Rainforest Animals in Manokwari

There are a lot of animals that we can see while hiking and camping in the tropical rainforest of Manokwari. Deer, cuscus, bandicoot, and kangaroo are mammals that have been hunted by the indigenous Papuan people. Since they are nocturnal, they usually go out a night to find food. Most of these animals are the source of food for the indigenous Papuan who live in the coastal and interior regions. Hunters usually kill them by using traditional weapons such as bow and arrows, spears and machete.

There are two kinds of hunting techniques which the hunters use to catch the animals. First, by going into the jungle and search the animals in every possible place that they can find them. When they are able to approach the animal, for instance: a deer, they will shoot it with a bow and arrow. Then, they will cut it into smaller pieces and bring them back to their village. The second technique is by setting up traps. Papuan hunters are experts in setting up traps. They can make tens of traps in certain areas of the jungle. Then they will leave them for 2 or 3 days. When they return to the forest again, they will check the traps one by one. They often see that the caught animal is still alive. So, they have to kill it.
Besides mammals, other animals that live in the jungle are birds, snakes, lizards, and colorful insects such as birdwing butterflies and eupholus beetles.
Nowadays, animals are facing extinction not because of the traditional hunting but the deforestation. Huge acres of Papuan forest are being cut and converted into monoculture-plantation. This kind of practice, pose more threats to the whole ecosystem of rainforest than traditional hunting. Therefore, the cutting of tropical ranforest has to be stopped now! If it is not stopped, this precious ecosystem will severely be destroyed and damaged. Animals will not be able to find food and die. By preserving rainforest, the bio-diversity in the jungle will be protected and it is able to supply food and medicines to the indigenous Papuan people depend on it. by Charles Roring