TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Papua is a province known as the land of gold with its natural riches containing beautiful fauna. The word Papua comes from Malay, this word represents the original native physique where people have curly hair.
In 2004, Papua was officially divided into two provinces by the Indonesian government. In the eastern part, it is called Papua. Meanwhile, you can call the western part West Irian Jaya or West Papua province.
The wealth of animals in Papua is very diverse compared to other provinces. However, the area of Papua's forests continues to decrease due to illegal logging and conversion to oil palm plantations, which has resulted in the number of these animals decreasing.
Here are the 7 typical Papuan animals that are almost extinct:
1. Labi-labi Moncong (Snouted Labi-Labi)
The snouted labi-labi is a typical Papuan animal. This animal is a type of freshwater turtle with a soft shell. However, the omnivorous snouted labi-labi has a nose like a pig's snout. This Papuan turtle is threatened with extinction due to its uniqueness. To survive, snout labyrinths like to hunt mice, fruit, and more.
2. Dingiso
Dingiso is a typical Papuan animal protected by the Lorentz Papua National Park. This national park is at an altitude of 3,200-4,400 meters above sea level. Dingiso is said to be a sacred endemic animal and the ancestor of the Moni tribe, Papua. Dingiso likes trees as a place to rest and play.
The Papuan animal dingiso, first discovered by Dr Tim Flannery in 1994, is now a rare animal. This fairly large animal is often compared to the tree kangaroo in the way it walks. He is also quite large and almost 1 meter tall with an average weight of 14.5 kg.
3. Spotted Carpet Shark
This Papuan animal, which has skin like a brown carpet pattern with black spots, is a safe, non-aggressive shark. The growing body of the spotted carpet shark only reaches an average of 46 cm. If you dive in the waters below Raja Ampat Island, you can find this Papuan animal attached to the beautiful white coral reefs. Talking about species, the spotted carpet shark has many species, some of which have been declared rare. Papuan sharks are able to survive in sea waters that are low in oxygen and are active at night.
4. Waigeo Couscous
This comfortable habitat is threatened by humans and the presence of the much-hunted Papuan Waigeo cuscus has put this small animal on Waigeo Island on the red list. The Waigeo Couscous or Waigeo Spotted Couscous is an endemic mammalian marsupial species from the Phalangeridae family. Both males and females are whitish with black spots. Then, the tail is long. The cuscus's pupils have vertical slits and have beautiful eyeballs.
5. Single Wattle Cassowary
The Single Gelambir Cassowary is also called the Golden-necked Cassowary (Casuarius Unappendiculatus) which is endemic to North Papua. This bird is very beautiful with its colorful feathers. The body is predominantly black, but from the head to the neck you will be surprised by the mixed colors of orange, blue, yellow or turquoise. This single-glazed cassowary belongs to the superorder Paleognathae. Where he prefers to live alone. Meanwhile, they will pair up when the mating season arrives
6. Bondol Arfak
It is predicted that Papuan animal birds in the form of songbirds will become extinct or vulnerable (VU) due to humans. In fact, several international animal monitoring agencies such as the IUCN state that there are no more than 10,000 Papuan vultures in the wild.
Bondol has its native habitat on Mount Arfak, West Papua. Then, it spread to the Vogelkop Peninsula which is still an area of Papua. The color of the bondol bird is dominated by white. Meanwhile, the head, nape, beak and throat tend to be gray. The eyeballs, on average, are also gray and there are other combinations of colors on the body which are characteristic of Bondol Arfak Papua.
7. Cendrawasih (Bird of Paradise)
The beautiful bird which is the incarnation of Papuan paradise, Cendrawasih, which means the bird of paradise, can often be found in nature reserves on tours. Cendrawasih is included in the animal group Paradisaeidae and the Ordo Passeriformes. In the wild, these birds of paradise live in the mountainous forests of Papua Island, the Torres Strait, Papua New Guinea and eastern Australia. Officially, Law Number 5 of 1990 and PP Number 7 of 1999 protect this bird of paradise.
TEMPO.CO
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"The provincial and district governments must conduct a survey on Indigenous Papuans as soon as possible without further delays," West Papua representative at BP3OKP Irene Manibuy stated in Manokwari District on Tuesday
Manibuy explained that the census is aimed at identifying accurate and reliable data on the exact number of indigenous Papuans residing in seven districts of West Papua, namely Manokwari, South Manokwari, Arfak Mountains, Bintuni Bay, Wondama Bay, Kaimana, and Fakfak.
She then underlined that the census had been discussed at BP3OKP's plenary meeting chaired by Vice President Ma'ruf Amin, who serves as head of the steering committee.
According to Manibuy, the census is important to ensure the proper distribution of the special autonomy fund and the formulation of on-point programs dedicated to indigenous Papuan people in the province.
She then drew attention to the need for collaboration among Statistics Indonesia (BPS), population and civil registration offices, regional development planning agencies, and communication and informatics offices to make the census successful.
"The provincial and district governments cannot work alone. Hence, it is necessary to involve institutions capable of executing a census," she stated.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Special Autonomy Fraction of the Papuan People's Representative Council (DPRP) of West Papua, George Karel Dedaida, expressed hope that the census would be conducted before the results of the 2024 Regional Elections are announced.
He also urged regional governments to comprehensively map customary areas to prevent social conflicts among West Papuan traditional communities.
Earlier, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Jhon Wempi Wetipo instructed the West Papua provincial government to prepare the budget required for conducting the census.
"The provincial government must ready the budget so that the census on indigenous Papuans can run successfully," he remarked in Manokwari on April 29.
He emphasized that valid and updated data is of the essence to properly manage the use of the special autonomy fund.
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Translator: Fransiskus S, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
The soldiers belonged to the Indonesian Military's (TNI's) Habema Operations Command Task Force, chief of the Habema Operations Command, Brig. Gen. Lucky Avianto, said.
Speaking in Timika, the capital of Mimika district, Central Papua, on Tuesday, he said that the rice packets were cooked by the troops before they left their security post for the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea border patrol.
During previous border patrols, the soldiers had frequently met villagers who faced difficulty in finding rice.
Therefore, the task force personnel initiated the measure to provide those in need with rice packets. The villagers received them enthusiastically, he said.
Preparing and distributing the cooked rice packets was a part of the task force personnel's efforts to maintain harmony with locals, he added.
As reported earlier, Indonesian soldiers in Papua are required to multitask, as the government is working incessantly to bridge the gap in regional development between the Papua region and other provinces.
Hence, soldiers deployed in the area are required to be responsive in seeking solutions to problems and challenges faced by Papuan communities in their daily lives.
The soldiers are required to play the role of problem solvers for local communities while carrying out their central task of defending the country's territorial integrity and guarding the safety of all Indonesians.
The geopolitical and geostrategic positions of Papua, which shares land and sea borders with Papua New Guinea (PNG), are indubitably important for Indonesia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Over the past few years, soldiers stationed in the Papua region have been facing security threats posed by insurgents operating in several districts.
Amid these security-related challenges, the soldiers have continued to demonstrate their concern for local communities through community services.
Several personnel of the Indonesia-PNG Border Security Task Force, for instance, have assisted locals through community services, such as voluntary teaching, running a mobile library, and street clean-up programs.
Translator: Agustina EJ, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
"Let us work hand in hand to make the upcoming regional elections run in a peaceful and orderly manner like the presidential and parliamentary elections last February," General Mathius Fakhiri remarked.
Speaking at a syukuran (gathering to express gratitude to God) on the occasion of the 78th anniversary of Bhayangkara Day here, Monday, Fakhiri affirmed that peaceful elections could be held through unity among all elements of society.
The General Elections Commission (KPU) has announced that the regional elections will take place simultaneously across the country on November 27, 2024.
To this end, the phases of elections, such as registration and announcement of candidate pairs for governor and vice governor as well as district head and vice head, commence in August, he revealed.
For the first time, the 2024 Regional Elections would also be held in the new provinces of South Papua, Highland Papua, and Central Papua, he remarked.
Speaking in connection with the law and order situation in Papua, Fakhiri warned that all related issues should be handled quickly and properly. Concurrently, the Papua police should also stay cautious about cybercrimes.
Over the past few years, armed rebel groups have often employed hit-and-run tactics against Indonesian security personnel and mounted acts of terror against civilians in the districts of Intan Jaya, Nduga, and Puncak to incite fear among the people.
The targets of such acts of terror have included construction workers, motorcycle taxi (ojek) drivers, teachers, students, street food vendors, and also civilian aircraft.
On December 2, 2018, an armed Papuan group brutally killed 31 workers from PT Istaka Karya engaged in the Trans Papua project in Kali Yigi and Kali Aurak in Yigi Sub-district, Nduga District.
On February 7, 2023, New Zealand pilot Phillip Mark Mehrtens was taken hostage by the Egianus Kogoya-led armed group. He was piloting an aircraft belonging to Indonesian airline Susi Air when he was captured by the armed group. Members of the group set his aircraft on fire shortly after it landed in Nduga District.
On April 10, the commandant of the 1703-04 Aradide Sub-district Military Command, Second Lieutenant Oktovianus Sogalrey, was shot dead by Papuan rebels in Paniai District, Central Papua.
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Translator: Evarukdijati, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Anton Santoso
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