Indonesia has a lot of endemic birds. It is a shame that many are still unaware of them. One of the species is burung Mambruk Victoria or Victoria-Crowned Pigeons. These birds are part of the indigenous animals in Papua and West Papua too.
The Origin of These Birds
They were first discovered in Papua New Guinea, before spreading to the entire island and elsewhere. (Yes, this includes Papua and West Papua.) There was speculation that these birds had a distinct relation to the already extinct dodo birds. The name Mambruk Victoria (or Victoria-Crowned Pigeons) was given in honour to Queen Victoria. You can see the bird’s regal poise and the flashy blue crown on top of its head.
So, what makes these birds so special? Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment made this statement on its official social media account on February 14, 2021:
“Burung mambruk victoria (or Goura victoria) is the biggest pigeon species among other pigeons. It is one of the beautiful, endemic birds of Papua living in Mamberamo Foja Conservation.”
The feather of this bird is grayish blue. Its chest is purplish maroon. The most distinctive feature this bird has is a crown that looks like a fan. There is also a white tip on its head.
Adult Mambruk Victoria can be between 28 to 30 inches, all the way from their heads to their tails. It means they are as big as a female turkey. Their weight is also around seven pounds, which means the same weight as the female turkey.
The official account of the Ministry of Environment also stated that it was not easy to find these birds. Although the distribution of the Mambruk Victoria is all over Papua, we do not get to see them right away. These birds are known to be super shy and easily agitated when sensing the presence of humans.
The Temperament of These Birds
These birds are intelligent and rather docile, so it is easy to tame them. When they become part of the zoo, they attract visitors easily. They can fly, although not too far away and only when they feel the need to. Let them freely roam around and search for food on the ground. Still, these birds can get pretty edgy if they are not used to humans.
How do we see these birds in nature, like in a forest or by the lake? To be able to see these birds, we must know how to camouflage ourselves with nature. It means not making too many movements, and there is no sound we should make when watching them. They do not like to be startled and will fly far away when feeling threatened.
The Mambruk Victoria does not make a sweet sound. The bird makes a loud, booming sound that may startle you if you are not used to it.
This bird has been listed in the red list of IUCN (International Union of Conservation Nature) because it is considered “endangered”. Victoria-Crowned Pigeons are also listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora Appendix II. It shows how much we need to keep this bird protected that even the law is on their side.
The Deforestation in Mamberamo Foja
Based on a study conducted by the University of Papua (Unipa) team for 27 years (from 1990 to 2017), the Conservation of Mamberamo Foja had experienced massive deforestation. It had affected 34,382 hectares of land, and the forest degradation had gone as far as 73,307 hectares. The damage had affected several districts in Mamberamo Foja, which has 12 districts in total.
According to the plan, Mamberamo Foja is going to be transformed into a national park. After all, a national park is a form of conservation area management that can accommodate the indigenous Papuans’ existence and well-being and other development activities. Since the law protects the birds, mambruk Victoria can also stay safe in the national park.
Since they still need to be protected, Victoria-Crowned Pigeons can have a life expectancy up to 25 years if they are bred and raised in captivity. Of course, this can only happen if they get all the proper care that they need.
If Victoria-Crowned Pigeons are bred in captivity, ensure that they do not eat their droppings when searching for foods on the ground. These birds require regular and high maintenance.
Unfortunately, these birds had been hunted mostly for their meat and feathers. The meat was merely for human consumption, while the feathers were used as a display. Plus the massive deforestation, no surprise that the population of this species had declined dramatically.
Although the law has already protected these birds, massive deforestation still occurs. Therefore, the government has to be more serious when handling environmental issues like deforestation.
These are all about Victoria-Crowned Pigeons. If you care about these indigenous animals in Papua and West Papua, start by taking care of their natural habitat.
