9 bird species face extinction in Indonesia

By Adelline Tri Putri Marcelline

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AA) – Nine bird species in Indonesia are threatened with extinction this year, a conservation group said on Wednesday.

The endangered species include the sunset lorikeet (Trichoglossus forsteni), brown-cheeked bulbul (Alophoixus bres), grey-cheeked bulbul (Alophoixus tephrogenys), aceh bulbul (Pycnonotus snouckaerti), and chestnut-capped thrush (Geokichla interpres), according to local organization Burung Indonesia.

“The population of the brown-cheeked bulbul species is now estimated to have decreased by up to 50% in its living areas in Java and Bali islands,” read a statement.

It cited deforestation, hunting, and capture of birds from the wild as the main factors for the decline in bird populations.

The group stressed the need for more serious efforts to mitigate the impact of harmful activities such as hunting.

According to BirdLife International, a global conservation group, Indonesia is home to at least 17% of all known bird species and ranks fourth in the world in terms of diversity.

Indonesia is also at top in the world when it comes to endemic, or native, bird species.

The number of native species in Indonesia increased by 16 in 2020 and has reached 532 this year, the statement said.

*Writing by Rhany Chairunissa Rufinaldo with Anadolu Agency’s Indonesian language services in Jakarta