Watch The Birdie

Many of Indonesia’s bird species are dying out. According to IUCN (the International Union for Conservation Nature) 2015 records, 131 bird species in Indonesia are at the brink of extinction, among others because of damaged habitats and poaching. The country is home to 1,666 bird species, 426 of which are endemic, including Sulawesi’s maleo (Macrocephalon maleo) and Papua’s bird-of-paradise (Paradisaea minor). Several groups have chosen not to simply let these rare birds disappear. In Tompotika, South Sulawesi, the Alliance for Tompotika Conservation and local residents patrol the forest to protect the maleo, while the Dorei Jaya community in Papua encourages villagers to help safeguard the bird-of-paradise. In commemoration of the World Habitat Day on October 2, Tempo English reports.