Alas Purwo National Park
Encyclopedia
Alas Purwo National Park is situated on Blambangan Peninsula
in Banyuwangi
regency, at the southeastern tip of East Java
province
. The park is famous for its wild Banteng
and surfing location at Grajakan Bay
.
The park's name means first forest or ancient forest, in accordance with a Javanese legend that says the earth first emerged from the ocean here.
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 mangrove
s, 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.
, Calophyllum inophyllum
, Sterculia foetida
, Barringtonia asiatica
and Manilkara kauki.
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, 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 lose of habitat. 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
, Silvered Leaf Monkey
, Green Peafowl
, Red Junglefowl
, Olive Ridley
, Hawksbill turtle
and Green turtle.
, which is about half a day's travel from Bali
.
The beach is considered one the best surfing spots in Asia. With surf break of 5m it is considered a spot for experienced surfer only. The place is listed as Quicksilver World Tour Circuit.
Blambangan Peninsula
Blambangan Peninsula is situated at the south-eastern tip of Java. It is the location of Alas Purwo National Park....
in Banyuwangi
Banyuwangi
The Regency of Banyuwangi is located at the easternmost end of the Indonesian island of Java and it is a very strategic area for those who want to go to Bali, since it also serves as an important ferry port between Java and Bali. It is surrounded by mountains and forests to the west; by sea to the...
regency, at the southeastern tip of East Java
East Java
East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and islands to its east and to its north East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and...
province
Provinces of Indonesia
The province is the highest tier of local government subnational entity in Indonesia. Each province has its own local government, headed by a governor, and has its own legislative body...
. The park is famous for its wild Banteng
Banteng
The banteng , also known as tembadau, is a species of wild cattle found in Southeast Asia.Banteng have been domesticated in several places in Southeast Asia, and there are around 1.5 million domestic banteng, which are called Bali cattle. These animals are used as working animals and for their meat...
and surfing location at Grajakan Bay
G-Land
G-Land is an internationally renowned surf break situated on the Grajagan Bay, Alas Purwo National Park, East Java, about half a day by road from the popular tourist destinations of Bali...
.
The park's name means first forest or ancient forest, in accordance with a Javanese legend that says the earth first emerged from the ocean here.
Geography
The park is located in Blambangan PeninsulaBlambangan Peninsula
Blambangan Peninsula is situated at the south-eastern tip of Java. It is the location of Alas Purwo National Park....
at the southeastern tip of Java island
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
, along the shore of strait
Bali Strait
Bali Strait is a 2.4 kilometer strait between the Indonesian islands of Bali and Java....
across Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
.
With an area of 434 km², the park is made up of mangrove
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
s, savanna
Savanna
A savanna, or savannah, is a grassland ecosystem characterized by the trees being sufficiently small or widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to support an unbroken herbaceous layer consisting primarily of C4 grasses.Some...
, lowland monsoon forests and coral-fringed beaches. An internationally renowned surf break peels along the edge of the park at Plengkung on Grajagan Bay
G-Land
G-Land is an internationally renowned surf break situated on the Grajagan Bay, Alas Purwo National Park, East Java, about half a day by road from the popular tourist destinations of Bali...
. Mount Linggamanis (322m) is also located in this national park.
Flora and fauna
Endangered flora, protected in this national park include: Terminalia catappaTerminalia catappa
Terminalia catappa is a large tropical tree in the Leadwood tree family, Combretaceae. The tree has been spread widely by humans and the native range is uncertain. It has long been naturalised in a broad belt extending from Africa to Northern Australia and New Guinea through Southeast Asia and...
, Calophyllum inophyllum
Calophyllum inophyllum
Calophyllum inophyllum is a large evergreen. It is native from East Africa, southern coastal India to Malesia and Australia.-Distribution and description:...
, Sterculia foetida
Sterculia
Sterculia is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. It was previously placed in the now obsolete Sterculiaceae. Members of the genus are colloquially known as tropical chestnuts...
, Barringtonia asiatica
Barringtonia asiatica
Barringtonia asiatica is a species of Barringtonia native to mangrove habitats on the tropical coasts and islands of the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean from Zanzibar east to Taiwan, the Philippines, Fiji, New Caledonia, the Cook Islands, Wallis and Futuna and French Polynesia...
and Manilkara kauki.
It is home to some of Java’s endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
, such as the Javanese bull (Bos javanicus) or Banteng. In April 2004, there were only 57 bulls found in the savanna
Savanna
A savanna, or savannah, is a grassland ecosystem characterized by the trees being sufficiently small or widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to support an unbroken herbaceous layer consisting primarily of C4 grasses.Some...
of Sadengan, while the population in the previous year was estimated to be 80 to 100, 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 lose of habitat. 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
Dhole
The dhole is a species of canid native to South and Southeast Asia. It is the only extant member of the genus Cuon, which differs from Canis by the reduced number of molars and greater number of teats...
, Silvered Leaf Monkey
Silvery Lutung
The silvery lutung , also known as the silvered leaf monkey or the silvery langur, is an Old World monkey. It is arboreal, living in coastal, mangrove, and riverine forests in Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo....
, Green Peafowl
Green Peafowl
The Green Peafowl or Javan Peafowl, Pavo muticus is a large Galliform bird that is found in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia...
, Red Junglefowl
Red Junglefowl
The Red Junglefowl is a tropical member of the Pheasant family. They are thought to be ancestors of the domestic chicken with some hybridisation with the Grey Junglefowl...
, Olive Ridley
Olive Ridley
The olive ridley sea turtle , also known as the Pacific ridley, is a species of sea turtle.- Description :The olive ridley is a small extant sea turtle, with an adult carapace length averaging 60 to 70 cm 1...
, Hawksbill turtle
Hawksbill turtle
The hawksbill sea turtle is a critically endangered sea turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae. It is the only extant species in its genus. The species has a worldwide distribution, with Atlantic and Pacific subspecies. E. imbricata imbricata is the Atlantic subspecies, while E...
and Green turtle.
Surfing
Between the months of April and September, thousands of surfers from all over the world visit the park for its surfing place. The destination is Plengkung Beach on Grajakan bay, also known as G-LandG-Land
G-Land is an internationally renowned surf break situated on the Grajagan Bay, Alas Purwo National Park, East Java, about half a day by road from the popular tourist destinations of Bali...
, which is about half a day's travel from Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
.
The beach is considered one the best surfing spots in Asia. With surf break of 5m it is considered a spot for experienced surfer only. The place is listed as Quicksilver World Tour Circuit.
External links
- Alas Purwo National Park from Ministry of Forestry, Republic of Indonesia
- The magic of Alas Purwo National Park from Inside Indonesia Oct-Dec 2004