TAMAN NASIONAL
BALURAN
Geographical location : 114°17-114°28 E ; 7°29-7°55 S
Administrative Location : Provinsi Jawa Timur (Kabupaten Situbondo)
Area : 25,000 hectares
Temperature : 27° - 34° C
Rainfall : 900 - 1,600 mm/year
Altitude : 0 - 1,247 masl
Best time to visit : March - August
(Baluran National Park) has some of the few dryland ecosystem types in
Java, consisting of savanna. It also has mangrove forest, monsoon forest,
coastal forest, swamp forest, and evergreen forest.
About 40% of the area is dominated by savanna type vegetation. There
are 444 species of plant growing in this Park, including curious and indigenous
species like widoro bukol (Ziziphus rotundifolia), mimba (Azadirachta indica),
and pilang (Acacia leucophloea). These three species are able to adapt to very
arid conditions, remaining green while the plants around them wither. Other
plants in the park include tamarind (Tamarindus indica), gadung (Dioscorea
hispida), kemiri (Aleurites moluccana), gebang (Corypha utan), api-api (Avicennia
sp.), kendal (Cordia obliqua), manting (Syzygium polyanthum), and kepuh
(Sterculia foetida).
Home of 26 species mammal include banteng (Bos javanicus javanicus),
Asian wild dog (Cuon alpinus javanicus), barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak
muntjak), Timor deer (Cervus timorensis russa), panther (Panthera pardus),
lesser Malay mouse deer (Tragulus javanicus pelandoc), fishing cat
(Prionailurus viverrinus) and ebony leaf monkey (Trachypithecus auratus
auratus). But Banteng is the mascot of this national park.
In addition, there are about 155 species of birds, some of them
endangered species like the green peafowl (Pavo muticus), red junglefowl
(Gallus gallus), malabar hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus conversus),
rhinoceros hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros silvestris), barn swallow (Hirundo
rustica), koel (Eudynamys scolopacea), and lesser adjutant stork (Leptoptilos
javanicus).
Interesting locations/attractions :
Batangan : historical site in the form of a Japanese cave. This place
is a witness to Indonesia is fierce struggle for independence against the
Japanese. A good place to observe animals, particularly the peacock dance in
the mating season between October and November, including camping.
Bekol, Semiang : watching animals such as the barking deer, banteng,
red junglefowl and green peafowl.
Bama, Balanan, Bilik : marine tours, fishing, swimming,
diving/snorkelling, and watching great herds of deer. During July and August,
stags can be seen fighting each other. At low tide, troops of ebony leaf
monkeys can be seen fishing for crabs using their tails during high tide.
Manting, Air Kacip : a year-round water source, birdwatching in the
early morning and afternoon.
Popongan, Sejile, Sirontoh and Kalitopo: rowing on the calm sea while
watching shoals of ornamental fish, watching migrant birds.
Candi Bang, Labuan Merak and Kramat: sites of historical cultural cultural
interest.
Km. 80 on the Batangan-Bekol road : there is an old well which has
become a legend amongst the surrounding community. During your visit try to
spend one hour to hear about it from local people or park rangers – you’ll be
amazed.