Thursday, January 29, 2009

Kutai National Park

Kutai National Park represents a number of principal vegetation types, including coastal/mangrove forest, freshwater swamp forest, kerangas forest, lowland flooding forest, ulin/meranti/kapur forest, and mixed Dipterocarpaceae forest. This Park is also part of the largest relatively pristine ulin forest in Indonesia.

Among the plants that grow in this Park are mangrove (Bruguiera sp.), cemara laut (Casuarina equisetifolia), simpur (Dillenia sp.), meranti (Shorea sp.), benuang (Octomeles sumatrana), ulin (Eusideroxylon zwageri), kapur (Dryobalanops sp.), 3 species of rafflesia, and various orchid species.

An ulin tree in Sangkimah has a height without branches of 45 m, a diameter of 225 cm or a circle of 706 cm, and a volume of 150 m3. It is the highest and largest plant recorded in Indonesia.
As well as a variety of plants, this Park also has a high animal diversity. Primate groups like orangutan (Pongo satyrus), Mueller's Bornean grey gibbon (Hylobates muelleri), proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus), long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis fascicularis), maroon leaf monkey (Presbytis rubicunda rubicunda), white-fronted leaf monkey (P. frontata frontata), pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina nemestrina), and slow loris (Nycticebus coucang borneanus) can be found in Teluk Kaba, Prevab-Mentoko and Sangkimah. Ungulate groups like banteng (Bos javanicus lowi), sambar deer (Cervus unicolor brokei), barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak pleiharicus), and lesser Malay mouse deer (Tragulus javanicus klossi) can be found throughout the Park area.

Carnivore groups such as sun bear (Helarctos malayanus euryspilus) and flat-headed cat (Pardofelis planiceps) can be found in Teluk Kaba, Prevab-Mentoko and along the Bontang-Sangatta road.

Fowl groups that can be seen include the lesser adjutant stork (Leptoptilos javanicus), white-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster), green imperial pigeon (Ducula aenea), junglefowl (Gallus sp.), hill myna (Gracula religiosa), and oriental darter (Anhinga melanogaster melanogaster).

Teluk Kaba in Kutai National Park is the location of the nation's third orangutan rehabilitation centre.
Black Orchid
Black Orchid

Kutai National Park collaborates with "Friends of Kutai" like PT. Kaltim Prima Coal, PT. Pupuk Kaltim, PT. Badak LNG, Pertamina, some of the surrounding forest concessionaires (HPH), and others, who not only provide financial assistance but are also actively involved in nature conservation and the management of the Park.

Interesting locations/attractions:

Kaba Bay and Muara Sangkimah: marine tourism and observing animals, especially orangutans, proboscis monkeys, sambar deer, lesser mouse deer, sun bears, and birds.
Lombok Bay and Muara Sungai Sangatta: marine tours and observation of original mangrove forest.
Prevab-Mentoko: research; watching animals such as sun bears, orangutans, lesser mouse deer , and wild pigs.
Goa Lobang Angin: caving.

One of the cultural attractions outside the Park area is the Erau Festival, held in September in Tenggarong.

Best time of year to visit: April to October.

How to reach the Park: Balikpapan-Samarinda by car, 2.5 hours, then Samarinda-Bontang by car, 3 hours, and Bontang-Teluk Kaba by speedboat, about 30 minutes. The main Bontang-Sangatta road passes through the Park area.

Declared Minister of Agriculture, SK No. 736/Mentan /X/82,
a total area of 200,000 hectares
Designated Minister of Forestry, SK. No. 325/Kpts-II/95,
a total area of 198,629 hectares
Location Regency of Kutai (Province of East Kalimantan)

Temperature 27° - 33° C
Rainfall 1,543 mm/annual (on average)
Altitude 0 - 397 m asl.
Geographical location 116°58' - 117°36' E; 0°08' - 0°34' N



Office: Jl. Awang Long, Tromol Pos 1 Bontang 75311, East Kalimantan
Tel. : +62-548-27218
Fax. : +62-548- 22946
E-mail: btnkutai@plasa.com
Web site: http://www.tn.kutai.or.id