BKSDA Bali releases Bali starlings, eagle and 21 confiscated songbirds

Badung — Bali’s conservation agency has carried out two separate bird release operations in Badung and Buleleng in 2026, returning endangered Bali starlings, a protected crested serpent eagle and confiscated songbirds to natural forest habitats, according to the agency and local media.

In Badung, the Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam (BKSDA) Bali released 12 Bali starlings (Leucopsar rothschildi) at Karang Dalem Tua Traditional Village in Abiansemal as part of efforts to conserve Bali’s endemic bird species.

BKSDA Bali worked with conservation partners that had bred the birds in captivity before the release, with the batch comprising six males and six females, according to local news reports.

Veterinary staff from BKSDA Bali conducted health checks prior to the release, and the starlings underwent a habituation period of around one month in holding cages to help them adjust before returning to the wild, according to reports on the operation.

Habitat conditions in Karang Dalem Tua

Local coverage described Karang Dalem Tua as part of the Bali starling’s natural range and noted that the release location includes agricultural and forested landscapes in Badung, which the agency sees as suitable habitat for the species.

Reporting on the event highlighted the role of the traditional village community in maintaining local environmental conditions and supporting protection for endemic wildlife through customary regulations and cooperation with conservation authorities.

Officials framed the release as contributing to long-term efforts to strengthen wild populations of Bali starlings, which are protected under Indonesia’s conservation laws and globally classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Crested serpent eagle and confiscated songbirds in Buleleng

Separately, BKSDA Bali evacuated and released a crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela) and 21 songbirds in a forest area in Buleleng Regency following rescue and rehabilitation steps.

According to an official account from BKSDA Bali, the eagle was reported by a resident in Pemuteran village, Gerokgak subdistrict, after it struck a house window while hunting, prompting local officers to evacuate the bird.

The eagle was transferred to the wildlife clinic of the Indonesian Animal Network Foundation (Yayasan Jaringan Satwa Indonesia, YJSI), where veterinarians performed physical and health examinations. The agency stated that the bird showed no visible injuries and retained aggressive behaviour, and was therefore deemed ready for direct release back into its natural habitat.

BKSDA Bali said the release took place in the forest area managed by UPTD KPH Bali Utara in Buleleng, witnessed by YJSI staff, forestry officials, members of the local forest management group and university interns.

At the same time, the agency and its partners released 21 songbirds that had been confiscated at Gilimanuk port and temporarily housed at YJSI since mid-May 2026. The group included nine Bali white-eyes, three brown-chested jungle flycatchers and nine prinias, according to agency and media reports.

In its description of the case, BKSDA Bali said 32 juvenile birds had initially been placed in temporary care under a formal handover document dated 14 May 2026, but only 21 survived. The agency attributed the 11 deaths to stress and dehydration among nestlings that were still at a very young stage.

The crested serpent eagle is listed as a protected species under Indonesia’s 2018 environment and forestry regulation on protected plants and animals, and local reports noted that while the species is globally assessed as Least Concern, it is subject to controls on international trade.

Sources

• Metro TV – 12 Burung Jalak Bali Dilepasliarkan ke Habitat Alami
• Ruangkota – BKSDA Bali Lepasliarkan Enam Pasang Jalak Bali
• Note.com – 野生に帰る 幻の鳥「バリムネシキチョウ」12羽を自然へ
• Balai KSDA Bali – Tim BKSDA Bali Bergerak ke Dua Lokasi yang Berbeda untuk Evakuasi Elang Ular Bido di Desa Pemuteran dan Pelepasliaran Burung Hasil Sitaan Reso
• Shangbao Indonesia – 巴厘岛自然资源保护局放归受保护鹰类及21只被没收的鸟类
• RRI Denpasar – Upaya Pelestarian Satwa Endemik, 12 Ekor Curik Bali Dilepasliarkan