Bali Mynah

Did you know...

Bali mynahs are only native to the northwest coast of Bali in Indonesia. Can you find the small island of Bali on this map?

The Bali mynah or Bali starling is almost all white with a long, drooping crest, and black tips on the wings and tail. They have bare blue skin around the eyes, greyish legs and a yellowish bill.

The Bali mynah is found in one small region of Bali, an island that is smaller than the size of Rhode Island. They are an important national symbol and have been adopted as Bali's official bird.

It is critically endangered and in 2018, fewer than 100 adults were assumed to exist in the wild. The Bali myna is one of the rarest birds in the world.

Bali mynas are nearly extinct in the wild due to poaching for the illegal pet and wildlife trade, where they are valued for their striking plumage and beautiful songs.

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Where can I see this rare bird?

You can find our Bali mynah pair in the HIMALAYAN PASSAGE section of the Zoo. Don't miss seeing this very important species.

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How Bali mynahs are being helped in the wild

The Bali mynah is a beautiful bird, which unfortunately makes it a popular cage bird pet. In Bali's capital, there is a thriving bird market with thousands of different birds in cages being sold for one or two dollars each. Because of the rarity of the Bali myna, they can charge higher prices for Bali mynahs. Having a Bali myna in a private collection is considered a status symbol, so poachers are encouraged to continue to capture these endangered birds for the pet trade.

People moving into the bird's habitat have also caused the Bali myna's decline. The booming tourist industry in Bali has seen the human population triple in the past 70 years, and a large camp for coconut plantation workers was established in the national park.

Much effort has been made to help the Bali mynas recover. The Bali Starling Project has made efforts to help guard the Bali Barat National Park, where the birds live, from illegal trapping and has reintroduced birds hatched in human care to help the tiny population grow. In 1987, a group of 40 Bali mynas from US zoos were moved to Indonesia to form a breeding group, with resulting offspring reintroduced to the wilderness. In 2009, Bali mynas raised in managed care were introduced to a neighboring island, Nusa Penida, and seem to be doing well.

When enough people learn about the plight of the Bali mynah and realize that having a Bali myna for a pet is not a good idea, then efforts may be made to reintroduce them to the wilderness. Until then, zoos are caring for mynas for the long term and are hoping to keep the genetic population varied in the managed population. The Chattanooga Zoo participates in this important program through the Bali Myna Species Survival Plan (SSP).

How you can help Bali mynahs

• You can help discourage poachers by never purchasing a pet that has come from the wilderness. They can be very hard to care for and could even be illegal to own in your state.
  
  
• Donate to or learn more about organizations like Begawan Foundation and the Nusa Penida Project, which work with local communities to protect Bali mynah habitat and ban the hunting and poaching of Bali mynahs.
  
  
• Chattanooga Zoo participates in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan (SSP) for Bali mynahs. The mission of an SSP program is to cooperatively manage threatened or endangered species populations within managed-care facilities. By supporting Chattanooga Zoo, you are our partner in saving and protecting wildlife worldwide.