Raising awareness on wildlife trade in Indonesia

We are thrilled to share that the diligent preparation and meticulous administrative work we detailed in our last update have fully paid off. Having successfully established our formal partnerships and secured the necessary permits from Indonesian authorities, we have transitioned from the desk directly into the forest. In early 2026, our team launched our first major expedition to the spectacular Maluku archipelago, visiting Ambon, Tanimbar, and the Aru islands to begin our vital on-the-ground conservation research.

During this expedition, we collected biological samples from many individuals of more than ten different native parrot species. To ensure the long-term sustainability of this project, we placed a heavy emphasis on local capacity building. We trained our dedicated Indonesian field assistants in advanced tree-climbing and safe bird-handling techniques, empowering them to continue this data collection safely. We were also able to assist the local Forestry department to rewlid previously confiscated cockatoos (see photo).

With this wealth of new data, our immediate focus now shifts to the laboratory. We will soon begin to process the freshly collected Maluku samples to build our forensic DNA database and to screen the parrots for potential diseases. At the same time, we are preparing our next round of applications to safely access and study populations further east in Papua, with a particular focus on iconic and highly sought-after species like the Palm Cockatoo.

Thank you for standing with us to protect Indonesia's unique and beautiful avian diversity. Please stay tuned for more updates here or at our project’s website at stopparrottrade.org.