Conservation of Giant Prawns and Proboscis Monkeys: Ecological and Economic Synergy for South Kalimantan

Banjarmasin – Conservation expert who is also a lecturer in the Biology Education Study Program at Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM), Dr. Amalia Rezeki continues to strive to increase the population of giant prawns on Curiak Island, Barito Kuala Regency, South Kalimantan. This program is part of a conservation initiative that combines ecological aspects and community welfare.

She said that over the past five years, the population of giant prawns in the Barito River area has decreased drastically. This is due to environmentally damaging fishing practices, such as the use of poison and electric shocks by fishermen from outside the village. In addition, damage to the mangrove ecosystem, especially the rambai type, has also worsened the condition of the giant prawn habitat.

“The large population of giant prawns with high economic value is now increasingly difficult to find. This is due to the destruction of mangrove forests and environmentally unfriendly fishing methods,” said Dr. Amalia in Banjarmasin, Tuesday (6/5/2025).

As a form of active conservation, Dr. Amalia and her team from the SBI Foundation routinely restore rambai mangroves—an important habitat for giant prawns and proboscis monkeys. To date, more than 25,000 rambai seedlings have been planted on Curiak Island, and some of them have formed new small islands.

Dr. Amalia and her team also carry out an educational and economic approach by purchasing female giant prawns that are laying eggs from fishermen to then release them back into their natural habitat. This step is expected to raise awareness among coastal communities not to catch mother prawns that are breeding.

“We hope that in the future there will be a collective awareness from fishermen to protect prawns that are laying eggs. If they are allowed to breed, the results will be more profitable in the long term,” explained Amalia.

The conservation of giant prawns is also in line with the conservation of proboscis monkeys, an endemic animal of Kalimantan that is an icon of South Kalimantan Province. Rambai trees, in addition to being a place for giant prawns to spawn, are also an important source of food and stands for proboscis monkeys.

Now, the Curiak Island area is not only a location for conservation and education, but also increases the productivity of local fishermen. Every day, fishermen are again actively looking for fish and shrimp in this area that is starting to recover ecologically.

“We are grateful that the collaboration between ULM, SBI Foundation, and the fishing community is starting to bear fruit. The ecosystem is starting to recover and fishermen can feel the benefits again,” concluded Amalia.