TAMAN NASIONAL GUNUNG
PALUNG
Geographical location : 109°54-110°28 E ; 1°03-1°22 S
Administrative location : Provinsi Kalimantan Barat (Kabupaten
Ketapang)
Area : 90,000 hectares
Temperature : 25° - 35° C
Rainfall : 3,000 mm/year (average)
Altitude : 900 - 1,116 masl
Best time visit : June to September
(Gunung Palung National Park) is a nature conservation area with very
high biodiversity values and variety of ecosystems, including mangrove forest,
swamp forest, peat swamp forest, freshwater swamp forest, lowland tropical
forest and montana forest.
This Park is the best and most extensive Dipterocarp tropical forest
in Kalimantan. About 65% of the area is still primary forest, undisturbed by
human activities, and it is rich in plant and wildlife communities.
Just like many other parts of west Kalimantan, this park is inhabited
by jelutung (Dyera costulata), ramin (Gonystylus bancanus), damar (Agathis
borneensis), pulai (Alstonia scholaris), rengas (Gluta renghas), kayu ulin
(Eusideroxylon zwageri), Bruguiera sp., Lumnitzera sp., Rhizophora sp.,
Sonneratia sp., ara (a strangling plant), and medicinal plants.
The most unique one in the Park is Black Orchid (Coelogyne pandurata),
which can be seen on the Matan river, in particular from February to April. The
attraction of the Black Orchid lies in the shape of its flower, which is marked
by green with black spots in the centre. The blooms last for five to six days.
It is Home of one 190 species of bird have been recorded and 35
species of mammals, which play important
roles in dispersing seeds throughout the forest. All the families, and probably
even most of the species, of bird in Kalimantan are to be found in the park.
Among the animals commonly found in the park are the proboscis monkey
(Nasalis larvatus), orangutan (Pongo satyrus), helmeted hornbill (Rhinoplax
vigil), four-striped ground squirrel (Lariscus hosei), barking deer (Muntiacus
muntjak pleiharicus), sun bear (Helarctos malayanus euryspilus), pig-tailed
macaque (Macaca nemestrina nemestrina), slow loris (Nyticebus coucang
borneanus), Mueller s Bornean grey gibbon (Hylobates muelleri), western tarsier
(Tarsius bancanus borneanus), banded leaf monkey (Presbytis femoralis
chrysomelas), larger Malay mouse deer (Tragulus napu borneanus), rhinoceros
hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros borneoensis), blue-banded pitta (Pitta baudii),
red junglefowl (Gallus gallus), siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis),
Malayan giant turtle (Orlitia borneensis), and loggerhead turtle (Carreta
carretta). Another interesting life to note is the existence of canary
squirrels (Rheithrosciurus macrotis) which are endangered and very rarely seen.
Interesting locations/attractions :
Pulau Datok Beach and Lubang Tedong hill : marine tours and swimming.
Gunung Palung (1,116 masl) and Gunung Panti (1,050 masl) : climbing,
waterfalls, observing plants and animals and camping.
Cabang Panti : research centre complete with a research station,
accommodations and a library.
Sungai Matan and Sungai Simpang : kayaking/canoeing, observing animals
and historical sites.