The largest and
most ambitious project to date
has been the Bali Mynah Species
Survival Plan, created under the
auspices of the American Zoo Association,
and coordinated by Bob Seibels
of the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia,
SC. Since the Bali bombing however
even this seems to have fallen
into disrepute through anti-American
feelings.
A new initiative is now underway
to get conservationists from the
rest of the world together to
join in a restart of the Species
Survival Plan. Working closely
with government ministries and
agencies, a new Recovery Plan
Steering Committee is proposed.
The news is good in the breeding
and release areas of Bali Barat
National Park with new birds being
introduced to the captive breeding
programme from Japanese conservationists.
The operation here seems determined
to succeed despite many holdbacks
in the past. The tenacious staff
of some 100 guards and birdkeepers
continues often under very difficult
conditions caused in the main
by under-funding.
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Without doubt, once
a viable and secure plan is in
place the survival plan stands
a much better chance of success.
At present these are only words
and the continuing survival of
the Bali Starling in the wild
continues to look bleak. Action
is required now before it is too
late.
Anyone willing to collaborate
in this valuable enterprise should
contact Bob Seibels
at Riverbanks Zoo and
Gardens, (P.O. Box 1060,
Columbia, SC 29202) or by e-mail
to bseibels@riverbanks.org.
Financial contributions, which
are desperately needed, can be
made either through Bob Seibels
(C/O The Bali Mynah Species Survival
Plan at the above address) or
to The Bali Starling Foundation,
Taman Burung, Singapadu, Gianyar,
Bali, Republic of Indonesia. |
