Kangaroos and Deer Hunted Continues

Hunting of kangaroos and deer, two protected animals that live in Wasur National Park, Merauke, Papua, continue to occur. Hunting activity threatens kangaroos and deer populations that live in national parks covering an area of 413,810 hectares of it.

The existence of kangaroos and deer hunting is visible from the sale of kangaroo meat and deer in New Market in the town of Merauke. The price of kangaroo meat is sold at Rp 30,000-Rp 40,000 per kilogram (kg), while the venison sold for about Rp 30,000 per kg.

A number of traders on Monday (18/10/2010), say, kangaroos and deer meat being sold is always sold out. "Special kangaroo, not until two hours was up. Many buyers, while the meat is limited because the kangaroos are hunted hard, "said Rohani (40), one trader. Ngatmi (42), another trader, adding, kangaroos and deer bought from the Papuan indigenous people who hunt in the Park (TN) Wasur.

Kangaroo and deer meat purchased in the market is consumed by itself, but some are sold as food. Sate deer, for example, seem much sold on street vendors Mandala, the main road in the town of Merauke.

Office Manager WWF Merauke Transfly Martinus Cornelus Wattimena hunt that continues to worry about this happening. Drivers hunting, among others, the more expensive price. While hunting resulted in more difficulties were encountered in both animal park. "Compared to deer, kangaroo is more difficult to find because of the regeneration process is not as easy as deer," said Cornelus.

Son of a newborn kangaroo must jump back into the stomach to make a living adult kangaroos. This process often fails due to disrupted animal or human activity around them.

Nicolaus (66), one of the residents of Merauke have ever hunted deer and kangaroos, say, around 1980 are not difficult to see deer and kangaroos. Both are often seen outside a national park, even one or two tails was found wandering in Merauke.

"The hunt has ever done to make the total for both reduced further. To hunt deer or kangaroo must go deep into the forest. It was chancy because it is not easy to find both, "he said.

Head of TN Wasur Dada Suganda still justify the hunting of deer or kangaroo on its territory. Not only by the indigenous people of Papua, but also people outside Papua.

However, he had not yet know the impact on deer populations and kangaroos because the hall has never been counted. "Counting the population should be conducted simultaneously across the national park. This is difficult because it takes many people to do it, "he said.

To prevent hunting, he admitted that the two continue to socialize the animals, including protected animals. Dada Suganda also plans to recruit the indigenous people of Merauke as forest guards. While monitoring the guard posts in Wasur, Dalir, and Agrindo in national parks will be intensified.