New species discovered in E. Kalimantan
Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Pa'Raye, East Kalimantan
The forests of Kalimantan are famous for being home to over 3,000 types of plants and hundreds of animals. A recent expedition of Indonesian and Malaysian scientists at the Kayan Mentarang National Park discovered some more species to add to the list.
The expedition that took place April 1 to April 23 in the Pa'Raye area in Nunukan regency, convinced experts that there is an even greater variety of species in the park than was previously believed.
"The discovery added evidence to the belief that the park is one the most important protected areas in the region, and probably one of the most important in the world," said plant taxonomist, and expedition member Harry Wiriadinata of the National Institute of Sciences (LIPI).
The expedition was organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature Indonesia's Kayan Mentarang Project, the East Kalimantan's Coordinating Agency for Natural Resources Protection (BKSDA) and the Kalimantan Forestry Research Agency.
Deep in the park the expedition found a cluster of an unknown species of the Rafflesiaceae family. The parasite is smaller than the Rafflesia arnoldi found in Bengkulu province, Sumatra. It is bright maroon and has white spots all over its petals.
Mamalogist Ibnu Maryanto and Malaysian ichthyologist Mohd. Azian Jayasilan were the first to see the blooming parasites during the second week of the expedition.
One of the parasite species was taken to Malaysia for further examination, while another one is now at the LIPI's Research Center for Biology in Bogor. Researchers will determine if the species is endemic to Kalimantan.
Around the area where the Rafflesia sp was found, the scientists also discovered a new species of large, long-tailed rodents from the Sundamys genus.
The scientists also recorded four of the seven species of honey bees found in Indonesia.
"We saw another species in the park, but we were unable to get a specimen. So I can confirm that 80 percent of Indonesia's honey bee species can be found here in the park," said Indonesian entomologist Sih Kahono.
According to lower-plant taxonomist Wiriadinata, his group recorded at least 120 plant species, including a variety of orchids, rhododendrons and insect eating plants (Nepenthes) in the Tristamyopsis forests (healthy forests whose soil resembles silica white sand), and a suspected new species of begonia.
High-plant taxonomist Kade Widiyasa said the park is rich with valuable trees such as ulin hardwood, reddish meranti and nyatoh, a local name for a species of the Pallachium family which are used as the main pillars for the house of the Dayak people who live in and around the park.
The native Dayaks mostly use non-timber forest products, said Kade. "pakis (edible fern) is an important part of their diet, and they use damar (resin collected from the trees) for lamp fuel," he added.
He added that there are many other plants used by the Dayaks for traditional herbal medicines, but not all can be recognized by the botanists.
Langurs and orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) are rarely seen, while the pigtail macaque is reportedly found in several parts of the park. Long-tailed macaque, gibbons, and tarsier also exist.
The expedition also reported the existence of the Sumatran rhinoceros in the park, as well as elephants. Some scientists consider the big mammals individuals from a small population in Malaysia's Sabah. Banteng (Bos javanicus) are found in the grasslands on the Bahau river upstream from the village of Apau Ping.
Leopards (Neofelis nebulosa), flat-headed and marbled cats, and even the rare Bay cats are said to be found only in the park.
The park is also a haven for endemic and other birds, about 337 species of them. Many of the endemic birds, including the critically endangered Borneo peacock pheasant (Polyplectron schleirmacheri) and the Straw-headed bulbuls, are protected by law.
The park is also home to at least seven species of hornbills, which the Dayaks believe are messengers of gods. Unfortunately the birds are hunted for their beautiful feathers.
With the plan to convert some areas of the park into ecotourism and educational sites, the new discoveries are expected to earn the attention of the central government, the private sector, tourists, and local communities on the importance of the park and its ecosystems.
For further information on the national park and how to get there, please contact IGNN Sutedja, executant of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Kayan Mentarang Project, at Jl. Gunung Belah No. 188, Pamusian, Tarakan regency, East Kalimantan. Tel. +62 551 21723, fax. +62 551 21507, email sutedja@smd.mega.net.id