Seeing Maleo as the native Sulawesi endangered birds

Maleo Senkawor (Macrocephalon maleo) is one of an endemic birds of Sulawesi Island. By the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Maleo included in the endangered category. Formerly, maleo can be found in almost all areas of Sulawesi Island. However, this time maleo only be found in several areas.

Maleo Senkawor (Macrocephalon maleo).
(Picture from http://bit.ly/1VPbcyV)

One area where we can still be found maleo spawn is at ground nesting Libuun, Taima Village, District Bualemo, Banggai, Central Sulawesi. The location for this spawn since 2006 monitored by a nonprofit organization, the Alliance for Tompotika Conservation (AlTO).

The AlTO team worked shoulder to shoulder with the villager to overseeing the bird nesting ground and ensure that the Maleo adults can spawn without disturbance and their eggs remain safe from capture and maleo cheeper can hatch naturally without human intervention.

Maleo has a life story that is very unique. The pair of maleo adult known as the enduring couples (one of anti-polygamy creatures) and primarily live in the native forests of Sulawesi Island. However, when the female is ready to spawn, the maleo couples walk many kilometers to communal nesting site, which is usually located on the coast, or near the hot springs in the forest.

There, the maleo couples dug a big hole in the sand or soil for hours. Inside the hole, Maleo females lay one very large egg. Only one! As information, maleo has body size similar as a chicken, while their egg size six times bigger than chicken eggs.

Maleo couples photographed in their nesting ground, at Libuun, Taima village, Banggai, Central Sulawesi, which is managed by the Alliance for Tompotika Conservation (AlTO). (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1MuxX5a)

After it lay eggs in the hole, the maleo couples bury the eggs with sand to a depth of over one meter. Then, they going back to the forest, while eggs are left to be heated by the sun or geothermal.

If not disturbed, after 60-80 days, the eggs hatch in the sand. Once hatched, the maleo cheeper digging up for 24-48 hours to inhaling fresh air. After resting for a few minutes, the maleo cheeper fly to the woods to live independently without the help of its parent.

Now, through public advocacy and awareness of the importance of maleo remain in their habitat, the maleo population numbers had dropped so drastically before AlTO came, but now increasing in very significant numbers.

Through several programs, the villagers also began to realize that the maleo bird actually was the priceless treasure they have. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | KOMPAS SAINS]

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