TAMAN NASIONAL
SEMBILANG
Geographical location : 104°12-104°55 E ; 1°38-2°25
S
Administrative Location : Provisnsi Sumatera Selatan (Kabupaten Musi
Banyuasin)
Area : 205,750 hectares
Temperature : 22° - 33° C
Rainfall : 260 mm/year (on average)
Altitude : 0 - 500 masl
Best time to visit : June - August
(Sembilang National Park) comprises peat swamp forest, freshwater
swamp forest and riparian forest in South Sumatra Province.
A wide variety of terrestrial and aquatic plants grow in this Park,
including paku gajah (Acrostichum aureum), nipah (Nypa fruticans), cemara laut
(Casuarina equisetifolia), pandan (Pandanus tectorius), waru laut (Hibiscus
tiliaceus), nibung (Oncosperma tigillaria), jelutung (Dyera costulata),
menggeris (Koompassia excelsa), gelam tikus (Syzygium inophylla), Rhizophora
sp., Sonneratia alba, and Bruguiera gimnorrhiza.
The coastal and forest areas, particularly in Sembilang and
Semenanjung Banyuasin, are a habitat for Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris
sumatrae), Asian elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus), Malayan tapir (Tapirus
indicus), siamang (Hylobates syndactylus syndactylus), golden cat (Catopuma
temminckii temminckii), sambar deer (Cervus unicolor equinus), saltwater
crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), Sembilang fish (Plotusus canius), giant freshwater
turtle (Chitra indica), freshwater dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) and various
species of bird.
Huge numbers of migrant birds from Siberia can be seen in Sembilang,
reaching a climax in October. The calling of thousands of birds flying in
formation can even be heard over the thundering waves of the Bangka Strait.
Other bird species inhabiting this Park include the Asian dowitcher
(Limnodromus semipalmatus), spotted greenshank (Pseudototanus guttifer),
eastern white pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus), milky stork (Mycteria cinerea),
lesser adjutant stork (Leptoptilos javanicus), and white-winged black tern
(Chlidonias leucoptera).
Western part of the Park borders Berbak National Park on the same
province.
Interesting locations/attractions :
Semenanjung Banyuasin, Sembilang, Benawan Bay, Sekanak Bay, Betet
Island : exploring the river and
mangrove forest by boat, fishing, and watching animals, migrant birds from
Siberia and freshwater dolphins.