We love Bali Starlings !!!

       Talking about Bali Starling, any of us really know this species? not only seen it, but know about the beauty and the truth about our country's native animals.

      The Bali Myna (Leucopsar rothschildi), also known as Rothschild’s Mynah, Bali Starling, or Bali Mynah, locally known as Jalak Bali, is a medium-sized (up to 25 cm long). The Bali starling is one of the rarest birds in the world and relatively new to science being first described in 1912 by Walter Rothschild, from whom the bird gains its specific name. This medium-large starling is almost entirely white apart from black wing- and tail-tips and the striking, bare blue skin around the eye. The crest is long and drooping, the bill is yellow and the legs are a greyish blue.

     The breeding season runs from October to November and nests are preferentially made within woodpecker holes in the trunks of trees. Males become very aggressive at this time. Males attract females by calling loudly and bobbing up and down. The female lays and incubates two-three eggs. Both males and females bring food to the nests for chicks after hatching. 

Starling eggs

   
    Outside the breeding season, Bali starlings could previously be found in flocks of up to 40 birds, often roosting in dense coconut trees. Adults feed on ants, termites and caterpillars but also on fruits and seeds.

Eat Fruits or Seeds

    The Bali Starling is distributed and endemic to the island of Bali, where it is the island's only surviving endemic species. 

    This rare bird was discovered in 1910 and is one of the world's most critically endangered birds. In fact, it has been hovering immediately above extinction in the wild for several years. The Bali starling has been pushed to the brink of extinction by the illegal capture of individuals to satisfy the caged-bird trade. The rarer this beautiful species became, the higher the black market price, and the wild population has consequently been decimated. Habitat destruction and competition for nest sites with the black-winged starling, which is spreading throughout the island, are further threats to survival.

 

    The last stronghold of the species is at Bali Barat National Park; about 1,000 individuals are believed to be held in captivity legally.  In fact, the Bali Starling is so much in danger that that national park has been set up just for the Bali Starling's survival. 

     The Bali Starling is listed in Appendix I of CITES. Trade even in captive-bred specimens is strictly regulated and the species is not generally available legally to private individuals. However, experienced aviculturalists may become affiliated with the captive-breeding program, allowing them to legally keep this species. Poaching and timber harvesting are among the greatest threat to the survival of the Bali Starling in the wild. Conservation initiatives enacted over the past two decades to have been ineffective in increasing this species numbers in the wild. 

     Now, we've seen the facts about these amazing animals. When everything was too late, we will lose one more species that have become extinct in Bali. Remember about Bali tiger? we don't want the incident happen over and over, right? Fight, help, & be the voice for them. No matter how small our efforts, it will be a great significance for their survival.

For support Bali Starling conservation click :

** http://www.fnpf.org/

** http://www.indiegogo.com/

Have a great weekend, Animal Angels.. 

Source :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bali_Starling

http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=6822

http://www.fnpf.org/what-we-do/nusa-penida-bali/wildlife/bali-starling-conservation-project

http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/106006822/0

Happy world Orangutan Day !

   To recognize the most iconic victim of the palm oil industry, World Orangutan Day has been set as August 19th as a positive way to bring much needed attention and awareness to the crisis facing these beautiful red apes. 

    From 1992-2000, the population of the Sumatran orangutan declined by more than 50% and only an estimated 7,000 animals are left in the wild. Its relative, the Bornean orangutan population fell nearly 43 % in the past decade and estimates place their population at about 45,000 animals. Since the last population estimates were done, deforestation rates have continued to climb which means the actual populations could be well below these.

Something has to be done to save the orangutans and that is the reason for World Orangutan Day!

About Palm Oil

   Palm oil is a type of vegetable oil which has a very high content of saturated fat. It is derived from the palm fruit, grown on the African oil palm tree. Oil palms originated in West Africa, but can flourish wherever heat and rainfall are abundant. Today, almost all palm oil is produced in, and exported from, Indonesia and Malaysia; but most of the time not using sustainable measures. 

Impact on orangutans? 

   Because of its versatility, the worldwide demand for palm oil has become insatiable. It is estimated that rain forests are being cleared at a rate of 300 football fields per hour to make way for oil palm plantations.

   This swift destruction of rainforest habitat in Southeast Asia has had a devastating impact on orangutans. From 2004 to 2008, the Sumatran orangutan population fell by 14 percent to 6,600, largely due to loss of habitat for palm oil expansion. There is a real threat that orangutans face extinction within the next 10 years because of these actions.

   Unsustainable Palm Oil is responsible for thousands of kilometers of pristine rainforest that is slashed and burned in order to make way for oil palm plantations. Many orangutans and other animals are killed in the process, for the production of palm oil used in many of our everyday foods and products. This large-scale deforestation is pushing orangutans to extinction, along with many other native species of Borneo and Sumatra. 

             Slashed & burned rainforest in order to make way for a palm oil plantation 

Their home being destroyed. Orangutans ,plants, and other animals being left without a home.

What we can do: 

• The issues (both political and economic) concerning palm oil production are complex.
• Read labels carefully and avoid products containing palm oil.
• Ask manufacturers to use only sustainable palm oil in their products.
• Donate & support all orangutans organization. Here is the list. Click the link below.
  http://www.deforestationeducation.com/ways-to-help-and-amazing-organizations.php
  
  
  Remember, we share 97% of their dna. Should we destroyed 80% of their habitat? Be the voice for them. Keep stand against all kind of deforestation & don't forget to use non palm oil products. Hug & kiss. Animals Angels.

Source 

Mongabay.com

Deforestationeducation.com

Causes.com

Treehugger.com

Worldorangutanday.org