Capturing Opportunities With Tajae Conservation
10 October 2018

While practicing using GPS, young Utik marks large trees with a diameter of more than 45 cm that have holes. Yokyok explained that these large-diameter trees could be a potential nest tree for hornbills. Unlike other hornbills, the Tajae has the characteristics of a typical nest tree. Tajae will only nest in tree holes that have stumps or branch fractures, function as a place to land tajae.

The preservation of the Sungai Utik customary forest is home to a variety of animals including Tajae. With indigenous peoples' institutions already strong and recognized by many parties, the Sui Utik customary forest can be maintained. They realize that this customary forest has hidden potential that can be utilized. Of course this can avoid threats from those who want to exploit the Sungai Utik forest which can damage the existence of trees and various biodiversity in the Sungai Utik Customary Forest.

The threat to the existence of flora and fauna on the Utik River is still often experienced, recently residents caught hunters who had stolen the Ruai or Kuau raja (Argusianus argus). Residents were forced to punish the perpetrators by paying customary fines worth Rp. 5 million, because customary fines had not been paid, residents were forced to confiscate motorbike perpetrators. Residents prefer this case to be resolved customarily rather than taken to the police. They feel that the existing customary law must be implemented, if not carried out, the people do not want other parties to think that their customary law is blunt. Carrying out customary law is the same as maintaining the dignity of their tribes. Residents do not want any more cases of theft of flora and fauna in their forests, therefore periodic monitoring activities for flora and fauna must be done immediately.

Although this month has not entered the fruit season, but still can be found some hornbill feed that falls on the forest floor. Like fruit nutmeg (Myristicaceae) which is a favorite fruit of tajae because of its high protein and lipid content. This fruit has a distinctive aroma of nutmeg that we know, has black seeds coated with bright red seed coat (arillode). This part is what is eaten by hornbills.

This visit to the Sungai Utik forest was enhanced by the distinctive sound of Tajae from a distance. According to Inam, it was estimated that the Tajae was in Bukit Sabang 2 KM from our position at that time.