The Jakarta Post 7 Nov 09;
The population of deer (Cervus timorensis) in the Rawa Aopa Watumohai National Park (TNRAW) in Southeast Sulawesi has declined significantly in the last 16 years, a member of park management staff says.
The number of deer at the park was now less than 1,000 from around 33,000 in 1993, according to Budi Prasetyo, an officer of the TNRAW, told Antara state news agency in Kendari on Saturday.
Illegal logging and poaching activities in 2001 especially, were the main factors which caused the deer population to fall sharply, he said.
The 105,194-hectare national park is the habitat of various flora and fauna such as 155 species of birds, including 32 species of endangered birds, anoa, 'digo' monkey (Macaca ochreata) and brown civet.
