Papua has a great asset to biodiversity. The 5 August 2020 edition of the journal Nature states 13,634 flora species are growing in Papua, of which 1,000 species are endemic and endangered. Bird collections in Papua are also very diverse.

Avibase Research, as a global bird data center, records that 843 bird species live comfortably in Papua. That figure is half of the total bird species in Indonesia, or around 1,794 species, as quoted from data from Burung Indonesia NGO based on monitoring results in 2020.

One of the endemic birds from Papua is the Pesquet's parrot with the scientific name Psittrichas fulgidus. The French naturalist Rene Primevere Lesson named it in his stop in Papua for the journey around the world in 1822-1825. Rene was also the first to find birds of paradise (Paradisaea) in their natural habitat. He was surprised at the discovery of Pesquet's parrot because it is morphologically similar to Curica Urubu (Pyrilia vulturina) from Brazil.

Unique Pesquet's Parrot

Parrots generally have bright colors of green, blue, bright red, yellow, or mixed. However, this is not the case with the Pesquet's parrot. This bird has the largest body size among other parrot species. Nearly 50 cm in length and can weigh up to 800 gr.

This aves class fauna has a unique appearance and even tends to be fierce. There is a thin feather around its head which is pitch black to the part of its bent beak, reminiscent of the stature of an eagle. These elements made it often be called the eagle parrot. But, this parrot is not a type of bird of prey.

They prefer to eat various types of seeds, nuts, and fruits. Sometimes it also eats flowers and nectar and a significant role as a seed disperser to increases the number of trees. This bird also likes to eat figs, a kind of gummy fruit from the mountains of Papua that makes the feathers of the head almost bald as they evolve so that figs do not stick to the head.

Also known as Dracula parrot, they have black fur from the neck to the chest and the back to the tip of the tail (dorsal). Its belly, wings, and tail feathers are red. Male bird feathers have the same shape and color as the female. A few red feathers near the eye of the male distinguish them from the female.

As quoted from the official website of the Gembira Loka Zoo, which collects these animals, this bird is a bird that is active during the day (diurnal), either in pairs or in groups of eight to 20 individuals. This unique parrot is very rarely making sounds, in contrast to the parrots in general, who are always chatty.

The world's parrot protection organization, the World Parrot Trust, has described Pesquet's parrot’s voice as more like a hoarse growl. They are more often flying while making sounds such as screams or perching on branches. This flying Dracula is an accomplished climber with a kangaroo-like jumping gait.

They build nests by punching holes in the tall trees that are close to each other. Pesquet's parrots inhabit mountainous forest areas at an altitude of 100-1,800 m above sea level. They are capable of producing two to three eggs and can survive up to nine years of age.

Endangered

Poachers hunted them because of their uniqueness. Large-scale hunting occurs in their habitat due to market demand for private collection, in addition to illegal logging.

Another thing that threatens the life of Pesquet’s parrot and other bird species is the traditions of the local community. Especially the tribes in the interior of Papua who use birds as traditional ornaments on headbands and clothes and other forms.

Quoting data from the Papua Natural Resources Conservation Agency, Pesquet’s parrots in the wild are no more than 21,000. Environment and Forestry Ministerial Regulation No. 20 of 2018 on Protected Plant and Animal Types include Pesquet’s parrots in the list of protected animals number 588.

Ex-situ Conservation

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) places the Pesquet’s parrot on its Appendix II list. It means that it is not yet considered endangered but could be if large-scale hunting and trade continue without preventive measures.

Meanwhile, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) has included it in the Red List for the vulnerable category since 1 October 2017. IUCN predicts that there are around 20,000–40,000 Pesquet’s parrots on Papua island. The distribution is in Fakfak, Kumawa, and Cyclops, an area of 689,000 km2. They listed its population trend with the Decreasing status, meaning that these animals will be decreasing in number in their habitat at any time.

Several conservation organizations in Indonesia are trying to breed Pesquet’s parrots outside their habitat or ex-situ, for example, at the Gembira Loka Zoo, the Lampung Green Valley Animal Park, and at the Indonesian Safari Park (TSI). As quoted from the page of the TSI website, the eagle parrots managed to hatch their eggs for the first time in March 2020.

TSI managers even have to make artificial nests of holes one to two meters deep in the palm trees for them to be able to incubate and hatch their eggs. "This is a matter of pride for us, especially since this is the success of the conservation of rare and endangered species," said TSI Group owner Tony Sumampau, as reported by Antara, 8 December 2020.

In a study in January 1998, a bird researcher from the Zoological Society of San Diego Pat Witman said that the global community had been doing the ex-situ conservation of Pesquet’s parrots since the 1980s. Pesquet’s parrots have long been residents of the Bronx zoos in New York, Miami, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Houston, all of which are in the United States.

The Pesquet’s parrot in Spain has been successfully bred at the Loro Parque Zoo in Puerto de la Cruz on Tenerife Island and Palmitos Park, Canary Islands. Meanwhile, Singapore's Jurong Bird Park is the most successful ex-situ conservation in breeding this parrot.

The success of the ex-situ Pesquet’s parrot conservation effort is one way to save and protect this endemic species of Papua from the threat of future extinction.

Writer: Anton Setiawan
Editors: Ratna Nuraini/Elvira Inda Sari/Wilda Stiana
Translator: Irvina Falah

Translator: Irvina Falah