Developing an optimal monitoring program for the Endangered Togean babirusa (Babyrousa togeanensis) through the support of citizen scientists
Written by PhD student Agus Jati
The Togean babirusa (Babyrousa togeanensis) is classified by the IUCN as endangered and the population trend is estimated as decreasing. The species is endemic to the Togean Archipelago and is characterized by an extremely small distribution range (<1000 km2), with total population size estimated between 100-1000 individuals (Macdonald et al., 2016). Key threatening factors for this species include: 1) the small population size which drastically increases the risk of inbreeding depression, 2) heavy hunting of this species (as a food source and for crop protection), and 3) habitat loss (approximately half of the forest on the islands has been converted to other land-uses). The species is reported to utilize human-modified habitats (such as crop fields), which further increases the potential for conflict with local populations (Akbar et al., 2007). The Togean babirusa has been protected by the Indonesian government since 1931 and has been listed as Appendix-I CITES since 1982 as a sub-species of Babyrousa babyrussa.
The Togean babirusa is among the least studied mammals in Indonesia (Broto and Mortelliti, 2019). Despite being endangered and endemic to small isolated islands, this species has been the subject of only one article where population size was estimated by interviewing locals (Akbar et al., 2007). The ecology and behavior of this species has been speculated from knowledge about other babirusas species (Ito and Melletti, 2017), nevertheless first-hand knowledge is fundamental. While the presence of Kepulauan Togean National Park is expected to provide protection for babirusas and their habitat, it is unknown whether the assigned national park areas cover the core distribution of babirusas. Consequently, there is an urgent need for robust field-based assessments of the status of this species.
Through this project, I aim to fill several critical gaps in knowledge on the ecology and distribution of the Togean babirusa. I am working on four islands which are part of the Togean Archipelago: Batudaka, Togean, Talatakoh, and Malenge islands. These four islands are the only locations where Togean babirusas are present and thus represent the entire distribution range of this endangered species. This project is the first field-based assessment of the status of this species, and therefore, will be a valuable source for authorities in managing this species.
In this project, I am working with Dr. Alessio Mortelliti and Bayu Wisnu Broto, M.Sc. Dr. Mortelliti is an Associate Professor in Wildlife Habitat Conservation at the University of Maine, who also serves as my PhD advisor. Mr. Broto, is a researcher from Forestry Research and Development Institute Makassar, whose job is highly engage with Wallacea region.
Affiliation, partner organizations, and sponsors:
- Dept. Wildlife, Fisheries and Conservation Biology, University of Maine, USA
- Forestry Research and Development Institute Makassar, Indonesia
- Togean Islands National Park Agency
- Fulbright PhD program
- American-Indonesian Cultural & Educational Foundation (AICEF)
- Zoological Society for the Conservation of Species and Populations (ZGAP)
- IUCN Save Our Species (foundation Segre')
- Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund
- Rufford Foundation
- Graduate Student Government-University of Maine