Alas Purwo National Park

Alas Purwo National Park
IUCN category II (national park)

Banteng (Bos javanicus) in the national park
Map showing the location of Alas Purwo National Park
Alas Purwo NP

Location in Java

Location East Java, Indonesia
Nearest city Banyuwangi
Coordinates 8°41′S 114°28′E / 8.683°S 114.467°E / -8.683; 114.467Coordinates: 8°41′S 114°28′E / 8.683°S 114.467°E / -8.683; 114.467
Area 434.20 km2
Established 1993
Visitors 14,720 (in 2006[1])
Governing body Ministry of Forestry

Alas Purwo National Park is situated on Blambangan Peninsula in the Banyuwangi Regency, at the southeastern tip of East Java province. The park is famous for its wild Banteng and surfing location at Grajagan Bay.

The park's name means first forest or ancient forest,[2] in accordance with a Javanese legend that says the earth first emerged from the ocean here.

Geography

The park is located in Blambangan Peninsula at the southeastern tip of Java island, along the shore of strait across Bali.

With an area of 434 km2, the park is made up of mangroves, savanna, lowland monsoon forests and coral-fringed beaches. An internationally renowned surf break peels along the edge of the park at Plengkung on Grajagan Bay. Mount Linggamanis (322m) is also located in this national park.

Flora and fauna

The flora protected in this national park include: Terminalia catappa, Calophyllum inophyllum, Sterculia foetida, Barringtonia asiatica and Manilkara kauki.[3]

It is home to some of Java’s endangered species, such as the Javanese bull (Bos javanicus) or Banteng. In April 2004, there were only 57 bulls found in the savanna of Sadengan, while the population in the previous year was estimated to be 80 to 100,[4] but in August 2010, the scientists found 73 Banteng in the 80-hectare savanna area, a big increase in 6 years, although they faced threats of poaching and loss of habitat.[5] Groups of bulls usually come to Sadengan in the morning and afternoon in search of plants.

The biggest threat to the bull are humans. Poachers set traps outside the park during the dry season to snare bulls wandering outside the park in search of water. The bulls are slaughtered and the meat sold.

Other threatened animal species protected in Alas Purwo include the dhole, Javan langur, green peafowl, red junglefowl, olive ridley, hawksbill turtle and green turtle.[3]

Surfing

See also: G-Land

Between the months of March and November, thousands of surfers from all over the world visit the park for its surf break. The destination is Plengkung Beach in Grajagan bay, also known as G-Land, which is about half a day's travel from Bali.

The beach is considered one of the best surfing spots in Asia.[6] With rideable waves up to 5 meters, it is considered a spot for experienced surfers only. The place is listed as Quicksilver World Tour Circuit.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Forestry statistics of Indonesia 2007, retrieved 20 May 2010
  2. ↑ Eliot, Joshua; Joshua Eliot; Liz Capaldi; Jane Bickersteth (2001). Indonesia handbook, Volume 3. Footprint Travel Guides. ISBN 978-1-900949-51-4.
  3. 1 2 Ministry of Forestry: Alas Purwo National Park, retrieved 10-December-2009
  4. ↑ Banteng di Ujung Timur Pulau Jawa. KOMPAS, Sunday, May 30, 2004. Retrieved on August 27, 2007 (Indonesian)
  5. ↑ "Ox population in East Java park increases despite threats". September 9, 2010.
  6. ↑ Oey, Eric (Tuttle Publishing). Java. 2001. p. 395. ISBN 962-593-244-5. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ↑ Backshall, Stephen (2003). The Rough Guide to Indonesia. Rough Guides. p. 336. ISBN 978-1-85828-991-5.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, April 15, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.