Bali Tourists Travel Off Path For Rare Wildlife Sightings In Secret Tourism Village 

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The Bali Starling is one of the rarest birds on earth. Native to Bali Province, the species is starting to make a comeback from the brink of extinction thanks to intensive conservation efforts.

For tourists traveling to Bali, it is now possible to see these efforts firsthand in Tabanan Regency, close to Tanah Lot Temple. 

Efforts to save the Bali Starling from extinction have been among some of the most intensive and successful in the world.

In the community now known as Bali Starling Village, in Penebel District in Tabanan Regency, efforts have been particularly successful thanks to the efforts of local residents and conservationists. 

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Conservation NGO, Friends of Nature, People and Forest, has been one of the biggest contributors to the Bali Starling’s comeback. Dr Made Sugiarta, Project Manager for the initiative, has spoken to reporters about the success of the program.

He told reporters that the project wouldn’t have been possible without the support and input from the indigenous community, who have helped nurture the near extinct bird back to a population of 150 individuals across four villages in the Tengkudak area of Tabanan Regency. 

One of the biggest issues with building up the population numbers is that the Bali Starlings are territorial, requiring 2 hectares for breeding, nesting, and feeding. To make matters harder, Bali Starlings choose their own nests and do not respond well to nest boxes provided by conservationists. 

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Suigarta told reporters that there is still a long way to go for the Bali Starling, and that although poaching levels have dropped, the risk is still present.

The illegal trade of rare birds and songbirds all across Indonesia is a huge problem for conservationists and environmentalists, and poaching, along with habitat loss, has been one of the top reasons for the Bali Starling’s numbers dropping to critical levels in the last 30 years.

Suigarta confirmed that, alongside specific efforts to support breeding, the NGO works to educate the public and build awareness about the importance of these birds and the need to protect Bali’s ancient forest landscapes. 

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To help boost the program further, tourists can now visit Bali Starling Village. The program now welcomes around 200 tourists a day over the weekends, with international tourists and school visits accounting for the most visits.

Suigarta shared, “Activities offered include photography, content creation, and trekking with several trail options. Short and medium trials are available, while long trials are still under development.”

Over the coming 12 months, Bali Starling Village is set to bloom as a tourist destination. The team is working on creating a 22-acre educational park, funded by CSR partnerships with local businesses. The project is also creating jobs for the local community.

Friends of Nature, People and Forest have trained four residents as guides, and they help visitors look for the wild Bali Starlings along the trails.

At present, visits are free, and the project relies on donations. In the future, the community and the team that runs the program are hopeful that they will receive more support from the local government and other funding agencies to help bring the project to the next level. 

The Friends of Nature, People and Forest Bali is one of the most established conservation NGOs in Bali, and the organisation works all across Indonesia. The organisation also offers tourists the opportunity to volunteer at some of its facilities, including in Bali.

Tourists who wish to volunteer during their vacation in Bali must ensure they enter the country with the correct visa, as in many cases, volunteering and vacationing fall under different immigration categories and require different visas.