TAMAN NASIONAL RAWA
AOPA WATUMOHAI
Geographical location : 114°20-114°36 E ; 8°25-8°47 S
Administrative location : Provinsi Sulawesi Tenggara (Kabupaten
Kendari, Kabupaten Buton dan Kabupaten Kolaka)
Area : 105,194 hectares
Temperature : 27° - 30° C
Rainfall : 1,000 - 1,500 mm/year
Altitude : 0 - 322 masl
Best time to visit: June -
October
(Rawa Aopa Watumohai National Park) comprises sub-montane rain forest,
mangrove forest, coastal forest, savanna, and freshwater swamp forest
ecosystems.
It has unique savanna vegetation combination of grassy plains with fan
palms, thorny bamboo, bushes and other plants growing along the rivers that
flow through the savanna.
There is a remarkable variety of plants in this Park. It has been
recorded that there are at least 89 families, 257 genera, and 323 species of
plant such as lara (Metrosideros petiolata), sisio (Cratoxylum formosum),
kalapi (Callicarpa celebica), tongke (Bruguiera gimnorrhiza), fan palm
(Borassus flabellifer), and lotus (Victoria sp.).
Various species of bird also inhabit the Park: 155 species have been
recorded, of which 32 are endangered and 37 are endemic. Those 155 bird species
include the maleo fowl (Macrocephalon maleo), lesser adjutant stork
(Leptoptilos javanicus), woolly-necked stork (Ciconia episcopus episcopus),
collared kingfisher (Halcyon chloris chloris), sulphur-crested cockatoo
(Cacatua galerita triton), vinous-breasted sparrowhawk (Accipiter rhodogaster
rhodogaster), Sulawesi black pigeon (Turacoena manadensis), and Nicobar pigeon
(Caloenas nicobarica).
The eastern tarsier (Tarsius spectrum spectrum) and black-crested
macaque (Macaca nigra nigra) are among the primate species to be found here.
Endangered and protected animals in the Park include lowland anoa (Bubalus
depressicornis), mountain anoa (B. quarlesi), water-hagedis dragon (Hydrosaurus
amboinensis), small cuscus (Strigocuscus celebensis celebensis), Timor deer
(Cervus timorensis djonga), Sulawesi palm civets (Macrogalidia musschenbroekii
musschenbroekii), and babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa celebensis).
Interesting locations/attractions :
Pulau Harapan II : located in the centre of Rawa Aopa, a good place
for viewing the natural panorama of the swamp and watching water fowl spy on
fish, and boating.
Lanuwulu Beach : travelling downriver by boat to the beach, mangrove
forest, swimming and marine tours
Gunung Watumohai : climbing and camping - on the slopes of the
mountain, there is a savanna plain where hundreds of deer can be seen grazing,
along with other animals and birds.
A cultural attraction outside the Park is the Tolaki Festival, held in
Kendari in December