Bali Starling (Leucopsar rothschildi)

Bali Starling (Leucopsar rothschildi) or also called Curik Bali is a kind of bird was with a length approximately 25 cm. White warbler is a species endemic to Indonesia that can only be found in the western part of Bali Island. This bird is also the only species endemic to the island of Bali that still remains after the Bali tiger declared extinct. Since 1991, wildlife categorized as "critical" (Critically Endangered) in the IUCN Redlist and almost extinct in their natural habitat was crowned as the fauna of identity (mascot) province of Bali.
Scientific ClassificationKingdom: Animalia.Phylum: Chordata,Order: Aves,Family: Sturnidae,Species: Leucopsar rothschildi.

Bali Starling was first discovered by Dr. Baron Stressmann a British ornithologist nationality on March 24, 1911. Scientific name of Bali starling (Leucopsar rothschildi) named according to the name of Walter Rothschild British animal expert who first describe the species in 1912.
Bali starling bird is easily identifiable by specific characteristics, which have a white fur all over his body except at the tip of the tail and wings are black. Bali Starling has cheeks that are not covered with feathers, bright blue and the legs are grayish. Between male and female birds are similar.
Bali Starling (Leucopsar rothschildi) is a wildlife species that are (in their natural habitat) population is very rare and in danger of extinction. An estimated amount of this species are still able to survive in the wild is only about a dozen tails only.

Therefore, the Bali Starling is quite serious attention from the government of the Republic of Indonesia, namely the establishment of such creatures as wildlife protected by law. Legal protection to save the animals was determined based on the letter 421/Kpts/Um/8/1970 Agriculture Decree dated August 26, 1970. Based on Government Regulation No. 7 of 1999 concerning the preservation of plants and animals Bali Starling is traded wildlife is prohibited except for the captive breeding of the third generation (sires rather than natural).
Bali Starling in international trade convention for the bodies of illegal CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Bali Starling is listed on Appendix I, which is the group that threatened extinction and prohibited for trade. Moderate IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) to enter Bali Starling in the category of "critical" (Critically Endangered), which is given to the conservation status of species that have a large risk will become extinct in the wild or be completely extinct in the near future .

Extinction of the Bali Starling (Leucopsar rothschildi) in their natural habitat caused by deforestation (deforestation) and illegal trade. Even in 1999, a total of 39 tails in Bali Starling breeding center in West Bali National Park, robbed. Though breeding aims to melepasliarkan these endangered animals into the wild.
To avoid extinction, captive breeding center has been established that one of them was in Buleleng, Bali since 1995. In addition most of the zoos around the world is also running Bali Starling breeding program. But still emerged a question in my heart; maybe the next few years we will only see Bali Starling, the mascot of Bali, behind zoo cages. One thing that is ironic, seeing a mascot that must be enclosed in an iron cage.

Description of Bali Starling BirdAt first glance looks similar to a bird starling bird starling White and Suren, Bali Starling Bird has special characteristics, which have a white fur all over his body except at the tip of the tail and wings are black. Bali starling bird eyes dark brown, the area around the eyelids are not hairy with dark blue, Bali Starling Bird has a beautiful crest, both sexes males and females, have a Bali Starling foot gray blue with 4 fingers ( 1 to 3 to the rear and front), Part pointed with length 2-5 cm, with a distinctive form where at the top there is a flattened vertical elevation. Color gray beak with the tip blackish brownish yellow.