Indigenous Indonesian community protects rare cockatoo while maintaining sacred tradition

An Indigenous community in Indonesia has devised a method to safeguard one of the world’s rarest cockatoos while continuing a centuries‑old sacred tradition, according to a study published in the Journal of Ethnobiology. The research, conducted by scholars from The Australian National University, Universitas Gadjah Mada and the Perkumpulan Konservasi Kakatua Indonesia, documents how local customs that restrict access to certain forest areas inadvertently create refuges for the endangered birds, allowing populations to recover without disrupting cultural practices.

The authors detail collaborative monitoring that integrates traditional knowledge with scientific surveys, confirming that the protected zones coincide with the cockatoos’ breeding sites. By formalising the community’s customary restrictions and providing conservation training, the partnership enhances habitat protection while respecting cultural heritage. The findings illustrate a viable model for aligning biodiversity preservation with Indigenous stewardship, offering a replicable framework for other regions facing similar conservation challenges.