Change of Aggression Toward Human in Cervus timorensis

ABSTRACT

The change of aggression toward human in deer / Rusa Timor (Cervus timorensis) have been studied in the Nature Reserve and Nature Recreation Park (Taman Wisata Alam) of Pananjung Pangandaran with that in Nature Reserve of Ujung Kulon, as comparison. These locations were selected due to the difference of interaction between Rusa Timor and human in each area.

The study began by observing the aggressive behavior of Rusa Timor using the scan sampling method. Focal sampling, and continuous recording sampling (focal animals-akk occurrences sampling) to determine the time and location of study. The observation was followed by the quotation of the aggression sequences and intensity. To compare the behavior , an observation about minimum-accepted distance of Rusa Timor in Nature Reserve Pananjung and Ranca Upas was carried out. The data analysis was performed in descriptive statistic and modeling.

The result showed that the aggressive behavior was performed by dominant male. Many deer species group into families around the female, with the male often becoming solitary. In Pananjung, Rusa Timor began aggressive with the alteration of feeding behavior. They come close to human, for requiring the feeding. They began eating the food of human, in the fact we know they are herbivories. They ate human’s food from the garbage. It would be found in morning day.

In contrast with Rusa Timor living in Ujung Kulon which has a minimum distance toward human, those who live in Nature Reserve and Nature Recreation Park of Pananjung has lost this distance, which means that there is a stimulus that causes the lost of fearness toward human. The stimulus is the feeding by human, which only occur in Nature Recreation. The changes of Rusa Timor’s behavior is also influenced by the supply of feed. The changes of nature forest began nature recreation also influenced Rusa Timor’s behavior. The opportunity of human to give food directly, make the opportunity of the feeding behavior’s alteration.

Cervus timorensis in Nature Reserve and Nature Recreation of Pananjung Pangandaran have experienced behavioral changes in aggression toward human caused by territority and disturbance from human. The particular stimulus which elicited aggression in the discharge of feeding by human. Therefore, we can conclude that there has been changes from intra-spesies aggression into inter-aggression.

KEYWORD: Cervus timorensis, Aggressive behavior, Pananjung Pangandaran

By: Rizky Ayu Maulani Yusuf (10604098)