Trades, Habitat Charactesictics And Demographyc Parameters Of Harvested Reticulated Pythons (Python Reticulatus Scheider 1801) In Central Kalimantan Province

Abstract

Reticulated python (Python reticulatus) has 180.000 heads annual quota. Despite of the commercial use of this species, a good management of the habitat and population is needed for its sustainability. This research was aimed to identify trades, the habitat charactesictics, harvestings, demographyc parameters and morphometry of harvested reticulated python. The research area was within harvesting areas, management authority, snakes collectors and traders in six regency in Central Kalimantan Province. The research method for trades was done by interviewing several actors of management authority, snakes collectors and traders. The habitat was performed by measuring the environment variables at every plot of capturing and nesting habitat, neither the snakes were captured or not. Harvestings, demographyc parameters morphometry variables of harvested snakes at every plot of habitats, catchers and collector were calculated and measured. Descriptive statistical analyzes showed that traders structure were consisted of collectors, middle man and legal permit owner. Kruskal Wallis and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test showed that there was no habitat preference by the reticulated python. Harvesting estimation derived from location of survey was 26.73% at collector stage and about 31.95 % at middle man stage comparing to annual quota of Central Kalimantan Province. Capturing criteria was based on the size of body length, rather than the sex. The sex ratio of captured snakes in collectors was 1:0.72 and middle man was 1:1.07. The age class most captured both in collectors and middle men was the adult male (99% and 89% from all male). This trend occurred because the adult male has a similar size with the young female.