Sumatra rainforest is one of Indonesia's rich landscape of fauna. Of the mammal species present in Sumatra, 22 are found only in Asia and can not be found in other parts of the world. About 15 of them are native to Indonesia, including Sumatran orangutans.
One type of wildlife that is less well-known in fact is endemic to the island of Sumatra is the jungle of Sumatra forest. There is still little research on this type so that minimal reference will be. A little known study is that this species is one of six types of forest goats present in eastern Asia.
Sumatra Forest Goat or in English called Sumatran Serow is a type of forest goat that only exist in the tropical forest of Sumatra Island. The physical characteristic of a named scientific goat Capricornis sumatraensis sumatraensisini is a slender horn, short and curved backwards. Weight between 50- 140 kg with a body length between 140-180 cm. As adults, the height reaches 85-94 cm.
Generally, the jungle of Sumatra forest lives solitary. However, sometimes, he also runs in small groups. Like tigers, this goat also maintains an area within the forest for its use as a feeding place, in the form of leaves and grass, and shelter. Well, to mark a region as a region of his power then this goat will remove dirt and urine.
The goats of the Sumatran jungle are of course different from the goats we used to cultivate. Because, this type is a blend of goats with antelope, a goat-like type with a horn perpendicular. In fact, it still has a close relationship with the buffalo.
This goat is an agile animal climbing the steep slopes that normally can only be reached by human with the help of rope. Usually, his life is set at 200 meters from the summit of the highlands of Sumatra or the limestone hills. Habitat is primary forest and secondary forest near the mountains. They are active in the morning and evening. At noon, rest in the shade on the rocks.
Currently, the remaining population is located in Kerinci Seblat National Park (West Sumatra, Jambi, Bengkulu and South Sumatra) can also be found in Batang Gadis National Park (TNBG), which is administratively located in Mandailing Natal (Madina), Sumatera Province North and Gunung Leuser National Park (Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam).
Early 2013, residents around Mount Sinabung, precisely in the Village Berep Tepu, Simpang Empat District, Karo District, found a wild goat forest out of the forest, because the activity of Mount Sinabung which continues to erupt that time.
According to the elders of people who have lived in the village for generations, they have never seen a forest goat of Sumatra. Indeed, in the wild the existence of these animals increasingly rare and even threatened extinction.
International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), enters this animal in the Vulnerable (VU) category. The Government of Indonesia also establishes the Sumatra forest goat as one of the protected animals from extinction based on PP No. 7/1999 on the Preservation of Plant and Animal Species.
So rare this animal, to the extent that only a few zoos in the world that has a collection of Sumatra forest goat. In fact, at the zoo in Indonesia itself, it seems not many have it.
The main problem that causes these rare animals is the narrowing of their habitat due to illegal logging, overrunning of forests, and poaching. They are hunted, both in the area of protection or free area, to eat the meat as raw materials of traditional medicine. While the horns, traded as decoration. In fact, trade horns of jungle goats of Sumatra can be found easily in online media.
It is our responsibility to ensure that Sumatra's natural wealth is sustainable and not just a story. Come on!
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