Abstract
This article describes the ways in which the Nuri Talaud, a small colorful bird located on an island at the northern reaches of Indonesia, first became a hunted commodity and evolved into a thriving protected species. Told from the life history of Om Zaka, a local hunter turned bird conservationist, this article describes the background that shaped the shifting values placed on the Nuri Talaud. The bird initially gained value as a symbol of the state through its selection for inclusion in Indonesia’s national theme park. As a result of its newfound prominence, local hunters emerged to systematically hunt the bird for sale through a network of international species trade. Nearly facing extinction, various actors and initiatives came together to protect the Nuri Talaud. This paper shows the ways in which a species can be targeted to almost extinction, and the processes that can take shape to ensure its protection.
Highlights
Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII), or the miniature park of Indonesia, was created as a nation building project in 1975 to bring together the many representations of Indonesia and display them in the capital, Jakarta
Lesser known about TMII is that the park was constructed as a cultural attraction, and one that conveys the unique biodiversity of Indonesia
Due to the decision to include the Nuri Talaud in the TMII theme park – the bird was marked for its position as a boundary of the state and a hardening symbol of the Indonesian nationstate – the bird came to be part of the larger narratives fused to Indonesian identity
Summary
Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII), or the miniature park of Indonesia, was created as a nation building project in 1975 to bring together the many representations of Indonesia and display them in the capital, Jakarta. Most people experience TMII in the form of small islands built in the shape of Indonesia, and marketed as a theme park with cultural booths that tell the story of a culturally diverse but united Indonesia. Lesser known about TMII is that the park was constructed as a cultural attraction, and one that conveys the unique biodiversity of Indonesia. One major initiative in the construction of TMII involved collecting and displaying a select sample of unique living specimens to represent the vast endemism and exotic flora and fauna from across the country. In 1986, the final phase of the TMII project included the construction of the bird park
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