The diverse natural environment in Indonesia makes it home for thousands of animals. Some of these animals only live in Indonesia and cannot be found anywhere else. Unfortunately, urban city planning, growth of population and wildlife trafficking has threatened to endanger the population of these animals. However, it’s not too late to witness these living animals while travelling around in Indonesia.
Here are the 6 endangered animals you can only find in Indonesia:
Komodo is also the only ancient animal that is still alive today. This rare animal has another name Varatus Komodoensis or Orah is also one of the largest reptile species in the world. Komodo has a very strong bite and can be very deadly, as venomous poison comes from thousands of glands in the gum area. Komodo’s habitat itself is currently only found on the islands of Komodo, Flores, Gili Matang, Gili Dasami and Rinca, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Komodo has now become an animal protected by the Indonesian government with the construction of the Komodo National Park.
Bali Starling
The Bali Starling or Leucopsar rothschildi in Latin is an endemic animal native to Bali. The Bali Starling was discovered in 1910 by an animal expert from England, Walter Rothschild. The animal has a characteristic blue color around the eyes and a clean white body color. It is an endangered animal and is protected by the Indonesian government. Starlings have become rare due to the long breeding process of starlings, as well as illegal hunting that occurs. Starlings themselves reproduce monogamously, or will only have one partner in one breeding season which causes the sex ratio to reach only 1:1. Starlings themselves begin to do the breeding process from the age of 7 to 9 months. They will produce eggs with a maximum number of only 3 eggs and will be incubated by the mother for approximately 16 days before hatching. This bird itself has a length of 25 cm, a beak length of 3 cm, a head (5 cm), a bird’s neck (2 cm), wings (13 cm) and tail (6 cm).
Sumatran Tiger
The Sumatran tiger or in Latin Panthera Tigris Sondaica is a rare animal species that is threatened with extinction. Living in the original endemic island of Sumatra, until now there are only about 500 Sumatran tigers left, this is due to habitat destruction and high mortality rates (So far, 66 Sumatran tigers have been killed between 1998 and 2000). The sumatran tiger is also often circulated in the illegal trade where body parts are traded at high prices on the black market, namely to make jewelry, leather bags, belts and many more.
Male Sumatran tigers have an average length of 92 inches and weigh 140 kg or 300 pounds with a male Sumatran tiger reaching 60 cm high. While the female has a height of about 78 inches or about 198 cm and weighs 91 KG or about 200 pounds. Sumatran tigers are able to reproduce at any time with a gestation period of 103 days and are able to give birth to 2 or 3 tiger cubs at once.
Flores Eagle
The Flores eagle as an eagle that only exists in the country, has the Latin name Nisaetus flores and has a large physical size of up to 71-82 centimeters. The eagle, which can only be found in several areas in East Nusa Tenggara, from Lombok, Sumbawa, Satonda, Rinca and Flores islands is included in the list of endangered animals in Indonesia. The habitat of the Flores eagle is in forest areas with lowlands or an altitude of about 1,000 meters above sea level, namely the Mbeliling Forest and Kelimutu National Park areas. Unfortunately, the existence of the Flores eagle is increasingly rare because of the high level of hunting.
Data from the IUCN World Conservation Agency itself puts the population in the Critical category because there are only 100 to 240 adult individuals left. Meanwhile, from 2019 data by the Regional Government of Ende Regency submitted by Regent Marsel Petu, the population of Flores eagles in the Kelimutu National Park area is increasingly threatened, so far only 10 Flores eagles remain.
Orangutans
Orangutans, both Sumatran and Bornean orangutans, are classified as endangered species. Based on the IUCN report through the research that has been done for the past 75 years, this animal is increasingly experiencing a significant decline of 80%. Not only that, the fact is that in 1998-1999 the extinction rate of the Bornean Orangutan reached 1000 orangutans per year. Meanwhile, in 2004 it is predicted that the number of Bornean Orangutans will be around 54,000 individuals. The difference between the Sumatran Orangutan and the Bornean Orangutan is the long cheek pouches of the male parents.
Sumatran Elephant
The Sumatran elephant with the scientific name Elephas maximus is now an increasingly endangered species based on the IUCN report. This is due to the narrowing of their habitat and the high level of poaching. According to research data over the past 25 years, the Sumatran elephant has decreased by up to 70% of its habitat, with the number almost half of its original number. The estimated population of Sumatran elephants in 2007 was only 2400-2800 individuals and continues to decline until now.
The Sumatran elephant is the largest mammal, weighing up to 6 tons and can grow to a height of 3.5 meters. The gestation period of this elephant is 22 months, while the age of the Sumatran elephant is 70 years. Sumatran elephants are intelligent animals with larger brains than other mammals. The large ears are used to reduce body heat while the trunk area is used to get water and food by grasping the ends which are used like fingers for scooping.
Which animal are you most keen to witness in Indonesia? Tell us in the comment section below!
