Papua is famous for its biodiversity, and is home to a variety of unique and fascinating animal species. From dense rainforests to majestic mountains, each of Papua’s ecosystems provides a place for abundant life. Among this diversity, one of the most iconic animals is the dingiso or native Papuan tree kangaroo. Known for its uniqueness and grace, the Papuan kangaroo represents a rich natural heritage and is an important symbol of the island’s wildlife.
Dingiso or locally known as Bakaga. For the local people of Central Papua, dingiso is also not an ordinary animal and is considered sacred. According to Moni beliefs, the dingiso is the spirit of their ancestors. The Latin name of this species is Dendrolagus Mbaiso. This name was given by Dr. Tim Flannery based on his research in 1994, which was based on the local Moni word for sacred animal or Mbaiso. This animal measures up to 81 cm from head to torso, a tail that can measure up to 94 cm, and weighs between 6.5 to 14.5 kg. Long, curved nails enable it to grip branches and trees easily, while its long tail helps the dingiso move through the trees and maintain balance. This animal is a fruit-eating herbivore that can be found in Lorentz National Park, especially in Endasiga camp, Sakumba village, Hitadipa District, Intan Jaya Regency. Dingiso lives in the highlands around 4,000 meters above sea level, this animal lives in the trees so it is quite difficult to find.
Currently the dingiso is threatened with extinction due to high poaching and natural damage that occurs, the dingiso is often captured to be used for various things such as to be used as pets, taken as meat for food, and also its skin as material for bags, wallets, shoes and many others, the dingiso itself only bears 1 young, known as a joey which is one of the reasons why the dingiso conservation process is quite difficult. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), the dingiso is included in the red list or categorized as endangered species. Therefore, this animal is among the list of protected animals and also cannot be hunted, the indigenous people are very protective of this animal because it is an animal that they consider sacred.
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