Due to their 18 years of dedication to conserving Indonesian parrots, husband and wife Dwi Agustina and Dudi Nandika have been awarded scholarships from Mandai Nature. Dwi Agustina will pursue her master’s degree at the Faculty of Biology at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), while Dudi Nandika will continue his doctoral studies at the same faculty.
Agustina, one of the founders of the Indonesian Parrot Conservation Project (Perkumpulan Konservasi Kakatua Indonesia/KKI), expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity, acknowledging the many challenges she has faced over the years. She explained that the organization, established in 2007, originally began as part of the Parrot Project based in the United States.
“Since 2007, we have been working on Masakambing Island to conserve the yellow-crested cockatoo. Over time, the population increased, from an initial eight individuals to 22 by 2018. We worked there for nearly ten years,” said Agustina on Tuesday (Oct. 14).
After completing their work on Masakambing Island, Sumenep, East Java, she and her husband continued their parrot conservation efforts in North Seram, Maluku. Meanwhile, the ongoing program in Masakambing is now managed by the East Java Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA).
Agustina explained that the organization focuses not only on research and conservation but also on habitat rehabilitation and ecotourism for Indonesia’s parrot species. Together with her team, she works on rehabilitating confiscated wildlife (particularly parrots) received from BKSDA. These birds are treated at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (PRS) before being released back into their natural habitats.
She further described another key initiative run by KKI, known as the Conservation Awareness and Pride Program (CAP).
“The program aims to increase public awareness and pride in the native bird species of their regions, particularly cockatoos and lories, which are iconic to various parts of Indonesia,” she explained.
The couple chose UGM not only because their research aligns with the university’s expertise but also because UGM offers a by-research program that allows them to balance academic study with field conservation work.
“The by-research program is very helpful for practitioners like us who wish to continue our academic pursuits without abandoning our conservation missions,” Agustina said.
Her current research, funded by the Rufford Foundation, focuses on bird trade and local community communication in Maluku, particularly in North Seram. The Huaulu community in Maluku has a traditional rite of passage called Cidaku, during which participants traditionally wear cockatoo feathers as head ornaments.
To preserve the species without abandoning cultural practices, Agustina has been engaging with the community to find sustainable alternatives.
“We approached the community and reached an agreement to replace wild-caught cockatoo feathers with naturally shed feathers collected from the rehabilitation center,” she shared.
Agustina hopes that Indonesians will grow to love and take pride in the country’s native birds, especially parrots. She believes that such pride fosters genuine care for animal welfare, from ensuring adequate food and water to maintaining proper cage conditions.
She emphasized that rehabilitation requires significant effort and cost compared to the destructive bird trade.
“We hope that these birds will continue to thrive and increase in number. We want more people not only to be aware of them but to truly love and take pride in them. Once that pride takes root, the level of care will naturally be much greater,” she concluded.
Mandai Nature is the conservation arm of the Mandai Wildlife Group (MWG), established in December 2020 by Temasek and MWG. Based in Singapore, Mandai Nature aims to create a sustainable world where wildlife and people coexist in healthy ecosystems, supported by funding and non-financial contributions from MWG.
Author: Leony
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photograph: Mongabay