IUCN SSC Asian Trade Specialist Group

2016-2017 Report

David Jeggo

Chair Mission statement L Conservation activities David Jeggo (1) The IUCN Asian Songbird Trade Specialist Group i. Develop International Advisory Board to assist (ASTSG) exists to prevent the imminent and advice, Indonesian Government of the Red List Authority Coordinator extinction of threatened by unsus- reintroduction of the (Leucopsar BirdLife International (2) tainable trapping and the trade in wild-caught rothschildi). Two workshops were held during . In addition, it seeks to address the 2017, in Bogor and Bali. (KSR #24) Location/Affiliation impact of the trade and to find solutions ii. Populations of Black-winged Myna (Acridoth- (1) Jersey, Chanel Islands, British Isles through which the growing threat to an ever eres melanopterus) set up at two conservation (2) BirdLife Global Office, Cambridge, UK increasing number of songbird can be breeding centres in Java and International reversed and improve the conservation status Studbook published. (KSR #25) Number of members of all species involved. Acknowledgements 9 Main activities by Key Priority Area ASTSG would like to acknowledge Wildlife (2016 & 2017) Reserves Singapore for organising and funding Barometer of life the two Asian Songbird Crisis Summits which

L Conservation activities directly led to our coming into being. They continue to support our activities and act as our i. To have conducted trial releases of Black- host institution, for which we are most grateful. winged Myna (Acridotheres melanopterus) to establish protocols and identify conditions Targets for the quadrennium 2017-2020 necessary for successful reintroduction. Currently a trial is underway at Taman Safari, Barometer of life Bogor. (KSR #24) Research activities: (1) field study of Black- L Research activities winged Myna and Bali Myna; (2) conduct i. The Myzomela from Rote Island (Eastern Nusa socio-economic research on cage keeping Tenggara) has been identified as a distinct in Java; (3) re-survey Javan White-eye (Zosterops species, Myzomela irianawidoae. These findings flavus); (4) survey Java mountains targeting have been reported in a published paper in Critically Endangered Songbirds; (5) survey Mt. which it recommends the species should be Slamat for Critically Endangered subspecies of listed as Vulnerable by IUCN. (KSR #43) the Rufous-fronted Laughingthrush (Garrulax rufifrons slamatensis); (6) conduct captive Conservation action breeding trials on Greater Green L Communication (Chloropsis sonnerati); (7) publish papers that i. Best Practice Guidelines have been produced provide data on the trade in Asian songbirds for the Endangered Sumatran Laughingthrush and its effects. (Garrulax bicolor). These document the requirements for their successful captive management and will support the captive programme that has been established for the species. (KSR #28) Javan Green ( thalassina), Critically Endangered Photo: Andrew Owen

Sumatran Laughingthrush (Garrulax bicolor), Endangered Photo: Andrew Owen

Communications Projected impact for the quadrennium Summary of activities (2016-2017) Communication: publish articles that draw 2017-2020 Key Priority Area ratio: 2/7 awareness to the conservation crisis facing The ASTSG gained official approval in mid-2017 Key Priority Areas addressed: Asian Songbirds and the existence of the (thanks to the help and support of Rachel • Barometer of life (2 activities) ASTSG. Hoffmann in the SSC Chair’s Office and Nigel • Conservation action (3 activities) Synergy: partner with the European Association Collar, BirdLife International). This gave of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) conservation additional impetus to activities aimed at Main KSRs addressed: 24, 25, 28, 43 campaign “Silent Forest” to raise awareness addressing the threat faced by a number of KSR: Key Species Result and funds in support of the Asian Songbird species as a result of the caged bird trade. As Crisis. an outcome of the Songbirds Crisis Summits, Conservation action hosted by Wildlife Reserves Singapore in October 2015 and February 2017, the Group had Communication: (1) compile Best Practice an existing framework allowing it to target and Guidelines for Rufous-fronted Laughingthrush; prioritise activities. The up-listing in the 2016 (2) compile Best Practice Guidelines for Bali Red List of a number of the songbirds within the Myna. Group’s focus, several to Critically Endangered, Conservation activities: (1) establish captive underlined the urgency of implementing population of Javan Green Magpie (Cissa measures to address their conservation needs. thalassina); (2) support conservation breeding In September 2017, EAZA launched a new centres in-country; (3) establish captive conservation campaign, “Silent Forest” http:// population of Straw-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus www.silentforest.eu/, which will raise much zeylanicus). needed awareness and funding in support of the Asian Songbird Crisis. We, along with TRAFFIC and Birdlife, have signed as partners to the campaign. The resulting funds will go directly to projects that the group sees as priorities and therefore will directly support our activities.