Gunung Leuser in the north of Sumatra covers 950,000
hectares (7,927 square kilometres) and is one of Indonesia's largest National
Parks. It was formerly a number of much smaller nature reserves: Nature
Reserve Gunung Leuser, Nature Reserve Kappi, Nature Reserve Kluet, Sikundur
Langkat Wildlife Reserve, Ketambe Research Station, Singkil Barat and Dolok
Sembilin. These all now been combine to form the one National Park.
The bio-diversity is breathtaking and approximately 700 different species of
animals (320 birds, 176 mammals and 194 reptiles and amphibians) live in this
region. Mammals include the orangutan, Sumatran tiger, Sumatran rhinoceros,
leopard cat, banded leaf monkey, silvered leaf monkey, long-tailed macaque,
Malayan sun bear, red giant flying squirrel, Asian elephant, Temminck's golden
cat, siamang, Sumatran Serow, swamp crocodile and the clouded leopard.
Of the 10,000 plant species recorded in the West Indo-Malayan region, it is
estimated that 45% are found in the Gunung Leuser ecosystem. The Rafflesia
which has the largest flower in the world is found here, as is the
Amorphophallus, which has the tallest flower in the world. Among the trees and
flowers live more than 300 species of bird.
Gunung Leuser would be best-known for its Sumatran tigers and the two
orangutan reserves which fall within its boundaries. At Bohorok-Bukit Lawang
is the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre which takes captive orangs and
reintroduces them back into the wild. Ketambe is a research station and
restricted to scientists. Tourism is not permitted.
Gunung Leuser is widely considered to be the most secure reserve area for the
Sumatran tiger. Around 400 tigers live on the island of Sumatra; about 100 are
outside reserves and their prospects are grim. Remote cameras within Gunung
Leuser National Park enabled the population there to be estimated at between
110-116 Sumatran tigers; 36-39 male and 74-77 female.
Unfortunately the park has a great many challenges facing it.
Tiger and rhino poaching is ongoing, as is illegal logging. 4,000 hectares of
forest across Sumatra is damaged or removed each day and the fact that an area
is a National Park makes little difference. As the forest is removed flooding
occurs and becomes widespread. If the destruction continues at the present
rate Sumatra will be deforested within only 4 years. The IUCN has rated
Indonesia as a country whose endangered species are under the threat of
extinction. |
