PONTIANAK - The marine mammal caught by fishermen in the waters of Kubu Raya in April 2016 in Padang Tikar District, was confirmed to be a type of finless porpoise. This is evidenced by the results of DNA tests conducted over the past 7 months by the West Kalimantan BKSDA together with WWF-Indonesia in collaboration with the Indonesian Biodiversity Research Center of Udayana University.

Finless dolphins belong to the smallest cetacean group, generally less than two meters in size. Other marine mammals included in the Cetacean group are whales, dolphins and porpoises.
WWF-Indonesia's West Kalimantan Program Manager Albertus Tjiu said that the results of the DNA test on the finless dolphin - which was spotted in Kubu Raya waters some time ago - are very important, given the lack of data related to this animal in the world.

"Porpoises are different from other cetaceans, they are shy animals and not acrobatic animals, so they are rarely seen on the surface, except when they want to breathe. Whereas dolphins, generally interactive, like to jump high so they are often seen close to fishermen and can be observed. Therefore, Porpoise research is difficult to conduct given the lack of encounters with this type of aquatic animal in various locations in the world, and in Indonesia there has never been a specific research on this species. Therefore, for us, the discovery of this species in the Kubu Raya region adds important information about the presence and distribution of finless dolphin species in Indonesia. In addition, this information will also be presented at the 2nd Southeast Asian Marine Mammal Stranding Network Symposium - Workshop-Training," he explained.

The finding of other marine mammals, namely whales stranded last October in Padang Tikar, Batu Ampar District, as well as the finding of dolphins from WWF-Indonesia surveys since 2011, further proves that Kubu Raya waters are an important habitat for marine mammals. Of the 88 species of cetaceans in the world, 34 are found in Indonesia, and 3 of them can be found in the waters of Kubu Raya Regency with a complete species composition.

The Head of West Kalimantan BKSDA, Sustyo Iriyono also added that these findings should be proud of, because it further shows that Kubu Raya is an area that has high species diversity, from land to sea.

"Socialization and awareness to the public about the existence of marine mammals needs to be done as a joint action plan, considering that these animals are included in the category of protected animals based on Law No. 5 of 1990 and PP No. 7 of 1999. In addition, it is necessary to maintain and protect their habitat, so that the animal's habitat can be designated as an Essential Ecosystem Area," he said.

The high biodiversity in Kubu Raya requires comprehensive conservation efforts. WWF-Indonesia, since 2015 has declared an important area that has high biodiversity in Kubu Raya as the Kubu Landscape. Landscape-based management is part of WWF-Indonesia's strategy to create management effectiveness in an area. The designation Kubu Landscape is also intended as an effort to create an icon of an area, so that the wider community is easy to recognize it.

"Landscape-based management is WWF-Indonesia's effort to manage an area with a multi-stakeholder approach. Currently WWF-Indonesia with the support of the Kubu Raya Regency Government and three forestry companies namely PT Kandelia Alam, PT Bina Silva Nusa and PT Ekosistem Khatulistiwa Lestari have committed to jointly maintain the conservation values that exist in the Kubu Landscape and support from IDH as a donor agency," said Pawan-Kubu Landseascape Leader, WWF-Indonesia, Ian M. Hilman.

"We should be proud of the discovery of this new marine mammal species in Kubu Raya Regency. This shows that the Kubu Raya water area is becoming increasingly important to be a common concern, of course whatever program will be developed by the parties, as much as possible can run in balance between economic, social and environmental interests. The Kubu Raya Regency Government will support the research and development efforts of environmental programs that are being carried out by WWF-Indonesia, "added the Head of Subdivision of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Bappeda Kubu Raya Regency, Muhammad Riza Iqbal.

"The continuity between conservation efforts of areas and species from the ecological aspect and community life from the social and economic aspects is the main milestone for the sustainability of an area's ecosystem which can be achieved through the support and cooperation of the parties that have been running well in Kubu Raya", concluded Albertus.

For further information, please contact:
Ir. Sustyo Iriyono
Head of West Kalimantan BKSDA
PHONE: +6281219973006
Email: [email protected]

Dwi Suprapti
Marine Species Conservation Coordinator
WWF Indonesia
PHONE: +628123655906
Email: [email protected]

Muhammad Riza Iqbal
Head of Subbid of Fisheries and Marine of Bappeda Kubu Raya Regency
HP: +628980385211
Email: [email protected]