebus javanicus) are still remaining. With the target it is expected that one or two births of each rare animals annually will take place in order to maintain the number of their population, because TNGHS is the only natural habitat for endangered animals mentioned ealier. "The preservation and conservations are carried out by doing monitoring, research, environmental education for the public, habitat restoration and raptor sanctuary, and also by cooperatibg with third parties about rare animals` release," he added. The agency recently released two crested serpent eagles (Spilornis cheela) in Sukamantri Campground, Bogor, W Java, as mandated by Director General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation (PHKA) of Forestry Ministry Decree No. 132/IV.KKH/2011 which essentially instructed each national park to preserve endangered species by three percent annually. To increase the chances of success, the programme also involved cooperation with NGOs, universities and research foundations to help the preservation and conservations of rare animals that inhabit in TNGHS. "The partnerships believed to increase rare animals` preservation by about 70-75 percent. On the other hand, we also keep monitoring the habitat by routine patrol to prevent poachers or forest destroyers," he added.