"Denpasar, Bali - The Indonesian Aquatic Megafauna Veterinary Association under the auspices of the Indonesian Veterinary Association (PDHI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) was recently initiated through cross-sectoral multi-stakeholder support. Also called IAM (Indonesia Aquatic Megafauna) Flying Vet, this association accommodates veterinarians throughout Indonesia with an interest and dedication to the preservation of marine ecosystems, through the management of aquatic megafauna. Both the prevention of stranding events, as well as the handling of sick and/or stranded marine mammals both alive and dead, which occur in various coastal areas of Indonesia.

Initiated collaboratively by WWF-Indonesia, the Indonesian Sirenian Cetacean Foundation (Cetasi), the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) and the Indonesian Veterinary Association (PDHI), IAM Flying Vet Indonesia was launched on May 3, 2018, in a series of seminars and training for veterinarians in the medical handling of stranded marine mammal incidents in Indonesia, April 30 - May 3, 2018 in Denpasar.

Aquatic megafauna, which come from the reptiles (sea turtles), elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) and marine mammals (dugongs, whales, and dolphins), are a group of animals that are vulnerable due to increasing pressure on their populations. Various approaches to the conservation of Indonesia's aquatic megafauna have been taken by parties, ranging from the establishment of species protection, habitat management including scientific approaches, as well as capacity building for various specialized skills needed in management.

IAM Flying Vet was formed in response to the increasing incidence of stranded marine megafauna. The main stranding hotspots in various parts of Indonesia recorded in the last decade are East Kalimantan (107 cases), Bali (57 cases), Aceh (25 cases), East Nusa Tenggara (22 cases), and Papua (19 cases) (Whale Stranding Indonesia, 2018).

"This phenomenon requires the help of veterinarians to move quickly, responsively, legally and competently, to carry out medical treatment at the scene even in remote areas," said Dwi Suprapti, Marine Species Conservation Coordinator, WWF-Indonesia. "Veterinarians who have competence in the field of aquatic megafauna are urgently needed to assist the government in handling strandings. Both for life support, disease management, death investigation (veterinary forensic), and minimizing the negative impact of stranding events on public health and the surrounding environment," she continued.

"Indonesian veterinarians continue to improve their competence in diagnosing, treating, and conducting post-mortem investigations on aquatic megafauna, especially in stranding events. It is important for us to delve into mortality investigations and uncover the causes of stranded mammal events, to make recommendations for the management of stranded marine mammal events in the future," added Dr. Heru Setijanto, Chairman of the Executive Board (PB) of the Indonesian Veterinary Association (PDHI).

"The occurrence of stranded marine mammals cannot be predicted, so it requires readiness, ability, and cooperation between stakeholders and the community in handling in the field - namely through this Flying Vet," said Andi Rusandi, Director of Conservation and Marine Biodiversity (KKHL) of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) of the Republic of Indonesia.

Seminar and Training of Veterinarians in Medical Handling of Marine Mammal Incidents is IAM Flying Vet's step to improve the knowledge, skills, and abilities of veterinarians," said Drh. Ida Ayu Dian Kusuma Dewi, MVSc, General Coordinator of IAM Flying Vet Indonesia. The Seminar and Training for Veterinarians in the Medical Management of Stranded Marine Mammal Incidents in Indonesia was attended by 19 veterinarians who are active in several stranded marine mammal incidents in Indonesia. They came from Aceh, Bangka Belitung, Yogyakarta, Pontianak, West Papua, Bali, Jember, and Jakarta, representing various agencies such as Ujung Batee Brackish Water Aquaculture Center in Aceh, Center for Wildlife Studies (PKSL) FKH Syah Kuala University Banda Aceh, Bangka Belitung and West Papua Agricultural Quarantine, Jember Agriculture and Livestock Service, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Udayana University and Nusa Cendana University Kupang, Nahdlatul Ulama University Pontianak, WWF-Indonesia, Coral Reef Alliance, IAM Guardian community, and Usadha Buron Veterinary Clinic Indonesia.

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For more information, please contact:

• Dwi Suprapti, Marine Species Conservation Coordinator, WWF-Indonesia

Email: dsuprapti@wwf.id; Phone: +62 812 3655906

• Drh. Ida Ayu Dian Kusuma Dewi, MVSc, General Coordinator, IAM Flying Vet Indonesia

Email: iadiankusuma@gmail.com Phone; +62 878 65624262

• Dwi Aryo Tjiptohandono, Marine & Fisheries Campaign Coordinator, WWF-Indonesia

Email: daryo@wwf.id, Hp: +62 812 93400626

About WWF Indonesia
WWF-Indonesia is the largest nature conservation organization in Indonesia and has started its activities since 1962. Having been incorporated as a Foundation since 1998, currently, WWF-Indonesia works in 28 regional offices from Aceh to Papua and is supported by more than 400 staff. Since 2006, WWF-Indonesia has received support from more than 54,000 supporters spread across the archipelago. For more information, please click www.wwf.id."