Location: Central Kalimantan Map
Area: 3,550 km2 (1,370 mi²)
Tanjung Puting (indon. Taman Nasional Tanjung Puting) is a
national park in Indonesia. Located on the island of Kalimantan,
in the province of Central Kalimantan. The park is known for
preserving the population of orangutans.
It occupies 415 040 ha of tropical forests, mangroves, coastal
and secondary forests. The park was created by the Dutch
colonial government in the 1930s to preserve orangutans and
nosas; declared the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1977 and the
national park in 1982. In addition to orangutans and nosas, the
park serves as a home for gibbons, macaques, smoky leopards,
Malay bears, wild boars, porcupines and zambars. There are also
many species of reptiles, including crocodiles, monitor lizards,
pythons; birds: rhinoceros, kingfisher and insects.
Tanjung Puting is a popular ecotourism destination. Despite the
protected situation, the nature of the park is greatly affected
by illegal logging and clearing of forests for agricultural
land, in 1997 and 1998 Tanjungputing was badly damaged by fires.
Dutch East Indies period
The Tanjung Puting National Park area was originally the Sampit
Wildlife Reserve, which was established by the Dutch East Indies
colonial government through Governor General No. 39 dated August 18,
1937 with an area of 205,000 ha. In 1941, the area was registered
as Sampit Nature Reserve (205 thousand ha) and Kotawaringin Nature
Reserve (100,000 hectares).
This nature reserve is intended primarily for the protection of
orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) and proboscis monkeys (Nasalis
larvatus).
Indonesian period
Sampit Wildlife Reserve then changed its name to Tanjung Puting
Wildlife Reserve around the 70s, which after being reorganized was
set to an area of 270,040 hectares based on Minister of
Agriculture Decree No. 43 / Kpts / DJ / I / 1978 April 8, 1978. A
few months later, based on Minister of Agriculture Decree No. 698 /
Kpts / Um / II / 1978 dated November 13, 1978, this wildlife reserve
was expanded with a forest area between the Serimbang River and the
Segintung River so that the total area would be 300,040 Ha.
Earlier in 1977, Tanjung Puting Wildlife Reserve was included in the
list of Biosphere Reserves in Indonesia established by UNESCO.
Tanjung Puting was later declared as a national park candidate
through the Minister of Agriculture's Decree No. 736 / Mentan / X /
1982 dated October 14, 1982. To base the field activities, the
Director General of PHPA through Decree No. 46 / Kpts / VI-Sek / 84
dated December 11, 1984, stipulates that the working area
(prospective) of Tanjung Puting National Park is Tanjung Puting
Wildlife Reserve with an area of 300,040 Ha.
Furthermore, based on Minister of Forestry Decree No. 687 / Kpts-II
/ 1996 dated October 25, 1996 concerning "Changes in the function
and designation of forest areas located in the District of West
Kotawaringin II and East Kotawaringin II, East Kalimantan, in the
Province of Tk. I in Central Kalimantan covering 415,040 Ha into
Parks National ", this area was changed in function and designated
as Tanjung Puting National Park. This new area is the result of the
addition of the Tanjung Puting Wildlife Reserve area of 300,040
ha, with the production forest area of the former PT Hesubazah
concession area of 90,000 ha and the surrounding water area of
25,000 ha.