Action Indonesia: A global collaboration to conserve Anoa, Banteng and Babirusa

Blueprint

ASSESS

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species assessed Banteng as Endangered in 2016, with a recent 50% decrease in population caused by habitat loss, fragmentation, poaching, and the loss of genetic diversity of the wild populations from hybridisation with their domestic relatives. The Lowland and Mountain Anoas were also assessed as Endangered in 2016. That same year, the Togian Islands Babirusa was assessed as Endangered and the Sulawesi Babirusa as Vulnerable. The Hairy Babirusa has been assessed as Vulnerable since 2008. Babirusa species have felt pressure from both habitat loss and hunting for their meat. The Indonesian government has listed all three genera as national priority taxa that are threatened with extinction. Monitoring these species’ population size and corresponding trends in the wild is challenging due to their habitat, behaviour, and resource limitations.

PLAN

In 2009, the Indonesian Government and IUCN SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group (AWCSG) collaborated to develop a National Species Action Plan for these taxa. The plans focused stakeholders efforts on activities to save these species, concentrating on the most important populations. They also included the recommendation to maintain an ex situ assurance population for each of these taxa in case of extinction or a need to supplement wild populations. In 2015, the Action Indonesia Global Species Management Plans (GSMPs) were founded by an international collaboration of IUCN SSC specialist groups, the Indonesian Ministry of the Environment and Forestry, and adopted by both national and regional zoo associations using a WAZA framework to support conservation efforts.

The GSMPs incorporated planning workshops in Indonesia in 2016 and 2018. The Action Indonesia partnership of about 50 partners, including founding partners plus zoos and research institutions, worked to develop conservation masterplans. Some of the top priorities identified were facilitating husbandry, education, and drafting the first-ever breeding and transfer recommendations for these species in Indonesian zoos. The partners recognised the urgent need to maintain healthy ex situ populations, raise awareness, and apply zoo expertise to support in situ conservation projects and activities.

ACT

The Action Indonesia GSMP partnership has increased the actions taken to save these species, by involving many more partners and increasing resources.

A primary aim of the GSMPs for each species is to achieve healthy ex situ assurance populations. Two sets of breeding and transfer recommendations have already been developed and agreed upon by partners. The Action Indonesia GSMP partnership has also been working to build capacity and awareness while facilitating cooperative breeding in Indonesian zoos and institutions.

Since 2017, the Action Indonesia GSMP partnership has been building capacity in Anoa, Banteng, and Babirusa husbandry in Indonesian institutions through a series of face-to-face and virtual training workshops helping improve the ability to manage ex situ populations and follow through with breeding and transfer recommendations. Husbandry training has also been provided for handling and health assessments of rescued and confiscated Anoa and Babirusa in Sulawesi.

Education and public awareness raising training have been conducted through multiple sessions for Indonesian zoos, empowering educators to engage their audience with conservation issues, supported by an educational ‘toolbox’ of bilingual materials and resources. In 2019, the Action Indonesia GSMP partners instigated Action Indonesia Day, an annual event to raise global awareness for Banteng, Babirusa, and Anoa and maximise both the communication and education efforts surrounding the species and their conservation.

Regarding in situ work, the Action Indonesia GSMP partnership, the Indonesian Zoo Association (PKBSI), and Alas Purwo National Park (a priority location for Banteng in East Java), are collaborating to begin a Banteng monitoring project in 2021, providing longitudinal population density data to inform future management. These data will also inform future conservation planning at a workshop to conduct a Population and Habitat Viability Assessment and develop a Conservation Strategy and Action Plan.

Results

Thanks to face-to-face and virtual meetings among all members, there is a good understanding of the varying regional and institutional processes among the Action Indonesia partners. Over 190 practitioners from Indonesian institutions have gained skills in husbandry and transportation of Banteng, Babirusa, and Anoa. More than 150 educational practitioners have gained skills in conservation education; they are empowered to raise awareness of conservation actions and the needs of these lesser-known species in the wild. 62 zoos and universities, over four continents, actively participated in Action Indonesia Day in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Breeding and transfer recommendations are working to increase populations and improve genetic diversity. Over 37 successful births following breeding recommendations have occurred in Indonesian zoos to date. These are important steps forward in the goal of achieving genetically and demographically healthy ex situ populations globally.

Visual & Audio References

©AWCSG

Collaborations

Major
Partners

Indonesian Zoo and Aquarium Association (PKBSI)

American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA)

European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA)

IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC)

IUCN SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group (AWCSG)

IUCN SSC Wild Pig Specialist Group (WPSG)

Additional
Contributors

Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KKH); World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA); various associated partner zoos, NGOs, governments, and universities

Donors

Center for the Conservation of Tropical Ungulates (CCTU); Chester Zoo; Re:wild; San Diego Zoo Global; AZA; St Louis Zoo; Stichting Wildlife Beekse Bergen; Zoo Wroclaw; Taman Safari Indonesia; Batu Secret Zoo; Audubon Zoo; Zoological Society of London; Nashville Zoo; Toronto Zoo; Opel Zoo; Antwerp Zoo; Wilhelma Zoo.