The fifteen cameras donated by Copenhagen Zoo will be used to monitor the diverse wildlife in the Hutan Harapan area.
The third phase of the Danish-Indonesian Environmental Support Program (ESP3) succeeded in establishing a cooperative relationship between the management of Hutan Harapan and the Copenhagen Zoological Garden (Copenhagen Zoo).
The collaboration resulted in the donation of 15 camera traps which will be used by the Department of Research and Conservation of Hutan Harapan to the monitoring of endangered species in the Hutan Harapan area, namely the Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris ssp. sumatrae), Sumatran Elephant (Elephas maximus ssp. sumatranus), Malay Tapir (Tapirus indicus), and other wildlife.
The Copenhagen Zoo was represented by Carl Traeholt, who handed-over the cameras to Lisman Sumardjani, the Operational Director of Hutan Harapan. Lisman said that his party appreciated the donation and hoped to continue the cooperation that has been established.
The wildlife monitoring program in Hutan Harapan had problems due to the loss of a number of camera traps. Of the 30 cameras they had in 2014, only 10 left two years later. The number of remaining cameras was not sufficient to produce comprehensive data.
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The wildlife monitoring program in Hutan Harapan had problems due to the loss of a number of camera traps. Of the 30 cameras they had in 2014, only 10 left two years later. The number of remaining cameras was not sufficient to produce comprehensive data.
Elva Germita, who had the task of managing wildlife monitoring in Hutan Harapan, appreciated the new collaboration. She recently completed her master's study of wildlife monitoring in the UK with the assistance of ESP3, and is now dedicating her expertise to biodiversity conservation in the Hutan Harapan. She was delighted that the monitoring program could be running again.
Elva has been working in Hutan Harapan since 2010, initially assumed wildlife monitoring as a side job until one day she found a tiger footprint. That moment prompted her to dedicate most of her life to wildlife conservation. Supported by the ESP3, she pursued a study on conservation management at Durell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE)-University of Kent.
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Dari hasil studi itulah ia dapat mengefektifkan tata kelola pemantauan hidupan liar di Hutan Harapan berdasarkan data lapangan, khususnya dari kamera jebak. Menurutnya, penggunaan kamera jebak adalah cara terbaik untuk memantau hidupan liar di Hutan Harapan. Pada 2015, 29 harimau sumatera dapat teridentifikasi. Dari foto yang berhasil terekam, ia dapat mengidentifikasi setiap individu harimau dari corak tubuh mereka.
From the results of this study, she was able to streamline the management of wildlife monitoring in Hutan Harapan based on field data, in particular from camera traps. According to her, camera traps are the best method to monitor wildlife in Hutan Harapan. In 2015, 29 Sumatran tigers were identified. From the photos that have been recorded, she was able to identify each individual tiger from their body pattern.
This is not the first time Copenhagen Zoo has actively participated in supporting conservation programs in Indonesia. Previously, the Copenhagen Zoo has also supported biodiversity research conducted by Andalas University and collaborated with the Directorate of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation (PHKA) of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to restore the unique ecology of Baluran National Park. The Copenhagen Zoo also continues to support the development of local students through a small grant scheme to continue their studies at home or abroad.
Sumber: http://www.esp3.org