Page 73 - Demo

1st Int. Transborder Conf. of the Timor Island: Timor %u2013 Science without borderDili, 7-8 May 202572Atauro And Its Neighboring Indonesian Islands: Informal Maritime Movements And Exotic Animal Disease Transmission RisksAbrao J. Pereira, Julito Magno, Fidelia M. de C. Alves and Marito B. GomesAnimal health Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosae, Timor-LesteAbstractAnimal movement across different geographic settings is widely recognized as a key pathway for spreading infectious diseases. However, so far, no study has examined crossborder animal movement between a tiny Timorese island called Atauro and its neighboring Indonesian islands. Thus, this rapid qualitative inquiry was held in October 2023 to describe cross-border movements between Atauro and its neighboring Indonesian islands. Data collection was done through in-depth face-to-face interviews, using a semi-structured questionnaire. A total of 29 key informants of diverse backgrounds were purposively selected and were interviewed in Atauro. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed afterward. Deductive thematic analysis was done using a coding matrix developed in Microsoft Excel 2016. This study revealed active informal cross-border interactions through informal channels between communities in Atauro and neighboring islands, mainly with communities in Liran, followed by Alor and Wetar islands. The community members in Atauro who have the most interactions with the neighboring islands are reportedly those who reside in Beloi and Biqueli villages. These interactions are driven by family ties, trade, and socio-cultural events, and involve informal live animal import into Atauro. The top imported animal species were goats, pigs, chickens, cattle, and dogs. Our findings indicate porous maritime borders, and lack of quarantine checks for imported animals which poses the risks of introducing and spreading exotic diseases of animal health and public health importance. We also found lack of awareness about exotic diseases within the communities. This study emphasized an urgent need to strengthen maritime border management, especially through the enforcement of quarantine protocols to prevent unregulated animal movements. It also highlights the need for targeted community awareness about the risks associated with the spread of exotic diseases through informal animal imports. Keywords: Atauro island, cross border, animal movement, Indonesia.