Bali Starlings

Raising awareness of the declining population of these beautiful birds

Animal lovers are, tragically, often the worst enemies of wild animals. Hundreds of Bali starlings have been illegally captured in the wild and sold as exotic pets for people who (in general) adore beautiful birds. Because Bali is such a small island, it never held a large population of its endemic starlings, so the population declined sharply and dramatically. Between 1988 and 1994, the wild population went from mildly threatened to critically endangered– shrinking to just 24 individuals in 1994. That’s right: only two dozen birds comprised the entire wild population of Bali starlings.

Jacha created this installation so that people visiting the Platform Galeri, where it is on display, could be made aware of the plight of the these stunning birds.

For more information about Bali Starlings please visit:http://www.chesterzoo.org/animals/birds/passerines/bali-starling