 |
Leucopsar rothschildi Region: the Indonesian island of Bali |
|
|
|
 Species Survival PlansTM are multizoo breeding programs for endangered species.  |
|
Rare Beauties from Bali Paradise Island Bali mynahs are found only on the Indonesian island of Bali in the Indian Ocean. Today, approximately 60 wild Bali mynahs live in a small area of Bali Barat National Park, in the northwestern corner of the island. Bali mynahs inhabit open woodland and savannah (grassland with trees), where they are most active in the early morning and at dusk. Fancy Feathers Female and male Bali mynahs look alike, having beautiful white feathers, black tipped wings and tails, and a bright powder blue crescent of skin around the eyes. Their heads are topped off by a lacy white crest of feathers. They are about the size of cardinals. A Whole Lot of Chatter The main way Bali mynahs communicate with each other is by vocalizing. They whistle and squawk repetitively, often bobbing their head up and down at the same time. Mynahs flock together during the dry season on Bali, and vocalizing is very important at this time. Vocalizations with head bobbing are particularly important during courtship. A male trying to attract a mate bobs up and down, with his white feather crest raised. If the female is attracted to him, the two stand side by side, bobbing and calling to each other. Mynah Menu Bali mynahs are omnivores, which means they eat plants and other animals. (Unlike carnivores, which eat only meat, and herbivores, which eat only plants). The Bali mynah menu includes fruit, seeds, insects, worms, caterpillars, ants, and other invertebrates. During the dry season when food is scarce, Bali mynahs live in groups. Living in groups helps them find food better and also keeps them safer from predators—the more eyes looking out for enemies, the better the chance an enemy will be seen. Animals that eat Bali mynahs include snakes, monitor lizards, monkeys, and birds of prey. Building a Nest When Bali mynahs pair off to mate, they build nests in tree cavities. It takes about two weeks for a mated pair to construct a nest from bark, leaves, and grass. The female lays two to five bright blue eggs, and both sexes incubate the eggs for two weeks. When the chicks break through the eggs, they have only a few clumps of down on their heads and back. Ten days later, the rapidly growing chicks sprout feathers. The young birds leave the nest after about three weeks. Traded and Endangered Bali mynahs are among the rarest birds in the world. Like many island species, Bali mynahs are easily threatened with extinction because they live in small, clumped groups. Bali has been heavily deforested so now there is much less habitat for birds to nest in. But the main threat to Bali mynahs is the illegal pet trade. In the mid-1990s wild Bali mynah populations reached about 60 through breeding with zoo-released birds. In the last two years, so many Bali mynahs were poached for the illegal pet trade that now only eight or ten wild Bali mynahs remain. Bali mynahs are legally protected by the Indonesian government, but the demand for them as pets is still high. Birds that are poached from the wild can be sold on the illegal market as pets for more than $1,000 each! And lots of smuggled mynahs end up dying during shipping because of the harsh conditions they face. Zoo Breeding for Survival There are populations of Bali mynahs at zoos and breeding centers in Europe, Japan, Indonesia, and North America. About 230 of the more than 750 Bali mynahs hatched in captivity live in North America. The goal of breeding programs for Bali mynahs has been to establish a healthy captive population and to eventually restock the wild population. A population analysis showed that there needs to be at least 100 birds in the wild and another 1,000 more mynahs in captivity for the Bali mynah population to be genetically healthy. And to restock wild populations, the demand for Bali mynahs in the illegal pet trade has to stop, or at least be reduced. Since there are so few individuals left in the wild, the future of Bali mynahs lies almost completely in the captive population. Education When people come to zoos and see SSP animals they are learning about worldwide efforts that zoos make on behalf of endangered animals. When a guest sees a Bali mynah, or other SSP animal, they learn about that animal’s situation in the wild and may come to see the animal as a symbol of conservation. And some day, perhaps these people will do something to help Bali mynahs or other SSP animals because of what they learned at the zoo. The Bali mynah has become an educational symbol of conservation on Bali and for all of Indonesia. Bali Mynahs at Brookfield Zoo As part of the Bali Mynah SSP program (which began in 1981), Brookfield Zoo is currently home to several Bali mynahs. The Perching Bird House is the off-exhibit home to a breeding pair of mynahs. They’re kept out of sight because it increases the chance that they will reproduce successfully. The local connection Bali mynahs are not the only wildlife endangered by the illegal wildlife trade. You can help the problem by shopping wisely. The illegal wildlife trade is only as strong as the demand by people. Here are a few tips: • Don’t buy animal products such as shoes, wallets, and handbags made from endangered animals. Ask about the origin of a product when you are buying. • Buy locally grown and locally made products when you have the chance. That way you’ll know where it came from. • Don’t buy exotic pets. They may be endangered, and exotic animals usually don’t make good pets anyway. Links |