Charismatic, yet endangered, the maleo bird, Macrocephalon maleo, is a natural treasure of Sulawesi and the world. Together with local villagers, the Alliance for Tompotika Conservation (AlTo) works to protect the maleo at... [ view full abstract ]
Charismatic, yet endangered, the maleo bird, Macrocephalon maleo, is a natural treasure of Sulawesi and the world. Together with local villagers, the Alliance for Tompotika Conservation (AlTo) works to protect the maleo at its premiere communal nesting ground near the village of Taima in the Tompotika Peninsula.
Working side by side, teams of villagers and AlTo staff guard the nesting ground round the clock, ensuring that adult maleos can lay their eggs in peace, eggs are safe from poaching, and maleo chicks can hatch out undisturbed and free of human intervention in their natural environment.
Since this collaborative effort began in 2006, virtually all poaching has ceased, and maleo numbers at the Taima nesting ground have steadily risen. This area is the only place on earth where maleo numbers are known to be increasing. The job of guarding at the nesting ground rotates among villagers, involving and supporting many families with the salary paid. In addition, as a kind of “thank you” from the international community for villagers’ commitment to conserving the maleo, AlTo ensures that the people of Taima receive benefits such as eyeglasses, repairs to community buildings, and, currently, a comprehensive project to provide clean water to all village residents.
Why a Festival? AlTo’s field conservation programs have had remarkable success in reversing the decline of the endangered maleo bird in Tompotika, halting poaching of sea turtles and their eggs, and making other concrete strides for imperiled wildlife and their habitats. But these field successes will amount to nothing in the long run unless a strong ethic of care for wildlife and the natural world grows among ordinary Tompotikans. That means supporting the conservation-minded Tompotikans that are already part of the AlTo alliance in nurturing that conservation ethic amongst their neighbors--and that means outreach to change people’s hearts, minds, and behavior. Everyone goes to Festival!
This film takes you to Sulawesi to experience the Festival!
Ecosystem: Coastal , Resources: Wildlife , Big Issues: Biodiversity , Big Issues: Public awareness , Solutions: Public participation
