Sacred Rituals and Endangered Birds: A Biocultural Approach to Cockatoo Conservation on Seram Island, Indonesia

The Huaulu tribe of Seram Island, Maluku, maintains the sacred Cidaku ritual, in which young men traditionally prove their passage to adulthood by hunting the Endangered Salmon-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua moluccensis) for its prized crest feathers. This dramatic intersection of cultural identity and conservation law has sparked conflict between Indigenous customs and national wildlife protection mandates. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork, including participant observation, in-depth interviews, and questionnaires, this study facilitated a solution that respects both cultural heritage and species survival. Our results led to the formal adoption of a conservation agreement based on symbolic substitution that now allows the use of molted cockatoo feathers from rescue centers and zoos in Cidaku ceremonies, thereby reducing hunting pressure without erasing tradition. This approach is reinforced by reviving traditional management systems like resource-use taboos (seli kaitahu) and formalizing customary laws (pamali) against commercial wildlife trade. This work validates a biocultural approach, demonstrating that honoring Indigenous values is not a barrier, but rather the most effective pathway to creating resonant and sustainable biodiversity conservation in local communities. Video abstract: https://youtu.be/NIRis1g6NaY. © The Author(s) 2026