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Indigenous Ritual Adapts for Cockatoo Survival
21 Aug
Summary
- Huaulu community replaced hunted cockatoo feathers with moulted ones.
- Cidaku ceremony now uses feathers from rescue centers and zoos.
- This adaptation aids endangered cockatoos but doesn't stop trafficking.
On Indonesia's Seram Island, the Huaulu Indigenous community has innovatively adapted its Cidaku coming-of-age ceremony to conserve the endangered salmon-crested cockatoo. This ritual, which marks young men's transition to adulthood, previously involved hunting the cockatoo for its distinctive crest feathers used in ceremonial headdresses. Working with researchers and conservation authorities, the community has agreed to use naturally moulted feathers collected from rescue and rehabilitation centers and zoos. This symbolic substitution allows the important ceremony to continue without harming wild cockatoos.
The salmon-crested cockatoo is classified as Endangered due to illegal wildlife trade and habitat loss, with Seram Island being its primary stronghold. Indonesian law protects the bird, creating a conflict with Huaulu cultural practices. The new agreement, resulting from extensive community consultation and research conducted between March-November 2019 and July 2024-May 2025, revives traditional forest taboos against commercial exploitation.
While this biocultural approach demonstrates a successful integration of conservation with Indigenous traditions, researchers caution that it addresses only one pressure. The illegal wildlife trade and ongoing habitat destruction remain critical threats requiring broader conservation actions and community-led efforts for the species' long-term survival.
