07 March 2022
PT Freeport Indonesia and the New Guinea Highland Wild Dog Foundation (NGHWDF) support research conducted by the University of Cenderawasih (Uncen) on the New Guinea Singing Dog (NGSD) in the Freeport open pit mine area in the Papuan mountains. Uncen has completed the second phase of research on NGSD or known locally as Singing Dogs in 2018. The first research was conducted by the State University of Papua (UNIPA) together with NGHWDF in 2016. The second phase of research was carried out for 1 month to be precise in August 2018 in the Tembagapura District, Mimika Regency, Papua. On September 1, 2020, the result of this research was published in an international journal in the United States, namely the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
PT Freeport Indonesia's General Superintendent of Highland Reclamation and Monitoring, Pratita Puradyatmika said that Singing Dogs can be found in almost all areas of PTFI's Grasberg mine. No doubt, a number of employees who work in the Grasberg area also often witness the existence of this herd of dogs at close range. "Singing dogs do not attack humans. On the contrary, several times this herd of dogs has been found to be able to live and work side by side with our employees who work around open pit mines," said Pratita in a written statement, Monday (7/3).
According to him, local people believe that Singing Dogs are descended from their ancestors. This local wisdom helps build a sense of responsibility for the community and PT Freeport Indonesia to maintain and protect the preservation of these animals. "It is PTFI's commitment to protect Papua's mega-biodiversity through various research and environmental conservation efforts. Therefore, apart from protecting the Singing Dog habitat and population in our work area, PTFI also continues to support the efforts of various parties, including Cenderawasih University, to conduct further research for conservation purposes," added Pratita.
Meanwhile, Chancellor of Cenderawasih University, Apolo Safanpo said that his party would continue to conduct further research of this unique animal, in terms of their taxonomic elements, social life, types of breeding and others with scientific principles. "UNCEN will still continue the third phase of research in May 2021, considering that there are still many things that we need to explore, such as taxonomy, breeding, social life, its role in the food chain, and other things that can be the scientific basis for determining the protection status of Singing Dogs, ' said Apollo.
Apollo then explained that the research site was in the former Grasberg open pit mine owned by PTFI at an altitude of 3,800 to 4,300 meters above sea level. The remote location and various geographical conditions in the research location, according to him, were one of the obstacles faced by the research team when completing this research. "One of our biggest challenges in maximizing this research is the remote research location with extreme terrain and difficult to reach by ordinary vehicles. For this reason, we are collaborating with PT Freeport Indonesia, which supports this research by providing various supporting facilities and transportation, especially to help us reaching the difficult terrain in PTFI's work area," continued Apolo.
Has a Similarity to the Australian Dingo Dogs
The second phase of research was conducted to analyze the genetic relationship between Singing Dogs and other wild dogs that live in the highlands of Papua. During 2 weeks of monitoring with a camera trap, the research team managed to record 18 singing dogs. Research was also conducted by collecting dog blood, skin and hair samples to analyze the physical, demographic, and behavioral characteristics of these animals. The results of the study found that Singing Dogs have a number of similarities with wild dogs in the Papuan Mountains and with Dingoes that live in Australia.
Singing Dogs can be recognized by their thicker hair and relatively smaller body size than other wild dogs, which is about 45 cm high for male dogs and 37 cm for female dogs, with a body length of about 65 cm for males and 55 cm for females. These animals live in small herds, with about 2 to 3 individuals in one group. Another thing that also distinguishes this dog from other dogs is the way they communicate, namely by howling, not by barking.
This unique howl that touches the melody from low to high is what makes local people call this animal the Singing Dog. However, further research is still needed to confirm many things, including to scientifically consider its protective status. The research team explained that this animal needs to be preserved because it has not been included in the list of protected animals.
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