TAMAN NASIONAL KAYAN
MENTARANG
Geographical location : 114°49-116°16 E ; 1°59-4°24 N
Administrative location : Provinsi Kalimantan Timur (Kabupaten
Bulungan)
Area : 1,360,500 hectares
Temperature : 16° - 30° C
Rainfall : 3,100 mm/annual (average)
Altitude : 200 - 2,558 masl
Best time to visit : September - December.
(Kayan Mentarang National Park) with a total area of 1,360,500
hectares, forms the largest single area of primary and old secondary forest not
only in Kalimantan but in the whole of southeast Asia. This park has an
astonishing diversity of plant and animal species, many of which are either
endangered or protected, a huge diversity of ecosystem types, from lowland rain
forest to moss-covered forest in the high mountains.
Some plants that have already been recorded in the Park include pulai
(Alstonia scholaris), jelutung (Dyera costulata), ramin (Gonystylus bancanus),
damar (Agathis borneensis), kayu ulin (Eusideroxylon zwageri), rengas (Gluta
wallichii), gaharu (Aquilaria malacensis), various orchid species, palm trees
and pitcher plants. There are still several plants that have not yet been
identified as they are all new plant species in Indonesia.
There are about 100 species of mammal (15 of them are endemic
species), eight species of primate and more than 310 species of bird, of which
28 are endemic to Kalimantan and have been registered by the ICBP
(International Committee for Bird Protection) as endangered species.
There are several rare species of mammal, like the clouded leopard (Neofelis
nebulosa), sun bear (Helarctos malayanus euryspilus), Hoss leaf monkey
(Presbytis hosei canicrus), white-fronted leaf monkey (P. frontata
frontata),pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina nemestrina), and banteng (Bos
javanicus lowi).
Taman Nasional Kayan Mentarang and Taman Nasional Betung Kerihun are
directly borders upon Malaysia (Serawak).
Rivers such as the Bahau, Kayan and Mentarang are used as transport
routes into the park. Along the journey - will not only catch glimpses of
various animals around the river, they also visitors will experience at
first-hand the agility of a longboat in navigating the rapids or struggling
against swift strong currents.
20,000-25,000 people living around the park area, representing various
Dayak tribes, like Kenyah, Punan, Lun Daye and Lun Bawang, have vast store of
wisdoms that is very much in line with the principles of conservation. Since it
plays an important part in their daily lives, local people are skilled at
conserving the biodiversity that surrounds them.
Archaeological remains in the form of ancient graves and stone tools
are found in many parts of the park, indicating that the area has been
inhabited for at least the last 350 years. It is considered to be one of the
most important archaeological sites in Kalimantan.
This high biodiversity and the pristine condition poses a challenge
for researchers to discover new species and develop the benefits that can be
derived from them. For adventurers and tourists, there is the challenge of
discovering for themselves the natural beauty of the forest, with its rivers
and steep cliffs, and learning more about the fascinating Dayak culture.