Returns from Indigenous Hunting in The Lowland Coastal Forests of West Papua, Benefits Threatened Wildlife Species

F Pattiselanno,J F Koibur

doi:10.7226/jtfm.23.4.45

Abstract

We conducted a study in eleven villages in the West Papuan Bird's Head Peninsula to determine hunting returns from indigenous hunting in lowland coastal forests. In each town three collaborative hunters were recruited and trained to complete an information sheet for each hunting trip whether or not they were successful, and if so, how many individuals per species were killed and their common names. The results indicated that hunting returns during seven months of observations were 301 animals comprising of timor deer, wild pig, dusky pademelon, grizzled tree kangaroo and common spotted cuscus. The most commonly hunted were two non-native species-wild pigs and deer with a total of 11,475 kg of dressed weight harvested and which we valued at IDR230,625,000 (US$17,435). A lowland forest ecosystem along the coast provides suitable habitats for the largest animals occurring within the sampled villages, like deer and wild pig. Hunting those species–deer and wild pig may provide conservation benefits to native species. There was little evidence of hunting native species or those of conservation concern. From ecology perspective, prey species and hunting return across the lowland coastal forest of West Papua has introduced wildlife species occurring at degraded habitat. Economically, the number of species hunted within the sampled village areas is determined by the hunter's assessment of profitability. Deer and wild pig are targeted because they provide a large amount of meat for both subsistence and sale purposes.

Highlights

Wildlife hunting is important for satisfying people's need for meat as a source of dietary protein, and is of economic value through the sale of bushmeat products to communities (Milner-Gulland et al 2003), obtaining ingredients for human medicine and other traditional uses (Williamson 2002; Mockrin et al 2005)
Prey species and hunting returns Different hunting preys were acknowledged in the latest hunting excursions during informal discussions with hunters prior to data collections
Species hunted across the study villages were similar and included timor deer (Cervus timorensis), wild pig (Sus scrofa), dusky padamelon (Thylogale brunii), grizzled tree kangaroo (Dendrolagus inustus), common spotted cuscus (Spilocuscus maculatus), spiny bandicoots (Echymipera kalubu), northern cassowary (Cassuarius unappendiculatus), papuan hornbil (Rhyticeros plicatus) and pinon imperial-pigeon (Ducula pinon)

Summary

Introduction

Wildlife hunting is important for satisfying people's need for meat as a source of dietary protein, and is of economic value through the sale of bushmeat products to communities (Milner-Gulland et al 2003), obtaining ingredients for human medicine and other traditional uses (Williamson 2002; Mockrin et al 2005). In Papua New Guinea (PNG) many different species are hunted across a variety of ethnic groups, in local PNG dialect, including the sab (large mammals), the honez (small mammals), the sort (birds). Other game species hunted include jiya (frogs), wen (fish) and the occasional large reptile, notably burun (pythons), and they are all acha (edible fauna) (Dwyer 1983; Sillitoe 2001; Johnson et al 2004; Mack & West 2005). In Indonesian New Guinea (Papua and West Papua Provinces), various species are hunted such as, deer, and wild pig (Pattiselanno 2003), cuscus–Phalangeridae (Pattiselanno & Koibur 2008); cassowary, bandicoots, flying foxes and tree kangaroos (Pangau-Adam et al 2012)

Methods

Results

Conclusion