CAPTIVITY OF TIMOR DEER (MENJANGAN) IN BALI AS A CONSERVATION EFFORT AND ECOTOURISM

        Timor deer which in scientific language is named Cervus timorensis is one of four native Indonesian animals from deer group or mammal groups that have antler, especially male animals (in scientific language called the Cervidae family), the other three are bawean deer, sambar deer and munjtak deer. The timor deer's status is as a protected animal according to Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation No: P.106 / MENLHK / SETJEN / KUM.1 / 12/2018. The purpose of establishing protected status in these animals is to maintain the presence of species in nature so that later they will not become animals in mere fairy tales and the population of these animals in nature continues to decline due to the threat of damage and loss of habitat for these animals. In Bali, timor deer in the wild only exist in the Bali Barat National Park area, including on the Menjangan island.

Efforts to kee deer outside their habitat are generally referred to as wild animal breeding. Can protected wild animals be bred/nurtured by the community or institutions? With the aim of conservation, of course the answer is yes. Republic of Indonesia Government Regulation No. 8 of 1999 regulates the use of protected animals that is, the use of wild animals can be in the form of studies, research developments, uses for tourism and captivity. Captivity is an activity to breed wild animals which aims to increase the population while maintaining genetic purity (1st/F1 breed) so that the preservation and existence of species of animals can be maintained in their natural habitat. Means the results of breeding these animals in captivity can later be returned to the wild (released). In the Bali Region the government agency that facilitates the community in maintaining protected wildlife is the Balai KSDA (Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam) Bali. The mechanism regarding animal preservation is facilitated by the KSDA Bali, which starts from the procedures for the procurement of the parent, maintenance techniques, returning the results of breeding to nature, utilization for tourism purposes and the use of these animals for religious ceremonies in Bali.

Timor deer are easily maintained in captivity because these animals are easy to adapt to the environment outside the habitat. The food is also easy to find, namely grass and leaves, the species of plants that are eaten are almost similar to those eaten by domestic cows. Timor deer are animals whose marriages are polygamous, ie a male can marry several females in one mating cycle. So in maintenance in a breeding cage, a deer group that is kept consists of several females and 1 male (can be 2-10 individual females and 1 male). Captive breeding can use a fence system surrounded by living trees, an area of 100 m2 can be placed with 5 deer. Inside the fence provided shelter, a place to eat and drink. Takandjandji and Edy Sutrisno (2011) stated that 1 deer requires a minimum of 2 m² cage area.

Keeping deer in captivity has many benefits, namely useful for the purpose of conservation of the purity of its species (1st generation / F1), eco-tourism aspects and aspects of meeting the needs of animal protein. For the purpose of ecotourism (uniqueness and beauty) because deer are native animals of Indonesia, wild animals that are not easily seen in nature, the peculiarities of animals and their behavior, are the object of education about wildlife conservation. In terms of aspects of meeting the needs of animal protein and other by-products for 2nd/F2 offspring and so on). The results of deer breeding also have the prospect of being developed on a commercial cultivation scale, so that it can be as a source of animal food. As developed in several countries, for example in New Zealand, Australia, deer farming is commercialized as a source of meat and medicine (velvet or young deer antlers for medicine).

In Bali, some captivity of timor deer developed by the community include captivity in Batungsel Pupuan, Tabanan regency, deer captivity  in Taman Ujung Soekasada, Karangasem regency, deer captivity in Banjar Purasana, Nawekerti village, Abang District, Karangasem and Deer captivity in Batu Agung Negara, Jembrana regency. In captivity are kept more than seven individuals timor deer. Food in the form of grass and leaves of broad leaf plants is given every morning and evening. Some of these deer are returned to their natural habitat, there are for religious ceremonies and for tourist attraction.

Base on the writer's point of view, raising wild animals, especially the timor deer, needs to be encouraged in the community. The government, in this case the Balai KSDA Bali, needs to socialize and facilitate making the timor deer as a breed animal. Because, maintaining timor deer has several benefits, namely for conservation, can be as a food security family (source of meat), can be for commercialization and as an ecotourism attraction. The available agricultural land in Bali also supports deer rearing.

 Library Resources.

Republic of Indonesia Government Regulation No. 8 of 1999. concerning Utilization of Wild Plants and Animals

Takandjandji, M. and Edy Sutrisno (2011) Timor Deer  Breeding Techniques. KSDA Research Results. Available at: http: //technique-captures-rusa-timor.html.

Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia No.P.106 / MENLHK / SETJEN / KUM.1 / 12/2018, concerning the species of plants and animals that are protected.