For many, the expanse of Raja Ampat’s nature soothes the soul, especially for anxious people. Although hidden among clusters of islands and stunning reefs, Raja Ampat is a paradise on the eastern edge of Indonesia.

The natural beauty of Raja Ampat has inspired the KKN-PPM team from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), which is conducting community service in the Waisai City District. 

A total of 29 UGM students from 13 faculties, guided by field supervisor Dr. Djaka Marwasta from the Faculty of Geography, will serve 50 days from Jul. 1 to Aug. 19, 2024. 

The main focus will be on developing Raja Ampat’s natural resources as a national asset for the welfare of residents and enhancing Indonesian tourism on the world stage.

“The Waisai City District includes four sub-districts: Sapordanco, Waisai, Warmansen, and Bonkawir, with the main focus of this program being the development of Raja Ampat’s natural resources. The unique and extraordinary flora and fauna of Raja Ampat can embody Indonesia as Wonderland,” said Dhea Cornelia, a 2021 Vocational College student and Head of the Sorai Waisai KKN-PPM team, on Friday (Jul. 12).

Sending students to conduct community service through KKN-PPM in Raja Ampat has happened before for UGM. The 2024 period is the second phase with a new and highly potential theme in the local tourism utilization sector.

“Previously, UGM’s KKN in Raja Ampat focused on human resource development, but this year’s focus is on complementing and optimizing as well as promoting the local endemic of Waigeo Island in Waisai City, particularly the Bird of Paradise as an exotic bird of the world,” Cornelia said.

She explained that while previous KKN programs in Raja Ampat focused on human resource development, this year’s focus has been supplemented with optimization and promotion strategies for local endemics of Waigeo Island in Waisai City, exploring the Bird of Paradise as an exotic bird of the world. 

The big theme of this year’s KKN team includes a work program to increase the competitiveness of exotic bird tourism.

According to Cornelia, her team’s work program will focus on revitalizing tourism objects and compiling information about exotic bird species. 

Additionally, it will enhance human resource knowledge about exotic birds, the conservation and digitalization of information systems, and branding for exotic bird tourism in Warkesi, Waisai City.

This program will undoubtedly change the landscape of tourism in Raja Ampat. Previously known for its underwater tourism, it now presents new options for using its natural resources. 

Optimizing endemic tourism potential must involve all elements, including the government, local communities, and related agencies, according to their respective roles.

“Students will coordinate with various related OPDs (Regional Work Units) to align work programs to synergize in optimizing local eco-education tourism as exotic birds of the world,” Cornelia explained.

One of the Sorai Waisai team members, Yuda Pramudia, a 2021 Philosophy student, explained that the current location still needs permanent tourist spots that attract mass tourism. Tourism spots such as Piaynemo, Kalibiru, Wayag, and Misool are still centered around marine tourism.

The land area of Waisai City, he said, only serves as a transit hub for the tourism above spots. However, the potential for tourism, especially in the conservation of endemic birds, holds significant value and can enhance the economy, particularly for residents in Waisai City.

“Although the main focus of Sorai Waisai is on optimizing local endemic bird tourism on Waigeo Island, the KKN-PPM team will also identify social and cultural issues in the community, especially regarding social disparities, urban planning, and developing sustainable tourism-based village and city strategies,” Pramudia explained.

Author: Agung Nugroho

Artikel UGM Sorai Waisai Team Optimizes Exotic Bird Tourism Potential pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

According to Professor Rini Widayanti of the UGM Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, molecular identification of wildlife is crucial in conservation because some species may be challenging or even impossible to differentiate morphologically from similar species. 

Moreover, molecular identification can assist in obtaining crucial information for planning effective breeding programs and management.

“Equally important, molecular identification is used to detect diseases or pathogens that can threaten wild populations. By detecting infections or diseases early on, we can take preventive actions and provide appropriate treatment to protect these populations,” Professor Widayanti said during her inaugural ceremony on Tuesday (November 21).

She explained that Indonesia, as a mega biodiverse country, has two biodiversity hotspots that are threatened: the West Sunda and Wallacea hotspots and the tropical rainforest area in Melanesia, including Papua. 

She discussed this in her inaugural speech as a professor of biochemistry titled “Mitochondrial DNA as a Barcode for the Identification of Wildlife in Conservation Success.”

In her speech, she presented the results of identifying several wildlife species and their relatives based on mitochondrial DNA sequence analysis, such as tarsiers, cuscuses, and native Indonesian catfish. 

Tarsiers, one of the 24 endemic primates, are vulnerable to habitat changes and human activities, making protecting and preserving them crucial.

She collected tarsier samples from North Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, Lampung, and Kalimantan. The analysis of mitochondrial DNA fragments can be used to identify tarsiers from North Sulawesi (Tarsius spectrum), Central Sulawesi (Tarsius dianae), Lampung (Tarsius bancanus), and Kalimantan (Tarsius bancanus borneoensis).

“They face threats from illegal trade and illegal keeping as pets, which must be addressed through appropriate conservation efforts. Therefore, protecting tarsiers and their habitats is crucial for the survival of this species in Indonesia,” said the newly inaugurated professor.

Professor Widayanti concluded that molecular wildlife identification based on mitochondrial DNA gene sequences helps identify species highly accurately, discover new species, uncover the illegal wildlife food product trade, and measure genetic diversity within wild populations.

Moreover, this method supports population movement tracking, enables the formulation of conservation policies based on strong evidence, and focuses on habitat protection and law enforcement against illegal trade.

“Overall, wildlife identification using molecular methods is a crucial tool to protect biodiversity and manage wild populations sustainably,” she emphasized.

Author: Gloria

Photographer: Donnie

Artikel UGM Veterinary Medicine Professor Speaks on Molecular Identification as Boon for Conservation pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

The book Rimbakara was created by the UGM Student Creativity Program team in Entrepreneurship. 

The team consisted of five members: Tabitha Andrea Putri (Veterinary Medicine), Muhammad Farel Fafifawwas (Engineering), Kirana Maharani (Economics and Business), Tiara Tirta Mayangsari (Engineering), and Miftakhul Difa Ma’syar (Economics and Business).

“Unlike regular books, Rimbakara also offers technology in the form of an application that includes interactive games, augmented reality features, and expression cards,” Tabitha Putri explained.

Putri expressed that the book was created out of their concern for the endangered endemic species in Indonesia. Indonesia has a long list of cases involving conflicts with endemic species, often leading to a high risk of extinction.

“This book is expected to enhance children’s understanding and empathy regarding the extinction status and role of endemic animals in ecosystems, thus raising awareness about the need to conserve endemic species to reduce the risk of extinction and preserve the ecosystem,” she elaborated.

Putri explained that the name Rimbakara is derived from two syllables: “Rimba,” which means forest, and “Kara,” which means protector. 

The book will feature a hero figure who serves as a virtual influencer embarking on adventures within the story to assist in the conservation of Indonesia’s endemic wildlife. This hero character consists of two child figures, a boy and a girl, named “Kara” and “Una.”

“In the first edition, the interactive book Rimbakara follows their adventures on Natuna Island with the Kekah animal, an endemic species of Natuna Island,” she added.

To expand educational opportunities for children, Putri and her friends are working on collaborations with communities and wildlife conservation organizations, including Mantau Kekah. 

Rimbakara is now available on the Shopee marketplace. Furthermore, Rimbakara can also be found on social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube under the username @pkmkugm_rimbakara.

Author: Ika

Photo: The UGM Rimbakara Team

Artikel UGM’s Rimbakara: Interactive Book to Introduce Endemic Animals pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

The release comprised 40 olive ridley turtles and 20 green turtles. It is part of the ongoing efforts to conserve and protect rare and endangered turtles in Indonesia.

During the event, the rector stated that the release of the sea turtles, in collaboration with Alas Purwo National Park, aims to preserve the natural ecosystem by conserving the rare turtle species that inhabit the region near the national park.

“Our mission is to strengthen the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) program with a focus on sustainability. We all share the responsibility of upholding sustainability to maintain the ecological balance by preserving the habitats,” said the rector.

The symbolic release of the hatchlings marks a collaboration between UGM and the National Park Conservation Center to enhance developments in education and research. 

Manager Kusumawardani of Alas Purwo National Park expressed hopes for further productive cooperation in empowering and conserving wildlife.

She highlighted the significance of support from academic institutions in preserving flora and fauna within Alas Purwo National Park. 

“We look forward to continued support from academics to advance the preservation efforts of the national park, particularly in research and education activities, as preserving the park is a collective responsibility,” the manager said.

Head of the Alas Purwo National Park Management in Muncar, Noviani Utami, added that releasing the hatchlings into the open sea is a regular activity conducted by the Alas Purwo National Park management. 

Furthermore, the park also organizes releases for visitors to educate them about the importance of conserving protected species. 

“Releasing the hatchlings is part of our turtle conservation efforts, as we aim to raise awareness among the local community to protect and preserve the turtles within the national park,” said the head.

She explained that turtle conservation activities have been ongoing since the 1980s, which include rescuing turtle nests and releasing hatchlings into the open sea. The efforts involve nightly patrols to locate turtle nests, which are then relocated to turtle hatcheries in the Ngagelan coastal area. 

“Our nightly patrols cover approximately 18.5 kilometers along the coast,” she said.

Utami also mentioned that they often find adult turtles, which they tag with identification information from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Alas Purwo National Park Authority, and individual turtle numbers. 

This tagging system enables tracking if the turtles re-land in Indonesian waters or are spotted in other parts of the world, contributing to their conservation efforts.

The head revealed that four of the six turtle species that have landed on Indonesian beaches are present in Alas Purwo: green turtles, hawksbill turtles, leatherback turtles, and olive ridley turtles. They have protected approximately 1,500 turtle nests from natural threats throughout the year. 

“Around 80 percent of the hatched eggs at the Ngagelan turtle hatchery will be released into the wild, while a smaller portion will be used for educational purposes,” she explained.

This event symbolizes the commitment of UGM and Alas Purwo National Park to contribute to conservation and safeguard the survival of Indonesia’s precious sea turtle species.

Author: Gusti Grehenson

Photographer: Firsto

Artikel Rector of UGM and Manager of Alas Purwo National Park Release Sea Turtle Hatchlings pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

In an operation led by the Sumatra Regional Office of Environmental and Forestry Security and Law Enforcement, the two experts were asked to identify the origin of illegally smuggled elephant ivory seized at Sultan Iskandar Muda Airport, Aceh. 

The two experts promptly responded to the request and conducted DNA analysis on the recovered samples of elephant ivory. Despite the degraded condition of the DNA, they could identify specific genotypes using forensic DNA.

“The results of the forensic DNA analysis revealed that the elephant ivory originated from the Sumatran subspecies of Asian elephants,” said Dr. Priyono on Tuesday (27/6).

He emphasized that this discovery suggests that the ivory comes from illegal trading. The information provided is crucial evidence in the investigation and efforts to combat the ivory trade in Indonesia.

“With strong scientific evidence regarding the origin of the ivory, the authorities have proceeded with legal processes and identified the networks involved in the trade,” he said.

Previously, a Sultan Iskandar Muda Airport personnel reported the discovery of a box containing 5 kg of elephant ivory, measuring 58 cm in length, 52 cm in inner base length, 62 cm in outer base length, and 31 cm in base diameter, along with 56 sachets of coffee and 0.5 kg of chips that were to be sent to Surakarta, Central Java, to the Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA). 

On May 18, the Aceh BKSDA handed over the seized evidence to the Sumatra Regional Office of Environmental and Forestry Security and Law Enforcement. The suspect, M, is currently detained at the Aceh Regional Police for further examination.

Dr. Priyono added that the ivory trade is a global issue that damages elephant populations and threatens ecosystem sustainability. He hopes this case will set an important precedent in the efforts to combat the illegal trade of protected animals and raise awareness of the importance of wildlife conservation.

Dr. Dwi Sendi Priyono is known for his experience in the genetic analysis of elephant populations in Indonesia, particularly in Way Kambas National Park and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park.

Author: Agung Nugroho

Artikel UGM Biology Lecturers Assist Government in Ivory Trade Investigation in Aceh pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.