The Paradox of the Bali Starling.

Catherine Wheeler on Bali's most fabled and highly-prized mascot

Bali's most famous bird is also its most elusive. The species is highly endangered. But the rarity of the Bali starling in its own territory has been contrived to maintain an artificially high price. The cost of these birds is higher inside Indonesia than anywhere else, and breeding permits here are almost impossible to obtain.

The two articles below, in The Bali Times (November-December 2009) shed light on the struggle of the Bali Starling in its original habitat, the West Bali National Park (TNBB). Allegedly, the wild population in 2009 was around 80 birds but is under threat, yet again. This time, the threats are high-voltage electricity lines & pipelines.

The article below is called 'Plant species as food source for the Bali starling at Ped, Nusa Penida' and was written by I Ketut Ginantra, A. A. G. Raka Dalem, Sang Ketut Sudirga (Kelompok Studi Ekowisata, Jurusan Biologi, FMIPA, Universitas Udayana, Kampus Unud Bukit Jimbaran Bali, Indonesia 80361), & I. G. N. Bayu Wirayudha (Ketua Yayasan "Friends of The National Park Foundation", This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +628123992656). Translation of the original Indonesian text by Godi Dijkman follows below.

The Bali Starling (Leucopsar rothschildi) is a bird of about 25cm and is endemic to the forests of West Bali, presently the location on West Bali National Park (Taman Nasional Bali Barat, TNBB).