Member research team of the multidiscipline Lengguru program 2014 had a discussion on board of Airaha during the sailing routes entered to the Triton Bay, Kaimana, West Papua. Lengguru 2014 known as the largest multidisciplinary expedition ever made in Indonesia.

Our joint research program was initiated in 2005 and 2006 on freshwater fishes diversity in New Guinea. The first project was the studying diversity, evolution, systematic, and domestication of the Rainbowfishes (Melanotaeniidae) inhabiting West Papua, mainly focused on the Bird’s Head of Papua. Rainbowfishes project started in 2007 and ended in 2017 with huge results including the discovery of fourteen new species to Science and discovered the first cave blind fish in West Papua (Oxyeleotris colasi). The project also supported the domestication of 20 new populations to ornamental fish farming in Indonesia and already distributed around the world aquarium enthusiasts.

We collected more than 2,000 specimens rainbowfishes during 5 international expeditions to New Guinea and have been deposited in various museums. These specimens have been the subject of laboratory analysis of two PhD students, four masters, and nine bachelor students.

Inauguration ceremony of the award Museum Rekor Indonesia (MURI) granted our successful domesticating the Kurumoi rainbowfishes outside of its natural habitat.

Our collaborative frameworks on rainbowfishes domestication (Lake Kurumoi Rainbowfish, Melanotaenia parva) have been granted with an award from Museum Rekor Indonesia on 6 November 2014. Our continuous international partnership has been received a national award (2018), as the best Indonesian counterpart from the Ministry of higher education and technology.

  • Team of the Lengguru Expedition, Kaimana, researchers are originated from multi-institutions between France and Indonesia. Lengguru is a multiyear program for 7 years.

The multidisciplinary research project has been started in 2010, marked by the initial Lengguru research project involved more than 50 scientists from 20 institutions (Indonesia and France). We thank IRD France, LIPI, other research institutes, universities, and private sponsors for supporting Lengguru Project which was ended in 2019.

We produced 3 documentary films during the period of the field expedition to New Guinea, 2008-2017 (Papouasie: enfer et contre tout, Lengguru: the lost word, Fishes from Lengguru), and gained some awards. We thank Christine Tournadre, Gedeon Production, and Monalisa home production for the excellent partnership.

Below is the list of the new research partnership on Indonesian aquatic diversity, systematic, evolution, and conservation:

JOINT RESEARCH 2020

  1. Clownfishes Indonesia: Systematic and biogeography.
    – Counterpart: University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
    – Type partnership: two institution
    – Duration: one year
    – Correspondence: Dr. Kadarusman (kadarusman@kkp.go.id)
  2. International Joint Laboratory SELAMAT
    – Counterpart: IRD, LIPI, UGM, BROL Bali, UNIPA, UNMUS, APK Biak.
    – Type partnership: multi-institution
    – Duration: five years (based on Proposal submitted to IRD)
    – Correspondence: Dr. Kadarusman (kadarusman@kkp.go.id)
  3. Coelacanth Papua
    – Counterpart: BALITBANGDA PB, UNIPA, PSPL Sorong, UKiP Sorong, LIPI and IRD.
    – Type partnership: multi-institution
    – Duration: one year
    – Correspondence: Dr. Kadarusman (kadarusman@kkp.go.id)
  4. Mullets Indonesia
    – Counterpart: 45 Indonesian universities, IRD, MAGNT
    – Type partnership: multi-institution
    – Duration: two year
    – Correspondence: Dr. Kadarusman (kadarusman@kkp.go.id)
  5. Bio-economy of the Arafura Shrimps
    – Counterpart: LIPI, BAPPENAS, KKP
    – Type partnership: multi-institution
    – Duration: one year
    – Correspondence: M. Ali Ulath, M.Si (ulath_apsor@yahoo.co.id)