Determinant Factors of Successful Ex Situ Conservation of Lesser Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea minor Shaw, 1809).

Abstract

Lesser bird of paradise (Paradisaea minor Shaw, 1809) is an endemic bird species in Papua island. Recently its population has been decreasing year to year, due to illegal hunting, illegal trading and habitat destruction. These cause a decrease in the quality and quantity of their habitat especially for feed, shelter, and cover. In order to increase its population in natural habitat needs an ex situ conservation effort such as conservation institution and captive breeding. Currently, ex situ conservation efforts of this bird are lacked and very low in the successful of breeding. The aims of this research were to identify and analyze the component that determine successful of lesser bird of paradise ex situ conservation, to determine a model of successful lesser bird of paradise ex situ conservation and to formulate the typology of succesful lesser bird of paradise ex situ conservation. The study was conducted from March until May 2016 in the TMII Bird Park , Mega Bird and Orchid Farm (MBOF), Ragunan Zoo, Bandung Zoo, and Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation (AWWP) in Qatar. The Data in this research include internal and external biological aspect of species, captive breeding technique, and social aspect. The qualitative data was changed into quantitative data with scoring of assessment. The variables was analyzed by Principle Component Analysis (PCA). The result of the research showed that the type of cage in TMII Bird Park, MBOF, Ragunan Zoo, Bandung Zoo was display cage. The temperature average cage in TMII Bird Park and Ragunan Zoo was 29⁰C and humdity was 86%. The temperature average in MBOF was 25⁰C and humidity 87.5 % and the temperature average in Bandung Zoo was 23.5⁰C and humidity 90.5 %. Type of feeds were divided into main feed and extra feed which were given everyday. The analysis of nutrient indicated that the protein of the feed consumption is about 6.9% with the energy is about 2578.3 ccal. The statistical analysis showed that there are five determinant factors of successful ex situ conservation of lesser bird of paradise. First components were age, feed and the keeper ability, second component was nest, third components were cage size and the availability of specialist, and fourth components were cage facilities and adaptability of the bird, and fifth components were disturbance and construction of the cage. These variables in determinant factors are used as basic data to formulate the model and typology. There are three typologies of succesful ex situ conservation which are based on internal aspects of the lesser bird of the paradise, captive breeding technique and the social aspect.