Tanjung Puting National Park
Tanjung Putting National Park is natural wonder located in district Kota Warigin Barat and Seruyan, in the southern part of the Island Borneo, Indonesia. Covering 415.040 hectares, the park largest single protected forest in the province Kalimantan Tengah (Central Borneo). It is also the largest projected area of tropical heath and peat swamp forest in South East Asia. The area was designated as wildlife reserve in 1935 and then national park in 1982.
This area is home to many unique species of animals, the species that was made the park famous is the critically endangered Orangutan (Pongo Pygmaeus), the park is also known for its population of Proboscis Monkey or Bekantan, large monkey that is only found in Borneo. Other primates that are found in this area include the Agile Gibbon, Red Leaf Eating Monkey and Macaque. The vegetation of the park present is a complex mosaic of habitats. The forest types include lowland rain forest, dry land forest, heath forest, peat-swamp forest, mangrove and coastal forest. The common tree species are Meranti or Balangeran (Shorea spp.), Ramin (Gony Stylus Bancanus), Jelurung (Dyera sp.) and famous Ulin “Iron Wood” (Evsideroxylon Zwagerii).
The park’s topography is generally very flat, the highest point is less than 100 meters above sea level. In the northern part, some low undulating ridges run generally southward. The park is composed of different types of soil; it is very acidic with Ph 3,8 – 5.0. Several slow moving and black water river flow across the park, flooding is common occurrence within the park. In fact, most part of park area is flooded for at least four months a year. The climate is equatorial with maximum temperatures ranging between 34C to 38C and minimum temperatures ranging between 17C – 21C, average annual rainfall is around 2400mm, the wettest months December to January and humidity is generally high (55% to 98%).
