REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – The status of Trulek Java (Vanellus macropterus) is critically endangered. Trulek Java or Javan Lapwing is a kind of bird found only in wetland in Java. The lack of wetland in Java causes the extinction of the bird. 

“The existence of Trulek Java indicates the quality of wetland environment,” Bird Conservation Officer at Burung Indonesia, Dwi Mulyawati, said.

Wetland is an area of ground saturated in water and categorized with distinct vegetation. The area of wetland in Indonesia is approximately 20 percent of its land, or at least 40 million hectares. “Indonesia has every type of wetland ecosystem in the world, such as marine, estuarine, palustrine, lacustrine, and riverine,” Dwi explained. 

Unfortunately, the amount of wetland in Indonesia decreases. Human convert it into field, housing, or fishpond. Wetland is considered unproductive and useless. On contrary, it has ecological function maintaining the balance of land and water ecosystem. It harmonizes the habitat of the flora and fauna. 

Wetland is also a source of food products, such as basic material for industry and drugs. The damage wetland cannot support the population of water bird. Mangrove and its mud is the habitat of Trulek Java. It is where they search for food, rest, and grow.

The medium size of Trulek Java is about 28 cms. Its fur is grayish brown with black heads, gray-brown back and chest, and yellowish long legs. Its habit is living in the marsh, estuary, and wetland. Hunting and disappearing of its habitat is the main threat to its extinction.

“This is the rarest bird in the world. It was seen for the last time at 1939 in Meleman Beach, Java west coast,” she said. 

Indonesian government has determined the status as protected since 1978. Various investigations and research are conducted to obtain the evidence of the existence of this rare bird.  “They trace it by doing survey and expedition along the coast and wetland in Java,” she said. 

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