ABOUT THE SILENT FOREST CAMPAIGN
Songbirds in Southeast Asia have become the subject of excessive but culturally deep-rooted consumption for trade, singing competitions, pets, status symbols, export, traditional medicine, and food. Demand for songbirds in Southeast Asia is extremely high, affecting hundreds of species and involving millions of individual birds, annually. The trade is often illegal and evidently unsustainable; thus, it has been recognised as a primary threat for many species in Southeast Asia, particularly the Greater Sunda region.
Comprising of Brunei, western Indonesia (Bali, Java, Kalimantan, and Sumatra), Singapore, Malaysia, southern Myanmar, and southern Thailand, the Greater Sundas are an ecologically diverse region, home to more than 850 bird species, and globally recognised as a biodiversity hotspot with high levels of endemism. Currently, Indonesia has one of the highest number of bird species assessed as threatened with global extinction in the world and the highest one in Asia (Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable; IUCN Red List, 2017).
The aims of the campaign are to address and mitigate the ongoing songbird extinction crisis in Asia and increase awareness within and beyond the zoo community. Achieving these aims means ensuring the zoo community has the capability to scramble the resources needed in manpower, know-how, and funding to save a growing number of Asian songbird species from imminent extinction.
WHAT IS BCA ZOO DOING TO HELP:
Bali Starlings housed at BCA Zoo are part of a managed European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) but they also act as our ambassadors for the Silent Forest Campaign.
We have dedicated one of our family zoo days to raise awareness of the campaign and to also raise some much-needed funds by putting on a variety of public activities that help to highlight the problems that these birds are encountering in their natural homes.
How can you help?
If you would like to find out more about the Silent Forest Campaign and donate then please click here.
Image and text reference: www.silentforest.eu
