Fakfak's exotic wildlife awaits exploration
Fakfak's exotic wildlife awaits exploration
By John Mayaut
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (Antara): A forest reserve on the Kumawa
mountain range in the Fakfak regency has long been promoted
overseas by the World Wide Fund (WWF) as a destination for
scientists, environmentalists, explorers and tourists.
It boasts a unique topography, enormous biodiversity and an
abundance of natural resources in the mountains and in the
lowland. The tropical forest is rich in plants, many of which are
endemic to Irian Jaya and of high economic value.
The British scientist, Dr. Ian Craven, once said that Kumawa
had a thousand charms with no parallel in the world.
The 123,300-hectare reserve is located in the southern area of
Bomberai peninsula in southwestern Irian Jaya. Jopie Muskita, a
WWF activist, said Kumawa is gaining popularity among researchers
and holidaymakers.
The natural landscape is breathtaking. Rivers of various sizes
snake down the hills, and the valleys are gorgeous.
The Irian Jaya provincial office of natural resources
conservation (BKSDA) in cooperation with WWF and other
international organizations has paid special attention to
conservation of the forest.
Kumawa is a thick jungle. All hills are blanketed with green
forests. The jungle's profusion of Araucaria plants are yet to be
studied, said Junus, a BKSDA official.
Mangroves grow in abundance along the pollution-free Besiri
River, another fascinating area for both holidaymakers and
researchers to visit.
The unique Kumawa biogeography is still intact.
According to BKSDA and WWF, Kumawa is home to over 120 bird
species, most of which are endemic to Irian Jaya. There are at
least 23 species of dove, 20 different varieties of cockatoo, 18
different kinds of honeyeaters and eight birds of paradise.
Rhonygammus keraudreni, Seleucides melanoleuca, Paradiseea
minor and Diphyllodes magnificus are the best known types of the
fabulous birds of paradise, which are endemic to western Irian
Jaya.
Many deer, crocodile, cuscus, kangaroo, cassowary and boars
are also found here.
Western scientists are increasingly interested in researching
not only the flora and fauna of this area, but also the natural
wealth found here, especially for land and sea mining ventures.
Fakfak offers tourists jungle trekking, diving, hunting and
the chance to visit historical sites, especially to areas
bordering the Maluku province.
Fakfak is Irian Jaya's main producer of cloves, copra and
nutmeg. The area is also rich in mineral and fishing
opportunities.
The abundant mineral wealth has attracted local and foreign
businesspeople to invest in the area.
Fakfak has excellent possibilities for the extraction of gold,
copper, nickel, zinc, lead, natural gas and raw materials for
cement, according to a recent finding by PT Freeport Indonesia,
PT Tis and Arco geologists.
Deposits abound in the subdistricts of Kokas, Kaimana, Fakfak
and Teluk Etna. PT Freeport has begun exploration for gold at
Teluk Etna. While PT Tis and Arco are exploring Fakfak
subdistrict for natural gas.
Fakfak has a tremendous fishery potential. Exploitation has
not been optimal due to technological constraints.
Fakfak waters have often been battle grounds between foreign
fishermen operating illegally.