ANALISIS KONTEN PEMBERITAAN INTERAKSI MANUSIA-SATWA PREDATOR DI INDONESIA

Media reports on human-predator interaction can influence public attitudes and supports toward wildlife conservation. Negative interactions between humans and wildlife in Indonesia are dominated by two predator species: Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) and saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus). This research aims to characterize the patterns of media reporting on human-predator interaction and compare the reporting between tiger and crocodile. Media reports published between 2017-2019 were collected from online mass media using Google News searching tool. Four parameters were used to evaluate the media content: tone, framing, illustration, and objectivity. Reports on human-tiger interaction (HTI; 356 articles) and human-crocodile interaction (HCI; 430 articles) showed similar patterns including dominant negative headline tone, neutral reporting focusing on interaction events, use of neutral-safe illustrations, and objective reporting. Further investigation showed that some aspects of media reporting on HCI differed from HTI. Reporting on HTI incidents used more negative contents and illustrations; and was not as comprehensive as HTI reporting. To promote balanced reporting, this research recommends collaboration between practitioners, scientists, and media to increase the media awareness on human-predator interactions and wildlife conservation; to write engaging content; and to increase the roles of practitioners and scientists as writers and sources in mass media

Reflecting on the role of human‐felid conflict and local use in big cat trade

Illegal trade in big cat (Panthera spp.) body parts is a prominent topic in scientific and public discourses concerning wildlife conservation. While illegal trade is generally acknowledged as a threat to big cat species, we suggest that two enabling factors have, to date, been under‐considered. To that end, we discuss the roles of human‐felid conflict, and “local” use in illegal trade in big cat body parts. Drawing examples from across species and regions, we look at generalities, contextual subtleties, ambiguities, and definitional complexities. We caution against underestimating the extent of “local” use of big cats and highlight the potential of conflict killings to supply body parts

Planning for megafauna recovery in the tropical rainforests of Sumatra

Human-induced forest loss has had devastating impacts on biodiversity. Mammal populations in the tropics have been hit particularly hard by the resulting habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation, as well as by overhunting which often goes hand-in-hand. While declines in these populations are generally well documented, few studies offer a pathway for their recovery. Here, we test the association between changes in forest habitat and occupancy trends of Sumatran megafauna (elephant and tiger) and key tiger prey species (wild boar and sambar) in the Leuser Ecosystem: a large forest landscape on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. For elephant and tiger, we develop additional occupancy models to predict their respective spatial distribution under different scenarios of forest loss and gain (through restoration and increased connectivity) to provide a blueprint for avoiding future species loss and assisting with their population recovery. From 2000 to 2019, 254,722 ha (6.7%) of natural forest was converted, primarily to plantations and shrubs. The species-specific responses over the study period revealed that the occurrence of elephant declined along the west, with a range shift to the northeast of Leuser, whereas wild boar underwent a dramatic widespread decline and although sambar experienced losses around the forest edge, it remained widespread in the interior forest, while tiger occupancy remained stable. Modelling habitat loss and fragmentation led to an unsurprising demise of Sumatran megafauna, whereas strategic investments that reconnected several forest patches provided disproportionately large benefits for their recovery through the recolonization of former parts of their range. Indonesia has achieved six consecutive years of declining forest loss rates, and our study’s findings can build off this conservation success by supporting improved provincial spatial planning and field-based restoration efforts that avoid declines of threatened megafauna species and act as a catalyst for rewilding a landscape of global importance

Snakebite Envenomation, Attitudes, and Behavior toward Snakes in Banten, Indonesia

Snakes are commonly associated with feelings of anxiety or disgust, and snake conservation is often hindered by negative attitudes and perceptions. Although global snake populations are generally in decline, snakebite envenomation (SBE) continues to be recognized as a serious public health issue, particularly in rural areas of tropical and subtropical countries. Data on SBE, a neglected tropical disease, are lacking, and Indonesia, a hotspot of venomous snake diversity, has no snake bite reporting system. We analyzed 127 survey results in Banten, Indonesia with the aim of documenting SBE and exploring the relationships between respondents’ experiences, attitudes, and behaviors toward snakes. Nine percent of respondents had experienced SBE, and knowledge of SBE incidents was associated with negative attitudes toward snake populations, with negative attitudes toward snakes associated with a higher likelihood of anti-conservation behavior. Women were more fearful than men, and women and those with lower education levels were more negative toward pythons (Malayopython reticulatus), suggesting that increased knowledge may aid in snake conservation efforts. Universally negative risk beliefs and attitudes toward venomous snakes indicate a need to reduce the threat of SBE in our study area

Understanding 20 years of mammal population research in Indonesia

Mammal populations are declining in biodiverse tropical regions. Global analyses identify Indonesia as a hotspot of vertebrate decline, although relatively few data are available to substantiate these claims. We reviewed research articles from 2000 to 2020 on Indonesia’s 104 medium to large terrestrial mammal species to help inform conservation management and future research. We found 308 peer-reviewed studies published in English or Bahasa Indonesia, with an increase in publications over the years. Studies of species distributions dominated the literature, followed by publications on abundance, species diversity, and combinations of these topics. Most publications concerned single species conducted at a single location and time point. We identify four key knowledge gaps for future research and conservation efforts: 1) a disproportionate focus on a small number of species; 2) geographic bias to west Indonesia (Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Java-Bali) with few published studies from central (Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, and Maluku) and east (Papua) of the country; 3) limitations to survey design, sampling effort, and data analysis; and, 4) lack of long-term species population studies. We also noted challenges for local researchers to publish their studies in international journals due to language barriers and cost. Greater use of existing biodiversity data and continued capacity building of local researchers, particularly those in central and east Indonesia, are critical to effectively guide future wildlife monitoring and improve mammal conservation status

Towards coexistence: can people's attitudes explain their willingness to live with Sumatran elephants in Indonesia?

Understanding coexistence between humans and threatened wildlife is a central focus in conservation. Way Kambas National Park in Sumatra Island, Indonesia, harbors one of the largest populations of the critically endangered Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus). The people who live alongside this population are affected by intensive crop foraging. Our study investigated the factors which influenced attitudes toward elephants. We then evaluated the implications of reported attitudes for future willingness to live with elephants. We surveyed 660 respondents in 22 villages around the park. People generally reported positive attitudes toward elephants (smartness 95%, usefulness 62%, importance 57%, and pleasantness 53%), apart from where human safety was concerned (safety 11%). Each dimension of attitude was explained by different factors including age, gender, knowledge of elephants, and distance to crop foraging locations. Most respondents (62%) expressed no willingness to coexist with elephants. Such willingness was lower when elephants were perceived to be more dangerous, but higher if beliefs in the benefits of elephants were greater. Efforts to improve crop foraging mitigation practice and to increase people's awareness of elephant benefits may promote support for their conservation. Through this study, we advocate the integration of social science to promote human–wildlife coexistence strategies, an approach that is currently limited in Indonesia.Published versionThis study was funded by US Fish and Wildlife Service