Author : Pattiselanno, Freddy

Summary : This study aimed to provide a baseline information on deer utilization and its implication to the population for a sustainable forage management in the upland Kebar in West Papua, Indonesia. Some related activities of the natives around the study site were analyzed by interviewing some key informants. Deer population census and habitat analysis were carried out to identify deer utilization and implication to the population and habitat. Deer utilization in the upland Kebar grassland was purely done through hunting for food and cash. Instead of performing traditional hunting, modern hunting using firearms was observed to be increasing nowadays. The estimated deer population in 375 ha grassland area was 1,081 animals with density level of three deer per hectare. Composition of deer population structure was 57% adult, 25% fawns and 18% sub-adults with a sex ratio of one male to two females. The grazing area was composed of 11 grass and five legume species. Deer food plants in Kebar were Imperata cylindrica, PAspalum conjugatum, Themeda arguens, Melinis minutiflora and Cyperus rotundus. Productivity of the grassland was 30.36 kg/ha, while the carrying capacity was about four deer/ha.