Encounters and habitat use by javan rusa (Rusa timorensis) on Menjangan Island, West Bali National Park

Abstrak

Menjangan Island is one of the islands in the West Bali National Park area that has an unique animal, namely the Javan rusa (Rusa timorensis). The presence of humans in their natural is feared to cause changes to the existence of Javan rusa in their habitat. The aim of this study was to observe the encounter and the use of habitat by Javan rusa on Menjangan Island TNBB in relation to human activities. Observations were conducted in coastal forests, lowland seasonal forests, and savannas from December 2023 to April 2024. Javan rusa were mostly found in monsoon forest and savanna habitats, but less in coastal forest habitats. In each habitat type, Javan rusa were more often found in anthropogenic habitats than in natural habitats. Javan rusa used all three types of habitats on Menjangan Island for ingestion and resting activities. Plants consumed by Javan rusa were Azadirachta indica, Vachellia leucophloea, Pemphis acidula, Pongamia pinnata, Calotropis gigantea, Dioscorea alata, Schoutenia ovata, Rhizophora mucronata, Spinifex littoreus, and Carex sp. Plants used by Javan rusa as resting places were Azadirachta indica, Vachellia leucophloea, Pongamia pinnata, Schoutenia ovata, Pemphis acidula, Carissa spinarum, Ficus superba, and Thespesia populnea.