Destinations
Marine
World
Wild Life
and Natural Reserves
Monuments
and Museums
Wildlife
& Nnature Reserves
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 I, 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 Sumatra, Java and Kalimantan
were joined to Asia by the now submerged
Sunda Shelf, the Indo Malayan fauna had
not spread beyond the shelf's 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 that
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's Tiger is
a very rare species, of which only five
remain in easternmost Java.
There
are also the orangutan (man of the forst)
apes, which are found in Kalimantan and
Sumatra, the banteng wild ox of Java, the
rusa deer, the anoa (dwarf buffalo), babirusa
(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 park 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 threaten 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 Sumatra, 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 reserve
that 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
Sumatra. 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 that Rows 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 attitude.
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 Sumatra (to
Anyer, north of Labuan), and thence 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 Krakatau volcano, 40
kilometers from Labuan, is best visited
from here on a one-day trip.
Penanjung
Pangandaran
Only
l00 meters high this reserve is only 530
hectares in size, and can be reached by
road from Bandung. Public transport, guesthouse
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 Javanese
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 southwestern
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's 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 flower
are 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 area of 4,446 sq. meters.
By road from Manado, North Sulawesi across
the peninsula to Bitung harbor, then by
boat. Two small guard posts within the reserve
offer basic shelter, food and camping equipment.
There is 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 forest 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 guesthouse
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 131,000 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 foodstuffs 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 with except, by request, those
of timber companies near the coast. Boat
trips with side excursions by foot offer
chances to see some of the hardwood forests
of East Kalimantan.
Park
and Gardens
The
most common form of the traditional Indonesian
private garden, the so-called pekarangan,
differs considerably from that familiar
to the West. Still found in its old form
mainly in rural areas, this type of garden
usually grows fruit, medical herbs and other
useful plants such as bamboo. It is often
marked off from neighboring lots by low
hedges or bamboo fences but seldom entirely
enclosed for privacy. Closer to the conventional
eastern concept of a garden and of greater
interest aesthetically, is the big "pelataran"
garden, which surrounds the homes of the
aristocracy and other members of the social
elite in Java. Usually covered with carefully
brushed river sand and shaded by tall cinnamon
trees, these aristocratic gardens exhume
an air of quiet dignity and bear a character
all their own. Unlike the small common gardens,
they are normally entirely surrounded by
high walls to provide complete privacy.
Similar in concept to the "pelataran" is
the alun-alun, the traditional town square
that usually found in front of the ruling
royal or princely house, or the highest
local government administrator, the Bupati.
Western influence has to a certain extent
pushed aside the old traditional concept
and nowadays most town gardens and all parks
apart from the alun-alun are more, or entirely,
a realization of the modern western concept.
A further development has been the establishment
of national and tourist parks for the purpose
of conservation, research and recreation
in many parts of the country.
The
Bogor Botanic Gardens
The
most renowned of public gardens and one,
which has won international acclaim, is
the Bogor Botanic Gardens, 60 kms. south
of Jakarta. Laid out initially at the orders
of the British lieutenant Governor Sir Thomas
Stamford Raffles with the help of experts
from the Kew Gardens, the Bogor Botanic
Gardens were inaugurated in 1817, after
the end of the five-year British interregnum,
by Dutch Governor General Van Der Capellen.
It covers an area of 87 hectares (about
2,175 acres) and has a collection of more
than 15,000 native and foreign plant species,
including orchids and the giant Rafflesia,
which blooms only once a year.
Affiliated
with the Botanic Gardens are the Herbarium
Bogoriense containing preserved plant species,
the Zoological Museum and the Treub laboratory.
Branches of the Bogor gardens are the Cibodas
Mountain Garden, the Purwodadi Gardens in
East Java and the Eka Karya Garden in Bali.
The
Cibodas Mountain Garden
Founded
in 1862 for the study of mountain flora
and fauna, it covers an area of about 80
hectares (about 200 acres) at an elevation
of 1,200 meters on the slope of the Gede
volcano, West Java. Attached to this garden
is a forest reserve of more than 1,200 hectares
(3,000 acres) extending up to the summit
of Mt. Pangrango (3,000 m) and the crater
of Mt. Gede, east of Bogor. The Cibodas
collection includes imports from a number
of sub-tropical countries.
The
Purwodadi Garden
This
garden in East Java was founded in 1914
for the study of plants growing under relatively
dry climatic conditions. It is situated
on the lower slopes of Mt. Arjuna at an
altitude of about 3000 meters and covers
an area of 85 hectares (212.5 acres).
The
Eka Karya Garden
Founded
in 1959 for the study of the mountain flora
of West Nusa Tenggara (The western part
of the Lesser Sunda Islands). Located at
Candi Kuning on the slopes of Mt. Pohen
in Bali, it covers an area of 50 hectares
(125 acres) at an altitude ranging from
1,250 to 1,450 meters above sea level. Attached
to the garden are three tracts of nature
reserve covering an area of about 1,600
hectares (4,000 acres).
The
Sibolangit Garden
This
North Sumatra garden was founded in 1974
and is situated at Sibolangit on the slopes
of the volcano Sibayak at an altitude of
about 500 meters; it covers an area of 20
hectares (50 acres) and has a forest reserve
of about 100 hectares (250 acres) with an
altitude of between 300 and 550 meters.
Though historically falling under the jurisdiction
of the Bogor Botanic Gardens, the Sibolangit
Garden has for practical reasons, been given
an independent status.
The
Setia Mulia Garden
Founded
in 1955 at Padangtinggi on the slopes of
the Bukit Barisan mountain range in West
Sumatra. It covers an area of 60 hectares
(150 acres) at an elevation of 350 to 900
meters. Attached to it is a nature reserve
of about 3,000 hectares (7,500 acres).
Orchid
Gardens
Apart
from those in the Bogor Botanic Gardens,
which serve a mainly scientific and experimental
purpose, commercial orchid gardens are found
in Jakarta at Slipi and in the Taman Mini
Indonesia Park. Produces some of the most
exotic orchid species, including the black
orchid (bualagna pandurata) that grows in
the Kersik Luway reserve of East Kalimantan.
Zoos
Jakarta's
Ragunan Zoo is the best-landscaped zoo in
Indonesia, providing a close-to-native habitat
for more than 3,600 animal and bird species,
among which are such protected species as
the prehistoric giant komodo lizard, the
man-like orangutan ape, the babi-rusa and
many others. Established in 1965, this zoo
occupies an area of 185 hectares
(4,625
acres).
The
Surabaya zoo in the Wonokromo district is
deservedly second in reputation to the Ragunan
zoo, and like that of the latter its collection
of animals is considered to be among the
most complete in Southeast Asia. Of special
interest in the Surabaya Zoo is the section
on nocturnal animals. Smaller zoos are found
in Yogyakarta, Bukittinggi and Bandung.
The first also serves as a botanic garden
with species representative of the local
flora and those of other parts of Indonesia.
The Bukittinggi zoo presents a good sample
of the local fauna of the area.
People's
Recreation Parks
These
are establishments for the purpose of entertainment
and are found in many of the big cities
of Indonesia. They are a kind of permanent
night fairs presenting the usual games stalls
and restaurants, nightly performances of
local folk theatre, local handicrafts and
other attractions of popular character.
One of the oldest and best-known entertainment
parks is the Sriwedari park in Solo (Surakarta)
that offers nightly performances of popular
wayang wong plays.
Taman
Mini
Opened
in 1975, this 120 hectares (300 acres) park
called Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (Taman
Mini for short) presents the cultural and
ethnic diversity of the Indonesian archipelago
in permanent exhibits of traditional architecture
representing the 27 provinces of the country.
The pavilions are life size replicas of
the most famous samples of traditional architecture
found in each province. Moreover, the pavilions
are set within a man-made environment approaching
as closely as possible to the native natural
environment of the province in question.
Performances
of traditional art and folk theatre ore
held regularly. Museum Indonesia gives people
an insight to the diverse life-styles of
the various Indonesian ethnic people. Its
col1ection includes such national treasures
as gamelan musical instruments, traditional
costumes and household utensils and contemporary
arts and crafts. It also has its own aviary
with about 600 bird species native to Indonesia,
and on orchid garden with representatives
of about 3,000 species.
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