Rehabilitation of Confiscated Sumba Cockatoo and Other Parrots

Rehabilitation of Confiscated 

Sumba Cockatoo and Other Parrots 

on Sumba Island, Indonesia 

Publication Report 

Prepared by: 

BirdLife Indonesia 

Funded by 

Dr. Stewart Metz - Indonesia Parrot Project 

The entire Yellow-crested Cockatoo species (all of the sub-species including Sumba 

Cockatoo. Critically endangered in the BirdLife International’s Threatened Birds of Asia. 

The main threat to the species is catching for trade. There is a local demand, and 

increasing demands from market in-country and internationally for pets or zoo animals 

(PHKA/LIPI/BirdLife International, 1998). 

Sumba Island is the third largest island in East Nusa Tenggara Province, with an area of 

10 902 km2. It is one of Indonesia's driest and least developed areas. The remaining 

forest covers only about 6.5% of the island. Sumba has been identified as a priority area 

for global biodiversity conservation by virtue of its high level of endemism. It is one of 

221 Endemic Bird Areas worldwide, and has eight species of birds found in nowhere else 

in the world including the Sumba Hornbill Aceros everetti. As well as Cacatua.sulfurea 

citrinocristata the island has 4 parrot species: The Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus 

haematodus fortis, Eclectus Parrot Eclectus roratus cornelia, Red-cheeked Parrot 

Geoffroyus geoffroyyi floresianus, and Great-billed Parrot Tanygnathus megalorynchos 

sumbensis. 

Cacatua sulphurea citrinocristata, referred as “Sumba Cockatoo” is one of 4 sub-species 

of the critically endangered Yellow-crested Cockatoo Cacatua sulphurea, and is only 

found on Sumba Island. Decline of population due to loss of nesting habitat and catching 

of birds for trade, gives cause for concern that sub-species will not survive. 

In year 2003, with the support from Stewart Metz, BirdLife Indonesia worked together 

with SSKSDA to rehabilitate confiscated birds and release them back into the wild, 

training staff in maintenance and care, and provided basic running costs for the first year. 

This activity has a direct relation with one of the activities that supported by ZGAP, i.e 

patrol in trapping locations, which is conducted by BirdLife Indonesia and SSKSDA 

Sumba team. 

Up until this period, BirdLife Indonesia together with Sumba KSDA have been carrying 

out the rehabilitation of 5 cockatoos, 3 Eclectus Parrot, 1 Rainbow Parakeet and 1 Hill 

Myna (Gracula religgiosa). 3 cockatoos and 4 Eclectus parrot were released in

Praingkareha village on the 21th August 2003. The event was witnessed by the 

institutions involved in environmental issues: Bapedalda, KSDA Sumba and Forestry 

Agency of East Sumba District and BirdLife Indonesia. On the 8th February 2004, 2 

Cockatoos were released in the same village and with the same witnesses. 

Training to increase the capacity of Sumba SSKSDA staff in handling care and release of 

the confiscated birds has been done on year 2003. The training was including how to 

feed, rehabilitate birds, how to build a healthy aviary and prevent introduction of avian 

diseases. 

KSDA (the Natural Resource Conservation Unit) Sumba has participated in every 

activity conducted by BirdLife Indonesia including patrolling and investigating. The 

police and forestry service in East and West Sumba have done the same thing. KSDA has 

shown it ready to act decisively in the field and been ready to monitor the progress of 

investigations both at Criminal level and Prosecutor level, thus preventing procrastination 

in handling the case. 

There have been also several real examples of the community playing an active role in 

conserving the Sumba cockatoo and its habitat. Interesting examples are: 

- Providing information about the whereabouts of decoy cockatoos or captured 

cockatoos, cockatoo trappers and traders, and logging activity in the forest. This is a 

direct result of the awareness activity performed in villages. 

- Manurara and Watumbelar Village Conservation Groups, have several times 

confiscated timber being transported from the National Park area and have 

confiscated tools such as saw and chainsaw used by illegal logger when logging in the 

forest. Several villages have also forbidden outsiders from passing through their 

village to extract timber. 

- In some villages Village Conservation Groups carried out activities to plant local 

trees on their land 

- Partner NGOs have also participated in the effort to conserve birds and their habitats 

on Sumba Island by providing information about activities which will damage bird 

habitat and by resolving issues in relation to the conservation of bird habitat through 

assisting village groups of each Partner NGO. 

Annual events are usually implemented by Local Government in West Sumba and East 

Sumba and BirdLife Indonesia seeks opportunities to participate and to encourage public 

involvement in protecting birds and their habitats such as celebration of World 

Environment Day every year, the independence day of Republic of Indonesia and 

carnival held by Local Government of East Sumba Region. BirdLife staff joined a walk 

for 10 km, from 15.00 - 20.00, carrying a banner reading “Maukah Anda dikurung seperti 

Burung?” (Do you want to be caged like a bird?). To attract more attention, one staff 

member rode on a cart built like a cage and distributed posters with the slogan “Stop 

Penangkapan Kakatua Sumba” (Stop Trapping of Sumba Cockatoo) to people who were 

watching the carnival along the way. Almost of all section of the public, both children 

and adult, took part in this carnival, including school children, government agencies, 

groups from community, arts, religious, sports and special interest groups .

Collaboration with local mass media to promote the release of confiscated birds to the 

public on Sumba was also implemented by BirdLife Indonesia. 3 articles have been 

published in local newspapers Wunang Pos and Pos Kupang. The articles were about the 

legal case, in which 4 cockatoos and 1 Eclectus were confiscated from a bird trader in 

Waingapu who was sentenced to 7 months in prison and a 5 million rupiah fine. This is 

the first successful prosecution of a trader on Sumba and the first time such a heavy 

sentence has been given for a Parrot trading offence in Indonesia. The prosecution was 

the result of a joint patrol conducted by BirdLife Indonesia KSDA and the police. 

BirdLife Indonesia organized a petition to support the case, and provided expert 

witnesses. Other articles were about the condition of birds and the environment in 

Sumba. 

5. Conclusion, recommendations for future actions: 

1. KSDA Sumba is expected to continue the work of monitoring and acting on cases 

of Cockatoo trapping and trading. BirdLife Indonesia has undertaken to assist them 

in particularly important cases. The challenge is limited budget to for patrolling and 

the ongoing running costs of the rehabilitation centre. 

2. Through the continued strengthening of community forest protection groups, 

BirdLife Indonesia will encourage involvement of communities in monitoring, 

reporting and stopping Cockatoo trapping. 

3. Training and awareness work will continue, with an emphasis on developing the 

capacity of communities themselves to promote awareness rather than depending on 

the projects inputs. 

4. The small rehabilitation center will continue to be supported, including releases of 

birds back to the wild. Sustainability of funding needs to be considered. 

5. A central government proposal to build a road through the National Park (which is 

not supported by local Government) will be resisted through compilation of data on 

the potential impact.

Rehabilitation of Confiscated Sumba Cockatoo and Other Parrots

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