15 Bali Curiks Released in Tabanan, Two Rescued from Trapped Cages

TABANAN, GARISBUMI.com – The Bali Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) together with the Friends of Nature, People and Forest (FNPF) Foundation and partners released 15 Balinese catfish (Leucopsar rothschildi) in Tabanan Regency. Two of them were birds that were previously found trapped in trap cages in Jatiluwih Village.

Based on information from BKSDA Bali dated 16 October 2026, the release took place in two locations at different times. A total of 13 were released in Kampoeng Jalak Bali, Tengkudak Village, while the other two were returned to the wild at Pura Luhur Besi Kalung.

This activity involves the government, conservation institutions, communities and traditional villages to support the conservation of Bali's endemic animals and their habitats.

A total of 13 Balinese curik released into the wild in Tengkudak Village came from the handover of the Begawan Foundation to the Bali BKSDA after their breeding permit expired and was not renewed. The birds were then entrusted to FNPF to undergo rehabilitation before being released.

The selection of Kampoeng Jalak Bali as a release location was supported by habitat studies by a team of ornithologists from Udayana University. This area is also the location for the release of Balinese curik by FNPF and BKSDA Bali in 2024 and 2025.

In those two years, 64 breeding stock were released into the wild. Based on FNPF monitoring until September 2026, 87 chicks were recorded that hatched and survived in nature, distributed in three groups.

The wild population of Balinese curik in Kampoeng Jalak Bali is estimated at 140–150 individuals. This figure is an estimate of the latest pre-release monitoring results.