Rare birds, orchids saved in Plawangan

Rare birds, orchids saved in Plawangan

Bambang M, Contributor, Yogyakarta

Bored with Yogyakarta city and need to get out? The Plawangan-
Turgo nature reserve on the slopes of Mount Merapi might be an
alternative place to visit, offering a glimpse of exquisite
orchids or, if you get lucky, the rare Javan hawk-eagle.

Comprising some 198.5 hectares of nature reserve and 131
hectares of park, visitors can reach Plawangan-Turgo through the
Kaliurang tourist resort and need only pay an entrance fee of Rp
500 per person.

Tall trees like banyans and pines create a beautiful canopy
that shades visitors from direct sunlight. Once inside, the
natural orchestra produced by thousands of birds welcomes the
arrival of visitors.

Plawangan is home to a vast variety of birds -- some of them
rare or endangered species. A recent survey conducted by the
Yogyakarta Natural Resources and Conservatory (KSDA) organization
revealed that at least 96 different species of birds could be
found in this area.

Among them are the orange-spotted bulbul (Pycnonotus
bimaculatus), red-breasted parakeet (Psittacula alexandri) and
house crow (Corvus enca).

Of the 96 species found, some 26 of them are endemic birds,
meaning they can only be found in Java.

It is also in this nature reserve that the endangered Javan
hawk-eagle (Spizaetus bartelsi), or elang Jawa as they are
locally known, live. Reports said there were only about some 300
Javan hawk-eagle left throughout Java Island.

The presence of the Javan hawk-eagle in the reserve provides a
strong reason to preserve Plawangan-Turgo as this particular bird
cannot easily bred outside its original habitat.

"They (the Javan hawk-eagles) get stressed very easily," said
Andi Chandra, a conservation technician from the Yogyakarta KSDA.

Spotting the rare eagles however is a very rare occurrence.

"It's only when the weather is clear that we sometimes get
lucky and see the Javan hawk-eagle flying over from the forested
area," Andi said.

The location of the eagles' nests are kept secret by the
nature reserve so as to avoid irresponsible hunters from stealing
the eggs.

"A television reporter once asked permission to take pictures
of the nests but we would not give it because we were afraid
people would recognize the place once it was broadcast," Andi
said.

He added that there were still many people hunting the
endangered species even though they were protected by the law,
mostly because of the high prices they fetch from collectors.

Other animals that can be found roaming the Plawangan-Turgo
nature reserve include black panther (Phantera pardus), deer
(Mutiacus muntjak), black long-tailed monkeys locally known as
lutung (Tracypithacus auratus) and long-tailed monkeys (Macaca
fascicularis).

Of all these, the black panther is the rarest.

"Before the 1994 natural disaster, there were about 14 black
panthers in the area. Now, we do not know their exact numbers,"
said Andi.

Orchids are another priceless treasure of the Plawangan-Turgo
nature reserve.

A recent survey conducted by the student association of nature
lovers of Gadjah Mada University's School of Biology
(Matalabiogama) reported that at least 56 different species of
orchids were found in the area. Among the most famous species
from Plawangan are the pandanus orchid (Vanda tricolor Lindl).

Not long ago, this particular species of white orchid with
pink spots scattered on it could easily be found growing on the
branches of dadap trees (Erythrina lithosperma). The flowers can
remain in bloom for up to 45 days even when there is no rain.

"Presently, it is only in the untouched areas, the areas that
people never visit, that they grow well," said Miyarso, an
officer of the Yogyakarta KSDA Unit assigned to the Kaliurang
checkpoint.

But it seems that the orchid will get a second chance in the
wild.

Badiman, a young man from Ngrangkah village on the edge of the
Plawangan-Turgo nature preserve, has been trying to save the
pandanus orchid by growing it at his home with the financial
assistance of the Sleman regency-based KSDA.

He plans to put the plants back in the forest once it is safe
to do so. He currently has more than 150 pandanus orchid plants
at his home.

Other orchid species that can be found in the nature reserve
include Paphiopedilum javanicum, which grows on the ground among
the undergrowth, and the unique Nervilia punctata. This
particular species spends half of its life cycle underground as a
tuber. The flower only emerges when the leaves, which grow
directly from the tuber, have retreated.

Apart from being a home to numerous species of birds, trees,
and orchids, the nature reserve, through which several rivers,
including the Boyong and the Kuning flow, also serves as an
important water catchment area for Sleman regency and even
Yogyakarta municipality.

The reserve will also apparently be incorporated in the
planned Merapi-Merbaby national park planned by the provincial
governments of Yogyakarta and Central Java.