West Waigeo Island Nature Reserve is in the Raja Ampat Islands in West Papua, eastern Indonesia. Rich in high biodiversity, making this area a very important place in the Raja Ampat Islands. In terms of fauna recorded has 27 species of mammals and has 171 species of birds.
Waigeo Island is designated as a nature reserve area based on the Decree of the Minister of Agriculture No.395 / Kpts / Um / 5/1981 dated May 7, 1981, with an area of 153,000 Ha which is the area with the widest use of land in Waigeo Barat. After Sub-Sub-Inventory and Perpetaan Hutan (Sub BIPHUT) Manokwari undertakes the restructuring activities of the nature reserve area, this area then only has a definitive width of 95,200 Ha.
This nature reserve is still dominated by primary dryland forest. There are several small rivers that flow in this area. The Raja River is one of the rivers rescued by the locals as it is considered the Raja Ampat petilasan.
In this area there are some protected habitat of Papua’s wildlife, among them are White Yellow Crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Raja (Probosciger aterrimus), Raja Udang Hutan (Halcyon macleayii), Julang Irian (Aceros plicatus), Bayan (Eclectus roratus), Red Black Head (Lorius lory), Mambruk Viktoria (Goura victoria), Cassowary, Cendrawasih (Paradisaea sp.) and Maleo (Magrocephalus maleo).
This nature reserve is one of the natural tourist destinations that are perfect for exploring the beauty of Papua.
This area is also the habitat of endemic animals, said to be endemic because it is only found in a certain place and not found elsewhere. These animals include the birds of Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rubra), birds of Cendrawasih Wilson / Bald (Cicinnurus respublica) and birds Maleo Waigeo (Aepypodius bruijnii).
According to the Raja Ampat Fauna and Flora International Program Co-ordinator (FFI-IP) of the Raja Ampat Fauna and Flora Community Program (FFI-IP), there are two types of birds of paradise that are not found elsewhere in Indonesia. Both are Red Cendrawasih (Paradisaea rubra) and Cendrawasih Wilson / Bald (Cicinnurus respublica).
The red parrot (Paradisaea rubra) has yellow and brown fur and has a yellow beak. Adult male measuring about 72 cm, the feathers that adorn the body of this adult red blood bird with the tip of the white hair on the stomach. The color of the feather on the head is dark green emerald, in the tail there are two pieces like a long black rope in the form of a spiral. The size of the female bird is smaller than the size of the male bird, with the color of the dark brown head.
Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus respublica) measuring about 21 cm. Beautiful red and black feathers adorn it, with a yellow nape. This bird has a blue leg, and there are two long coiled hairs on its tail. In the head, there is a light blue light. Bird of parrot Wilson / bald female has brown feathers with light blue head colors.
In addition to paradise, the male waigeo birds also have habitat in this nature reserve. This bird is a bird that is only found on Waigeo Island, which is waigeo.
The bird has a body size of about 43 cm, on the head of this bird has no hair or bald. In the body, there is black or brown fur. Maleo male waigeo birds have a small red cock and have three waves on the neck.
These animals are the natural wealth of Indonesia that is famous for the beauty of its fur colors and including endangered rare animals.
This nature reserve is very important existence for the preservation of these animals. Local people should have a high awareness to preserve this nature reserve area for the existence of West Waigeo Island Nature Reserve and its diverse biodiversity.
