West Papua wildlife diversity is one of the highest in the world. This abundant ecosystem owes itself to the geography of the region. Here is why there are many distinct species in the area, as well as some of the most unique animals found there.Reason Behind West Papuan Diversity
The uniqueness of fauna in the West Papua region is influenced by geological activities that occurred 10 million years ago. The collision between the Australian and Pacific continental plates gave rise to new lands, forming the island of Papua with its mountainous regions. The harsh, wild, and isolated terrains of West Papua eventually gave rise to a diverse range of endemic animals.
West Papua people have observed that animals unique to this place generally have similarities with the fauna that inhabit Australia and New Zealand. There are many species of birds and marsupials. Here are several native Papuan animal species that are almost extinct and require preservation.
Red Bird-of-Paradise
When talking about the native fauna of West Papua province, the red bird-of-paradise immediately comes to mind (Paradisaea rubra). Known as the bird-of-paradise because of its exotic beauty, the bird has a predominantly red plumage pattern, with green, yellow, and black accents on its head. Called the Cenderawasih in Indonesian, it is classified as a threatened species in its natural habitat, namely Waigeo Island and Batanta.
Black-Winged Lory
The black-winged lory (Eos cyanogenia) is also known as Biak red lory. Having a size of about 30 cm (12”) long, it is a medium-length, long-tailed lory. Currently, this West Papua wildlife is vulnerable to extinction. The black-winged parrot is well-known not only because of the beauty of its feather pattern but also because of its pleasant sounds. This species only inhabits areas on islands in the Cendrawasih Bay, such as Biak Island, Numfor Island, and Num Island.
Northern Cassowary
The northern cassowary (Casuarius unappendiculatus) is also known as the one-wattled cassowary, single-wattled cassowary, or golden-necked cassowary. One of the largest bird species in the world, an adult northern cassowary can weigh up to 47 kg. It inhabits the northern region of Papua to Papua New Guinea. Similar to the ostrich, another large land bird, this West Papua wildlife is flightless. It spends a lot of time on the ground.
Golden-Mantled Tree-Kangaroo
West Papua is also a habitat for several types of marsupials, one of which is the golden-mantled tree-kangaroo (Dendrolagus pulcherrimus). This animal, which spends a lot of its activities in the trees of the West Papua forest, has a body covered with thick yellowish-brown fur. It lives in forests up to an altitude of 1,700 meters above sea level. The golden-mantled tree-kangaroo is found in a small part of West Papua and Papua New Guinea. It is classified as an animal at risk of extinction.
Indonesian Speckled Carpetshark
The Raja Ampat Regency, West Papua, Indonesia is known for its underwater beauty which harbors many aquatic animals. One of them is the Indonesian speckled carpetshark (Hemiscyllium freycineti). Its size is quite small, only about 46 cm, and this shark species tends not to be aggressive. The Indonesian speckled carpetshark is nocturnal and spends most of its time in reef areas. This critically endangered shark species is also believed to inhabit the entire waters of Papua.
Reimann’s Snake-necked Turtle
Reimann’s snake-necked turtle (Chelodina reimanni) got its name because of its extremely long neck. This is a type of freshwater turtle that spends most of its time underwater. The snake-necked turtle has a habitat spanning from the Merauke region to Papua New Guinea. Unfortunately, this West Papua wildlife is also under threat of extinction.
