Baluran National Park is located in Situbondo Regency, East Java, Indonesia. It has a relatively dry climate and mainly consists of savanna (40%), as well as lowland forests, mangrove forests and hills, with Mount Baluran (1,247m) as its highest peak.

Baluran National Park is located at the north-eastern extremity of Java, close to the islands of Bali and Madura. The park is bordered by the Madura Strait to the north, the Bali Strait to the east, the river Bajulmati (Wonorejo village) to the west and the river Klokoran (Sumberanyar village) to the south. The park is a rough circle, with the extinct volcano, Baluran, at its centre. Its total area is 25,000 ha. It consists of five zones: the Main Zone (12,000 ha), the Wilderness Zone (5,537 ha, comprising 1,063 ha water and 4,574 ha land), the Intensive Utilization Zone (800 ha), the Specific Utilization Zone (5,780 ha) and the Rehabilitation Zone (783 ha).

Flora and fauna

thumb|left|[[Ziziphus mauritiana trees in the park]]

There have been 444 plant species recorded in the park, including some endangered plant species such as: Ziziphus rotundifolia, Tamarindus indica, Dioscorea hispida, Aleurites moluccanus and Corypha utan. and the water buffalo. However, intensive breeding efforts have increased the population to around 200 individuals by 2020.

Avifauna in the park include the green peafowl, red junglefowl, oriental pied hornbill, rhinoceros hornbill and lesser adjutant.

Extinct

Javan tigers survived in the protected area until the mid-1960s.

Conservation and threats

The area has been protected since 1928, first initiated by the Dutch hunter A.H. Loedeboer. In 1937 it was declared a wildlife refuge by the Dutch colonial government. In 1980 the area was declared a national park.

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File:Amazing Baluran National Park night view.jpg|Mount Baluran

File:"Baluran" Africa van Java.jpg

File:Rusa dan Kijang - TN Baluran.jpg

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See also

  • Geography of Indonesia

References

  • Official site of Baluran National Park (Indonesian)