Sorong, Ekuatorial – With less sighting for the past decade, West Papua’s endemic Waigeo brushturkey (Aepypodius Bruijinii) was inches away from being extinct, said an activist, recently, in Raja Ampat, Papua.

The Maleo Waigeo, as locals would call it, was first identified in 1880 by Outstalet and has yet to be seen in its natural habitat in East Waigeo Island of Raja Ampat since 1970s. “Less sighting of this bird in its habitat for the past decade resulted to speculation that it is extinct,” said Fitria Rinawati, Coordinator Program of Fauna Flora International (FFI) in Raja Ampat.

Though Rinawati cited that high altitude, at least 700 meters above sea level, would contributed to its less sighting by humans. Difficult topography to reach, she added, made the animal isolated from humans. “So, they rarely seen any of those birds and [assume] that it is extinct.”

However, Maurits Kafiar, biodiversity officer fauna at FFI, said several nests have been found in previous expeditions, including the 2007 Noh Mountain Expedition for eight nests and 23 more nests found in 2009 expedition. Kafiar said the numbers were reaching 42 nests by 2012.

“One nest is only occupied by one male and it must not be damaged. If it’s broken, then the bird flew away and never comes back as it is very sensitive to environmental changes, especially loud noises,” said Kafiar adding that a total of 42 nests equals to 42 male birds found in the wild. Niken Proboretno

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