Researchers from The Australian National University, Universitas Gadjah Mada, and Perkumpulan Konservasi Kakatua Indonesia have documented how the Huaulu community of Seram Island adapted their sacred Cidaku initiation ceremony to protect the endangered salmon-crested cockatoo. Published in the Journal of Ethnobiology, the study details fieldwork conducted between 2019 and 2025 showing that young men participating in the adulthood ritual now use naturally moulted feathers sourced from wildlife rescue centers instead of hunting wild birds.
Adapting the Cidaku Ceremony for Cockatoo Protection
Historically, young Huaulu men wore the distinctive crest feathers of the salmon-crested cockatoo during the Cidaku ceremony to mark their transition to adulthood. To address population declines driven primarily by commercial wildlife trafficking, the community worked with Mansuela National Park authorities and Perkumpulan Konservasi Kakatua Indonesia to establish a feather bank. This initiative supplies naturally shed feathers from rehabilitation facilities, eliminating the need to hunt wild birds. The Indonesian Government has formally recognized this co-designed solution.
Senior author Dr George Olah from the Fenner School of Environment and Society noted that the research challenges the notion that traditional cultural practices and wildlife conservation are inherently opposed. According to Dr Olah, the spiritual potency of the ritual relies on the inherent spiritual integrity of the species rather than the violence of the hunt. Through participatory focus group discussions, the community designed an approach that respects oral customary law while ensuring wild population survival.
Did You Know? The conservation agreement that established the feather bank on Seram Island was developed through interviews, focus group discussions, and participatory fieldwork conducted between 2019 and 2025.
Implications for Biocultural Conservation
Lead author Dwi Agustina from Universitas Gadjah Mada and Perkumpulan Konservasi Kakatua Indonesia stated that the agreement validates the community’s role as rightful stewards of their environment. Agustina emphasized that supporting the evolution of culture rather than freezing it in the past helps achieve outcomes benefiting both biodiversity and Indigenous identity. The research team hopes the project will serve as a global model demonstrating that conservation interventions are most effective when co-designed with local leaders.
Expert Insight: Saving the salmon-crested cockatoo requires saving the culture that reveres it. This study proves that you don’t have to choose between cultural continuity and ecological survival – you can have both.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Cidaku ceremony?
The Cidaku ceremony is a sacred initiation ritual for the Huaulu people of Seram Island that marks a young man’s transition to adulthood.
Where do the feathers for the ceremony now come from?
Instead of hunting wild birds, the ceremony now uses naturally moulted feathers collected from wildlife rescue centers and rehabilitation facilities through a newly established feather bank.
What is the primary driver of the salmon-crested cockatoo’s decline?
According to the study, commercial wildlife trafficking is the primary driver of the species’ decline, while Indigenous communities are often disproportionately blamed for wild population losses.
What steps should policymakers take when balancing Indigenous cultural practices with modern wildlife protection goals?