BIODIVERSITAS ISSN: 1412-033X Volume 20, Number 3, March 2019 E-ISSN: 2085-4722 Pages: 762-769 DOI: 10.13057/biodiv/d200321 Population and distribution of Sunda porcupine (Hystrix javanica F. Cuvier, 1823) in designated area of Cisokan Hydropower, West Java, Indonesia IRINA A. MUSTIKASARI1,2, SUSANTI WITHANINGSIH1,2,3,, ERRI N. MEGANTARA1,2,3, TEGUH HUSODO1,2,3, PARIKESIT1,2,3 1Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran. Jl. Raya Bandung-Sumedang Km. 21 Jatinangor, Sumedang 45363, West Java, Indonesia. Tel. +62-22-7796412 ext. 104, Fax. +62-22-7795545. email: [email protected] 2Center for Environment & Sustainability Science, Universitas Padjadjaran. Jl. Sekeloa Selatan I, Bandung 40132, West Java, Indonesia 3Graduate School of Sustainability Science, Universitas Padjadjaran. Jl. Dipati Ukur No. 35, Bandung 40132, West Java, Indonesia Manuscript received: 20 December 2018. Revision accepted: 24 February 2019. Abstract. Mustikasari IA, Withaningsih S, Megantara EN, Husodo T, Parikesit. 2019. Population and distribution of Sunda porcupine (Hystrix javanica F. Cuvier, 1823) at designated area of Cisokan Hydropower, West Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 20: 762-769. One of the endemic species of Indonesia is the Sunda porcupine (Hystrix javanica). Sunda porcupine is a big rodent which has unique defense mechanism behavior using its quills. This research was conducted in the designated area of Cisokan Hydropower (PLTA Cisokan), in West Java, Indonesia. The method in this study is qualitative to determine the total population and distribution. Data collection techniques were carried out by sign surveys (burrow, footprints, quills, food sites, and feces), camera traps, and semi- structured interviews. The result shows the number of porcupine populations in the designated area of Cisokan Hydropower is 6-29 individuals. Porcupine population is distributed in five regions, namely the first region consisting of Pasir Gagak, Cigintung, Batu Sahulu and Batu Nunggul; the second region is Batu Tumpeng and Batu Wulung; the third region is Curug Japarana; the fourth region consists of Sarongge and Cadas Gantung; and the fifth region is Pongpok. Based on the type of land cover, the porcupine population is commonly found in the types of shrub/huma /ladang, talun, and natural forests. Keywords: Designated area of Cisokan Hydropower, distribution, Hystrix javanica, population INTRODUCTION porcupine increases. Besides porcupine quills are used for decorative and aesthetic elements (Inayah 2016). Indonesia is known to be rich in native Indonesian Considering to high value of porcupine, market demand fauna and to be the second country with the highest of porcupine definitely increases. In South Africa, the endemic species (Whitten et al. 2004; Mittermeier et al. highest part of porcupine body trade is on quill. They 2005). One of the endemic species of Indonesia is the exported porcupine quill overseas (Chevallier and Ashton Sunda porcupine (Hystrix javanica) which can be found in 2006). In Malaysia, porcupine meat was popular as an Java, Bali, Sumbawa, Flores, Lombok, Madura, and alternative meat product in the domestic market. Half of Tonahdjampea (Van Weers 1979, 1983). Sunda porcupine Malaysian Urban Consumers acknowledged that porcupine is one of the unique mammals whose half part of the body meat can be eaten (halal) and has high nutritional values is covered with quills used as self-defense. Sunda (Norsuhana et al. 2012). In Singapore, bezoars of porcupine’s body is covered by a thousand quills with porcupine are the most popular and it can be one of the variations in size, shape, and color. The quills can be main causes of overhunting (Chung et al. 2016). As market differentiated into 4 types: quills, true quills, transitional demand on porcupine meat and its savor increases, hunting, quills, and rattle quills (Barthelmess 2006). Sunda and trade of them will continue to increase too. porcupine has blackish to dark brown body color. Long The high level of hunting and trade of these animals can quills are commonly white with black lines and short quills be the largest factor of population decline (Miller-Gulland are generally black to dark brown (Payne et al. 1985). and Bennett 2003; Borschberg 2006). In addition, habitat Porcupine is protected by Environmental and Forestry loss, fragmentation, and land use modification also can Minister Regulation No P.20 of 2018. Based on the IUCN contribute to decrease in porcupine numbers (Corlett 1992; red list, Sunda porcupine belongs to the category of Least Brook et al. 2003). Some efforts need to be done are to Concern or is not particularly concerned about its status. increase the porcupine livestock for fulfilling the demand Despite their protected status, the hunt and trade of these of porcupine trade market (Inayah 2016). Considering the animals continue to occur. Local people consider it as high value of porcupine, not only to increase the porcupine traditional medicine that can eliminate various diseases livestock, but the efforts to keep their increasing numbers such as asthma and its meat is nutritious and is considered in wildlife and improve the captive breeding are also healthier than beef. In recent year, the utilization of necessary to be done. The reason is that the meat from MUSTIKASARI et al. – Hystrix javanica at designated area of Cisokan Hydropower, Indonesia 763 wildlife porcupine is cheaper than that from livestock MATERIALS AND METHODS porcupine (Brook et al. 2010). Research about Sunda porcupine (Hystrix javanica) is This research was conducted in the designated area of still small in number. As endemic species of Java, its Cisokan Hydropower, West Java, Indonesia in February to existence will continue to decrease with increasing human April 2017. The method in this study is qualitative to density in Java. The high density of human resulted in the determine the total population and distribution. Data deforestation of forest which is the natural habitat of Sunda collection techniques were carried out by sign surveys with porcupine. Now, only 1.1 million hectares of forest remain explorations (burrow, footprints, quills, food sites, and on Java (Prasetyo et al. 2009). One of the known locations feces), camera traps, and semi-structured interviews. Data of Sunda porcupine habitat is designated area of Cisokan collection of sign surveys includes footprints, quills, Hydropower (PLTA Cisokan) which is located in border feeding sites, and burrows. The signs were measured, area between West Bandung and Cianjur districts, West captured, and tagged using GPS. The burrow was identified Java Province, Indonesia. This location provides various based on signs such as footprints, quills, and feeding sites. types of ecosystems, such as natural forests, riparians, This shows that the burrow is still used by porcupines. shrubs, production forests, taluns, gardens and huma or Camera traps are installed at some point that is paddy fields. Therefore, research on the population of considered potential. The camera traps are 17 units and Sunda porcupine species in the designated area of Cisokan installed in 20 different locations. Camera trap installation Hydropower is needed and it is expected that this place can is performed alternately to represent all locations. Total be considered as the conservation location of Sunda install time at each location is different with the shortest porcupine. time span of 11 days and the longest time span of 35 days. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data on the characteristics, presence, distribution, and disturbance of porcupine. Figure 1. Map of research locations in the designated area of Cisokan Hydropower, West Java, Indonesia 764 BIODIVERSITAS 20 (3): 762-769, March 2019 Estimated number of individuals is based on the results burrows; they use fore-claws to dig the earth to make the of camera trap recording and signs such as active burrow, burrows more secure and comfortable. The burrow is up to scratches, quills and the measurements of footprints which 20 m deep. The entrance hole of the burrow is generally are quite clearly visible. Estimation of the number of more than one, can be 2-4 holes, are equipped with tunnel individuals is done with the assumption that the sign and and each ending has enlarged chamber (Greaves and Khan camera trap recording results are still within the range area 1978). The burrows found in the designated area of of a porcupine, it means that the sign are considered from Cisokan Hydropower are 18. Four of them have many the same individual, as it is known that porcupines have a holes in various sizes from 16cm x 16cm to 100cm x 65 cm range of 5-30 ha (PLN 2014). Camera trap data results are (Figure 2), but the depth is only 3 m. identified based on meeting time, morphology, location and Porcupine burrows which are still active to use are eight direction of movement. Determination of the number of burrows. Active burrows can be marked by the presence of individual porcupines through the sign in the form of an footprints, feces, scratches, or quills around the burrow. active burrow is carried out assuming that the active This active burrow was used for estimating the population. burrow can be inhabited by 1-4 individual porcupines. Ground burrows type was found mostly active. These were Porcupine of the Hystricidae family generally live solitary, built by some rock on the top of the hole. Generally, in this so the porcupine will be with one another during the study area, the burrows were fully covered by roots and breeding and breeding season, and the number of children shrubs. So, the light of sun couldn’t shine on them directly, per child is about 1-3 (Van Aarde 1985; Olsen and Lewis so, some locations are at wet condition. The soil around the 1999). So in one burrow, it might be filled by four burrow was solid and clear too. porcupines. Signs found in less than five are footprints, feces, quills The distribution data is presented in the form of a map, and scratch.