When Hendrik and Hesty flew into the local airport here earlier this month, they were given a ceremonial welcome with Papuan warriors in full battle regalia hopping about to the tune of traditional martial music. The warriors fell into two rows as the director of Freeport environmental division Johnny Prewitt, head of conservation bureau of Indonesian forestry ministry Awrya Ibrahim and Danish (one name), chief of the Wasur National Park, and executive staff from the Cikananga Animal Rescue Centre (PPSC) in West Java emerged. But the cynosure of all eyes was Hendrik and Hesty, rescued from the clutches of wildlife traders four years ago, and their extended family of 21 Papuan dusky pademelon, being returned to their natural habitat on Indonesian Papua.
Pademelons, wallabies,and kangaroos are similar in body structure, and the names refer to marsupials of three different size groups. Besides their smaller size, pademelons are distinguished from wallabies by their shorter, thicker and sparsely- furred tails. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has placed pademelons in the 'vulnerable' list of animals that face a high risk of extinction in the medium-term, though no time period has been estimated. The trade in rare and exotic animals from Papua and other areas of Indonesia is rampant due largely to poor law enforcement. Rapid deforestation and commercial development also threaten better known species such as the Sumatran tiger, elephant, rhino and orangutan. During their rehabilitation period at the PPSC, the Hendriks joined several other pademelon similarly rescued from the underground animal trade. During their stay at the PPSC, Hesty delivered several joeys adding to the brood.
The PPSC workers knew that Hendrik, Hesty, their joeys and relatives must eventually return to Papua island where pademelons are endemic. Long and careful preparations were made for their return, though it was not easy because of a serious lack of funds for the operation. That was when the United States-based mining company Freeport offered a helping hand. Pratita Puradyatmika, executive of the environmental division at Freeport told IPS: ''We are highly concerned with what the animals have been going through. We want to see them free in their own world. This is our commitment to the biodiversity of Papua.'' Papua island is split between Indonesian Papua and Papua New Guinea (PNG). Kanguru Tanah, as the locals call dusky pademelon, are among the most hunted animals in the world thanks to their attractiveness and charm. Smaller in size compared with Australian kangaroos, they are easy to care for and breed. In the black market, an individual dusky pademelon fetches around 150 US dollars. Indonesia is widely known for its great biodiversity. It is estimated that around 300,000 animal species inhabit the country's many ecosystems.
This is equal to 17 percent of worldwide fauna species. With 515 species, Indonesia has more mammalian types than any other nation. There are 1,539 bird species and 50 percent of the world's fish species can be found in its marine and freshwater systems. Indonesia is also home to some of the world's most endangered species. The IUCN lists as endangered 147 mammals, 114 birds, 91 fish and 21 invertebrate species found in Indonesia. Trade in wild animals is a serious threat to Indonesia's biodiversity. According to ProFauna, a non-government organisation (NGO) working on animal conservation, over 95 percent of animals sold in markets are taken directly from the wild, not from captive breeding stocks. More than 20 percent of the captured animals die even before they reach the market. The total value of Indonesia's illegal animal trade is unknown, but animal activists say hundreds of creatures are sold each month despite protection under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). When the Hendrik family was finally transferred to Papua, they were first placed for four months in temporary quarantine in Narayo village under the tender care of Herman (one name), the village head. Herman loved the pademelons and they loved him in return. Each time Herman showed up in the quarantine, they would surround him, not always for food but also for his caresses. And Hesty produced four more joeys. Herman always knew that some day he would have to let them go. There were tears in his eyes when that day, Dec. 9, arrived.
''I know they would be happier in the wild, but it's not easy to see them go. I love them very much, and I am sure they love me too,'' Herman told IPS. From the airport, the Hendrik family was taken to the Wasur National Park. Here the 21-member family was greeted with an even bigger ceremony. There was singing and dancing by Papuan warriors and a speech by Merauke's administrator John Gluba Gebze. ''The lost (pademelons) have returned to their motherland of Merauke. We hope they can unite again with their brothers and sisters. We hope they will soon multiply.'' ''They are a part of this habitat. They are part of our life. Their existence makes our lives beautiful and colorful,'' Gebze added with emotion. The Hendriks, carried in six cages, were taken into the national park, and Gebze was given the task of opening the cage doors and giving the animals their freedom.
A host of TV cameramen and photographers stood ready to capture the historical moment when the animals would bolt into the forest. But they stayed put and had to be coaxed out of their cages. For a few moments they looked surprised, shocked and confused. Tears welled up in Herman's eyes. ''They are not yet ready to go into the wild,'' he said unhappily. But the cages clanged shut and were removed from the park. Only time will tell if the Hendriks were able to survive their return to the wild or fell prey, once again, to animal traders.
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