A vast archipelago with a total of 17,508 islands has made Indonesia the home of a large variety of plant and animal life, both terrestrial and aquatic. As the land mass is divided into islands, often mountainous, many terrestrial species are endemic, originating and living in one particular island or part of a larger island. Zoologists divide Indonesia into three zones. Zone 1, nearest the Asian continent, was defined by British Naturalist Alfred Russell Wallace in the 19th century.
Climate did not appear to be the deciding factor. In his theory Wallace postulated that because the islands of Sumatera, Java and Kalimantan were joined to Asia by the now submerged Sunda Shelf, the Indo Malayan fauna had not spread beyond the shelves eastern boundary which came to be known as the Wallace Line. Zone II, is the intermediate zone between the Indo-Malayan zone and Zone III where Australian animal and plant-life predominate. Sulawesi, in particular has an unusually high proportion of endemic species and there is even a marked difference between the flora and avifauna of Zone I and Zone III.
In Zone III, both the fauna and flora are predominantly Australian in character and affinity, as these islands share the same continental shelves, the Sahul Shelves with Australia.
| Wildlife |
Most famous of the rare fauna of Indonesia are the Komodo dragons, the giant lizards which are found only on Komodo and neighboring islands, and believed to be the only one of their kind in the world. The one horned Java rhinoceros is found only on the western tip of Java and under the threat of extinction, but has now grown in number at the Ujung Kulon nature reserve. The Java Tiger is a very rare species, of which only five remain in eastern most Java.
There are also the orangutan (man of the forest) apes which are found in Kalimantan and Sumatra, the banteng wild ox of Java, the rusa deer, the anoa (dwarf buffalo), babi-rusa (small wild pig with curved tusks) and distinctive civets found in Sulawesi. In an effort to preserve rare species of the national fauna and flora, numerous reserves and parks have been established in all the provinces of Indonesia under the administration of the Directorate General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation, or better known as PHPA. |
|
| Volcanoes |
Indonesia belongs to one of the most volcanic and seismically active regions in the world, with more than 400 volcanoes of which 128 are active, with 70 recorded eruptions in historic times. The soil-rejuvenating effect of volcanic eruptions has contributed to the fact that victims of threatened areas have time and again returned to their stricken land. So, the Volcanological Service has drawn hazard maps of volcanic areas so-that early warnings can be issued for the evacuation of the people on time.
Mountaineering clubs have in the past few years sprung up in Jakarta, Bandung and other big cities and university towns.
Among the most popular mountains for mountain climbing are the twin volcanoes Gede and Pangrango in West Java, Semeru and Kelud in East Java, Merapi in Central Java and Rinjani in Lombok. Expeditions have also been made to the perennial snow-covered summit of the Jayawijaya Range Carstensz Top in Irian Jaya.
Indonesia's internationally best-known volcano is perhaps the Krakatau in the Sunda Strait, midway between Java and Sumatera, whose calamitous 1883 eruption was commemorated in 1983.
|
|
| Flora |
Indonesia lies within the botanical region of Melanesia, covering the Malay peninsula south of the Insthmus of Kra, the Indonesian archipelago, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya, with the exception of the Solomon islands. For the most part, this region is covered with the luxuriant growth of the characteristic rain forest vegetation, a type of ever-wet vegetation containing a large number of timber species and harboring various kinds of epiphytes, saprophytes and lianas. These characteristic features and the high number of species endemic to this region make the flora of Indonesia different from that of neighboring continental Asia and Australia, as well as from the flora of other tropical areas in the world. The richness of the Melanesian region, of which Indonesia represents a major portion, is reflected in the accommodation of close to 40,000 species of plants, or about 10 to 12 % of the estimated number of plant species of the whole world. Moreover, the flora making up the Indonesian vegetation abounds in timber species.
Approximately 6,000 species of Indonesian plants are used by the people as a source of raw material for the making of traditional herbal medicines or as an indispensable part of traditional rituals and ceremonies. |
|
| Nature Reserve |
Permits are necessary to visit the nature reserves which can be obtained from the PHPA office in Bogor or local offices. Facilities in the reserves are generally undeveloped and most travel has to be done on foot or horseback. Some of the more important ones are : |
|
| Gunung Leuser |
Gunung Leuser reserve is 830,500 hectares in size and 500 to 3,500 meters above sea level, and can be reached by road from Medan, North Sumatera. Two research stations within the reserve function as an Orangutan Rehabilitation Station, providing a rare opportunity to see these great apes at close range.
A boat trip on the Alas River which flows through the reserve is a good way to see the rain forest habitat of endangered species of rhinos, orangutans, tigers and elephants. There are also gibbons, leaf monkeys, jungle cats, forest deer, otters, hornbills and argus pheasants. Serown (goat antelope) live in the mountain forests at higher altitudes. |
|
| Ujung Kulon and Krakatau |
The total reserve area is 62,500 hectares and stands 570 meters above sea level. By road from Jakarta or Bogor to Labuan on Java's west coast, or by ferry from Sumatera (to Anyer, north of Labuan), and hence by hired motorized fishing boat, taking a minimum of 5 hours from Labuan to Peucang Island. Two rest houses on Peucang offer limited furnished accommodation. Book first at the PHPA office at Labuan and take canned food along.
The mainland reserve area is the last refuge for the 45 -50 remaining Java rhinos, and is almost the last lowland rain forest in Java. Other wildlife species, gibbons, macaques, leaf monkeys, deer, pigs, bantengs, (Java's wild ox), and 222 species of bird species. Idyllic beaches, seascapes, and good coral. The Krakatao volcano, 40 kilometers from Labuan, is best visited from here on a one-day trip. |
|
| Penanjung Pangandaran |
Only 100 meters high this reserve is only 530 hectares in size, and can be reached by road from Bandung. Public transport, guest house accommodation and food are all available. This reserve includes beaches, coral gardens, caves and nature walks. Interesting legends are associated with various topographical features. There are remains of a Japanese World War II fortification. This area is good for bird lovers. |
|
| South Sumatra |
By road from Palembang or Tanjung Karang or from the Java-Sumatra ferry port at Bakeuheni. The reserve area includes most of the south western tip of Sumatra totaling 365,000 hectares, at a height of 1781 meters. There are turtle rookeries on the western beach, good forests both at lowlands and mountains in the northern end of the reserve. Wildlife includes gibbons, elephants, tapirs, pigs, deer and the occasional tiger.
|
|
| Meru Betiri |
The reserve starts at sea level and reaches 1,223 meters in an area of 5 hectares. By (rough) road, go from Genteng or Glenmore, both on the main Jember-Banyuwangi road. From Genteng it is 70 kilometers to the south coast where there is a rest house (bedding, food, service) at Rajegwesi Bay, 2 kilometers from the reserve's eastern boundary. Coffee plantations occupy much of the lowland and thick forests. The steeper parts include precipitous headlands. Sukamade beach is a fine turtle rookery of its kind. Two species of the parasitic Rafflesia flowerare found in Meru Betiri, which is the last refuge for the nearly extinct Java tiger. |
|
| Tangkoko-Dua Saudara |
The reserve starts at sea level and reaches 1,109 meters in an area of 4,446 sq. meters.
By road from Manado, North Sulawesi, across the peninsula to Bitung harbor, then by boat. Two small post guards within the reserve offer basic shelter, food and camping equipment. There is an interesting volcanic scenery and wildlife including anoas, macaques, babi-rusas, tarsiers, pygmy squirels, cucusea (marsupial phalangers), and hornbills. Megapode birds, lay their eggs in areas of volcanically heated sands. |
|
| Tanjung Puting |
The reserve covers 205,000 hectares at 30 meters above sea level. By air from Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, to Pangkalan Bun, Central Kalimantan, (PHPA Office) and then by road to Kumai (15 kilometers), then by boat on the Kumai and Sekunir Rivers into the reserve. This is an interesting boat trip through swamp forests full of bird life, particularly waterfowl; the Bornean proboscis monkeys, so-called from the large pendulous nose of the male, easily visible in the riverine trees. In the northern part of the reserve is a "rehabilitation station" for Bornean orang utans which is also the study area of resident scientists. There is a guest house at their camp. Advanced reservations are necessary. Take canned food along. |
|
| Bromo-Tengger and Semeru |
The total area covers over 8,000 hectares at 1,500 to 3,676 meters above sea level.
Usually reached from the north by road from Pasuruan to either Tosari or Ngadisari. Both villages just below the rim of the Tengger crater offer some accommodation as well as horses and guides. There is also a small hotel at Cemara Lawang above Ngadisari (jeep track only). The floor of the Tengger caldera is a vast "sand-sea" 10 kilometers across. Cones of the active Bromo volcano and others rise from here.
Upland to the south shows three lakes, a small rest house at Mt. Semeru, the highest mountain and still active volcano in Java. Though under PHPA jurisdiction, no special permit is at present required for a visit to this particular reserve. |
|
| Lore Kalamanta |
The altitude ranges from 700 to 2,000 meters over an area of 13 1,000 hectares.
By road from Palu, Central Sulawesi south to Kulawi (70 kilometers) or Gimpu (130), then on foot with guides/hired porters, camping gear and food stuffs over the 1800 meters ridge into the valleys beyond. There are no facilities, but accommodation can be found in occasional villages of the Western Toraja people, who travel the paths into and out of their isolated valleys regularly to trade.
The reserve includes fine lowland and mountain forests, many streams, much wildlife especially the anoa (swarf buffalo), babi-rusa, and black macaques. Interesting megaliths are found in the valleys. |
|
| Kutai |
The reserve covers 200,000 hectares and goes up to 340 meters in altitude. By road from Samarinda, East Kalimantan, to Sangata, 80 kilometers to the north, by boat up to the Sangata river. In spite of timber exploitation and the logging access road, the reserve still contains large areas of good lowland rain forests. Boat trips with side excursions by foot offer a chance to see some of the hardwood forests of East Kalimantan. |
|
|
