Indigenous communities lead remarkable recovery of bali’s iconic starling from near-extinction

In one of conservation’s most inspiring success stories, the stunning Bali starling has soared back from the edge of extinction thanks to the dedicated efforts of Indigenous communities who embraced traditional protection methods where modern conservation had failed.

The beautiful white-plumed songbird with its distinctive cobalt-blue face was once among the world’s most endangered species. By 2001, poachers had decimated the population to just six birds remaining in the wild. Today, that number has grown to approximately 520 birds—a remarkable 8,600% increase over two decades.

This dramatic turnaround happened after local Balinese communities took matters into their own hands, implementing traditional laws and community-based protection programs. “All the people in our village are working together to secure this species,” explained Made Sukadana from Tengkudak village. “We plant fruit trees for the Bali starling and support a dedicated, passionate bird person who monitors daily.”

The community approach succeeded where previous efforts had failed spectacularly. Despite releasing 218 captive-bred birds over 18 years, government breeding programs couldn’t overcome rampant poaching driven by the lucrative pet trade. Traffickers once paid up to $4,500 per pair—more than a park ranger’s annual salary—making corruption inevitable. Even breeding facilities weren’t safe, with 78 birds stolen directly from conservation centers. The Bali starling’s recovery demonstrates how empowering local communities with traditional governance can achieve conservation victories that top-down approaches cannot, offering hope for protecting other critically endangered species worldwide.