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Braasch, T.
Rettung von Java-Pustelschwein und Schwarzflgelstar - Artenschutz auf einer der am dichtesten besiedelten Inseln der Welt
2009  Zeitschrift des K”lner Zoo (52): 175-185

Indonesia is the largest island state. Conservation measures so far have focused on Sumatra and Borneo due to the heavy logging activities there. Java is the smallest of the Greater Sunda Islands and is one of the most heavily populated islands in the world. The clearing of forests started in the 16th century and increased in the 19th century. Due to these activities and human population pressure it has lost most of its forests and several large mammals like Javan tiger and Javan elephant became extinct, or almost extinct, like Javan rhinoceros. Nevertheless there are still many and often endemic vertebrate species like Javan warty pig, Javan banteng and black-winged starling, which have still survived and need conservation measures. The Zoological Society for the Conservation of Species and Populations (ZGAP) has recently started conservation measures for Javan warty pig (_Sus verrucosus_), endemic to Java, Madura and Bawean, and black-winged starling (_Sturnus melanopterus_), endemic to Java, Bali and Madura. The Javan warty pig was thought to be extinct, but was rediscovered in the 1980s. It is threatened by hunting, habitat destruction and hybridization with banded pigs. Only several hundred animals of this species are left. The black-winged starling once was a common bird on Java. Due to collecting them for bird markets, the populations have collapsed and possibly only 200 birds still exist in the wild. An _ex-situ_ breeding project was started for both species at the Cikananga Wild Animal Rescue Centre (PPSC) in Sukabumi in West Java. The aim is to breed starlings and warty pigs to release them later in safe-guarded areas on Java. In the future these conservation measures will be expanded to other species like Javan leopard and green peafowl. The conservation measures for these species will raise awareness for the endangered biodiversity on Java and will help to save other less known species there.

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