RRI.CO.ID, Makassar - Sulawesi has been identified as the region with the highest number of endemic bird species in Indonesia, boasting 159 species as of January 2026. This figure underscores the island’s role as a vital hub of avian biodiversity.

According to conservation NGO Burung Indonesia's communication officer Meliza Laveda, the latest national bird diversity report highlights Sulawesi’s unique ecological richness.

“Sulawesi recorded the largest number of endemic species, reaching 159,” she said in a press release received in Makassar on Friday, April 3, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Overall, Indonesia is home to 1,834 bird species, with 538 classified as endemic, meaning they are found only in specific regions. After Sulawesi, the areas with the most endemic species are Maluku (117), Java and Bali (80 each), Papua (75), Nusa Tenggara (62), Sumatra (54), and Kalimantan (6).

While the numbers reflect Indonesia’s extraordinary natural wealth, the report also warns of mounting pressures on bird populations. Currently, 159 Indonesian bird species are listed as threatened, including 29 critically endangered, 49 endangered, and 81 vulnerable.

These classifications have been updated based on new scientific data, offering a clearer picture of population conditions in the wild.

Burung Indonesia emphasized the urgency of sustainable conservation efforts, particularly to address habitat loss and hunting, two of the most significant threats to the survival of endemic species.

The findings reinforce Sulawesi’s global importance as a biodiversity hotspot, while also serving as a reminder that Indonesia’s avian treasures require stronger protection to ensure they endure for generations to come. ***