Indonesian forestry officials on Saturday, December 13, 2025 released a rare Javan hawk-eagle equipped with a GPS tracking device into its natural habitat in West Java as part of an intensified effort to monitor and protect one of the country’s most threatened bird species.
The adult male hawk-eagle, named Raja Dirgantara, was set free in the Situgunung area of Mount Gede Pangrango National Park in Sukabumi Regency, Forestry Ministry officials said in the press release. The bird was fitted with a GPS telemetry unit — a first for the species in this region — aimed at tracking its movements, nesting locations and habitat use after release.
The GPS device will send data to researchers, enabling them to observe the bird’s home range and behavioral patterns over the coming months. Officials said the information will be crucial in shaping future conservation strategies for the species.
“We are using GPS telemetry technology to monitor movement and home range of this hawk-eagle,” Deputy Forestry Minister Rohmat Marzuki said in a written statement. “This technology will allow us to see where the bird nests and how it adapts in the wild.”
Raja Dirgantara was rehabilitated for more than a year at the Javan Hawk-Eagle Conservation Center in Cimungkad after being surrendered by a member of the public from Cianjur in September 2024. During rehabilitation, wildlife experts trained the bird to hunt natural prey such as lizards and snakes to rebuild its survival instincts before release.
Officials described the release as a milestone for conservation of the species, which is endemic to Java and listed as endangered due to ongoing habitat loss and illegal capture. Conservationists say that without sustained protection, the species — once estimated by international researchers to number only a few hundred in the wild — faces serious long-term risks.
According to Indonesian authorities, about 511 breeding pairs, or roughly 1,022 individual birds, are estimated to remain across Java, a figure that reflects growth in population numbers from prior decades but also underscores the species’ vulnerability.
From mountains to oceans, delivered to you. Follow us on Lingkar Bumi WhatsApp Channel.
Conservationists say the main threats to the Javan hawk-eagle include deforestation, fragmentation of remaining forest habitat, climate change and the illegal wildlife trade. Loss of mature forests — the preferred home of the species — has reduced suitable habitat and isolated populations, making it harder for birds to find mates and maintain genetic diversity.
Experts also note that while the current estimated numbers represent an improvement from earlier years, the species remains at risk if habitat protection does not keep pace with expanding human activity across the island. Logging, agricultural conversion and infrastructure development continue to encroach on forested areas central to the hawk-eagle’s survival.
The park area around Situgunung was selected as the release site after habitat assessments indicated abundant prey and minimal competition from other predators. Officials said the GPS telemetry trial will be extended to 74 known habitat pockets of the species across Java to gather a broader data set.
“We hope the hawk-eagle population will continue to grow,” Marzuki said, underscoring the government’s commitment to collaborative conservation efforts involving scientists, nongovernmental organizations and local communities.
Local park authorities reported that patrols in the national park have recently identified about 14 active eagle nests, evidence that some breeding pairs remain in key forest corridors.
Conservation groups welcomed the GPS initiative, saying it could improve understanding of habitat connectivity and behavioral ecology, helping to focus protection measures where they are most needed. But they cautioned that technological monitoring alone is not enough without broader landscape-level policies to protect remaining forests.
As Raja Dirgantara soared into the sky during his release ceremony, supporters from government and conservation organizations called on the public to contribute to the species’ survival by reporting sightings, handing over illegally held birds and supporting forest preservation efforts. (Sulung Prasetyo)
