Javan Eagle Habitat Loss

Environmental damage to nature on Java Island center part, potentially separating the Javan Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus Bartelsi) population habitat in the western and eastern part of Java Island. This situation is feared threatened eagle population that only 325 pairs left.

Chairman of Indonesia Raptor, Rakhman Zaini said, with the loss of Javan hawk-eagle population corridor, those predator birds habitat will be more narrow.

This could lead to inbreeding occurrence that could potentially reduce the durability and quality of Javan hawk-eagle offspring.

About 75 percent of Javan hawk-eagle lives in the forest, so that animal is highly dependent on the forest. Javan hawk-eagle food is also typical, which is endemic animals such as mice.

Now, the forest in central Java more narrow. For example, forest area around Mount Merapi slopes that first inhabited by 12 pairs of Javan hawk-eagle is now only remaining five eagle.

Forests destruction on Mount Merapi slopes because of Merapi eruption in 2010 resulting hawks migratory.

Zaini explained, from about 311 kinds of hawks, there are 75 species that lives in Indonesia.

Javan Hawk-Eagle, with it unik form, topknot on the head, believed to be Garuda eagle that  chosen by nation founders as Indonesia State Symbol.

Largest hunting

According to Zaini, at least there are three main factors causing Javan Hawk-eagle declined,which is wildlife illegal trading or selling, habitat destruction and pesticide use

Illegal trade/sell is the major cause for Javan Hawk-eagle declining (53 percent) followed by habitat destruction (42.3 percent) and the use of pesticides (4.7 percent).

Ownership of Javan hawk-eagle is still very high. In Yogyakarta alone there are about 40 different kinds of protected eagles, but maintained illegally..

Javan hawk-eagle population growth is very slow, only about 22 pairs for a year. Hawk population is quite slow because Javan hawk-eagle is only able to spawn one egg every two to three years.

Chairman of Yogyakarta Nature Conservation Foundation, Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Pembayun, appealed to illegal owner of Javan Hawk-eagle, for immediately returning the eagle to appropriate authorities. Within the next 20 years, extinction rate of Javan hawk-eagle is 20 percent reached.