A preliminary study of Maleo (Macrocephalon maleo) nesting in Kambunong Cape, West Sulawesi

Abstract

Maleo (Macrocephalon maleo) is an endemic species inhabiting Sulawesi island and is listed as Endangered under IUCN Red Data List. However, number of adult individuals of the species found in the wild was predicted to be decreasing. Most data available for the species are scattered and or not reported. Therefore, more published research is needed as regard to population size, distribution, and trends of maleo. One site identified as habitat of maleo (Macrocephalon maleo) was located in the coastal area of Kambunong Cape, West Sulawesi Province. This study attempts to examine the nesting site, population trends of the species and to identify nthropogenic and non-anthropogenic threats towards the population in the area. Index point of abundance (IPA) combined with line transect techniques were applied to estimate population of the species. Seven line transects were deployed and combined with 30 circular plots distributed across the lines covering 100 ha of the coastal area in Kambunong Cape. Meanwhile, types of threats posed to the population were explored by using semi-structure interviews to the locals. The results have shown that the total of relative abundance estimated for the species in the area was 5.091 individuals/ha for 30 observation plots or 16.97 (=17) individuals found in 100 ha. There was only one site utilized by the species located in a poor environment. Decreasing trends of the population was mostly due to habitat modification and fragmentation combined with illegal egg hunting/collection as well as high intensity of human activities nearby their home range.