Biology and conservation status of herbivorous mammal species in the collection of Taman Margasatwa Ragunan, Jakarta

Abstract

Wildlife plays a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance. Some species serve as indicators of environmental conditions, with changes in population or behavior signaling ecological shifts. Therefore, conservation and protection efforts for wildlife are essential. One such conservation area is the establishment of Taman Margasatwa Ragunan (TMR) in Jakarta, which houses a collection of animals from various regions of Indonesia. The aims of TMR function as a reservoir for rare and protected species, allowing them to be bred and conserved. The lack of comprehensive information on species, characteristics, classification, morphology, reproduction, and ecology of all animals at TMR highlights the need for a systematic and continuous study. This research aims to provide clear, complete, and comprehensive information on TMR's wildlife collection. In 2023, reptile species were identified, followed by bird species identification in 2024. These efforts resulted in books providing detailed information on reptiles and birds at TMR, serving as valuable references for students, researchers, and the general public. Continuing this research, in 2025, a study will be conducted to examine the characteristics, systematics, morphology, and ecology of herbivorous mammals at TMR. The preliminary results of this study show that there are 20 species of herbivorous mammals in the TMR. Sixteen species belong to the order Artiodactyla, while one species each belongs to the orders Diprotodontia, Perissodactyla, Proboscidea and Rodentia. Currently, the general characteristics, systematics, morphology, reproduction, ecology, and conservation status are being compiled for each species.