The Bali Starling was once a common sight on the island of Bali, adorning the lush forests with its snow-white plumage and vibrant blue patches around the eyes and tail. Revered for its beauty and captivating song, the species thrived in its natural habitat However, the combination of habitat destruction, illegal trapping for the pet trade, and predation by invasive species pushed the Bali Starling to the edge of oblivion.
By the late 20th century, the population had plummeted drastically, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed the Bali Starling as “Critically Endangered.” With only a handful of individuals remaining in the wild, urgent action was needed to save this iconic bird from extinction.
In the face of such dire circumstances, dedicated conservationists, local communities, and government authorities including Bali Bird Park rallied together to rescue the Bali Starling from the precipice of extinction. These collective efforts culminated in a comprehensive conservation program which includes creating protected reserve and breeding centers, rehabilitation and release, community education and also enforcing anti-trafficking law. All of these efforts have led to a considerable recovery of Bali Starling population in the wild, commemorated by its reclassification by IUCN to “endangered” from “critically endangered”.
