UJUNG KULON NATIONAL PARTK

THE PARK
Ujungkulon National Park, Indonesia's leading park, a world heritage site and the habitat of the endangered Javan Rhinoceros, holds a rich and diverse wilderness of high conservation value.

The park has a wide variety of vegetation with tropical primary rain forest, lowland forest, mangroves, freshwater swamp, and coastal vegetation. Within these is a great diversity of flowering and fruiting plants.

The diversity can also be seen in its wildlife. Over 310 species have been recorded including mammals, reptiles, birds and numerous insects, with possibly many insect species still to be discovered. The reefs and surroundings seas are rich in corals, shell life, and colorful fish that thrive in the warm, clear water of the park.

DESCRIPTION
Ujungkulon National Park is situated at the Southwestern tip of the island of Java, in the administrative district of Pandeglang regency of the Province of West Java.

Geographically, it is situated just below 6 degrees latitude south and between 102 and 105 degrees longitude east.

The park consists of several geographic areas. These areas the triangular shaped Ujungkulon peninsula with its adjacent island of Handeuleum and Peucang, the Gunung Honje Range to the east, and the large island of Panaitan make up the 76,214 hectare land area of the park. The surrounding sea and corals reefs contribute a further 44,337 hectares to the total 120,551 hectares of Ujungkulon National Park.

In this extremely valuable conservation area, with its range of tropical flora, fauna and natural features, first priority is given to the protection and preservation of everything that accurse naturally within the park. Ujungkulon is also an important area for scientific, research, tourism and recreation.

TOPOGRAPHY
The Topography of Ujungkulon National Park varies from the forested hills of Gunung Honje Range with peaks up to 620 meters, to the lowlands of the Ujungkulon Peninsula with its tropic forest, wetlands and meandering rivers. Again at the far western end off the Peninsula the land rises out from the Gunung Payung Range with its thickly forested summits rising to 480 meters. On the island of Panaitan are two district ranges of hills with the highest point, Gunung Raksa at 320 meters.

CLIMATE
Ujungkulon National Park has a tropical maritime climate with an average annual rainfall off 3,140 mm. Recorded at Tanjung Layar. During April to October the monthly rainfall averages 150 mm, with the driest months being July to September. The wetter season from November to March is caused by the west winds. Throughout the year the temperature ranges from 25 to 30 degrees with the humidity generally between 80 - 90%.

PLACE OF INTEREST:

CITERJUN TERRACES:
Located to the northeast on the mainland peninsula is the calcified terraces and stalactites created by the waters the Citerjun. These are the remnants of the once spectacular formations recorded by early mariners that were destroyed by the Krakatau tidal waves of 1883.

CIDAON GRAZING GROUNDS
Situated on the Peninsula opposite Peucang Island, this large grassland with an observation tower is the grazing ground for Banteng, pigs, monkeys, and peafowl and on very rare occasions Javan rhinoceros. Early morning or evening are the best times to visit.

TANJUNG LAYAR WALK
There are two ways of reaching Tanjung Layar. For those choosing the shorter walk, the boat travels 3 km west to the peninsula shore at Cibom. At Cibom are the remains of a proposed naval port that was begun in 1808 and then abandoned because of hardships and a nearby shelter contains information about the region.

The trail follows the coastline west passing the current lighthouse. From this tower are spectacular views of the rugged headlands and islands below (permission must be obtained from the lighthouse staff to enter the property and to climb the lighthouse tower0. The routes continues to the ruins of early buildings from where a stairway climbs a 40 meter bluff to the Tanjung Layar Historical Site where two previous lighthouses and staff quarters were constructed in the 1800’s.


The Ujung Kulon peninsula is the westernmost extension of Java. The park includes the peninsula, as wellas the offshore islands of Peucang and Panaitan and island remnants of the famous volcano, Krakatau This beautiful peninsula, protected on three sides by the sea and on the east by the Honje mountains, has been a natural refuge for wildlife now rare in the rest of heavily populated Java, and is the last place in the world where the once common Javan Rhinoceros is found. Ujung Kulon also contains some of the last tracks of disturbed lowland rain forest to be found in Java. Typical vegetation in Ujung Kulon is dense thickets of palms, gingers and bamboo through which only Rhino can pass unscathed. There are, however, several open meadows and well maintained trails in the foreted area, and many visitors enjoy the trip across the peninsula. Anak Krakatau - The son of Krakatau. The island which surrounded the 270m deep sunken caldera some 40 miles from the coast are the remnants of a pre 16th century volcano. The smoking cone you now see on horizon is a grandchild of Krakatau, which first appeared in 1929 and has been growing yearly. It was actually the island of Rakata Besar which exploded so dramatically in 1883, losing halt its land area, sending tidal waves across the Indian Ocean to the coast of Africa, and dust clouds into the air currents which circle the world causing beautiful but eerie sunsets for weeks afterwards. There are many wildlife can be found at Ujung Kulon : The Rhino are rarely seen. Banteng (the Javan Wild Ox) frequent the grazing grounds morning and evening accompanied by Peafowl. Leaf Monkeys, Macaques, Pigs, Squirrels and Otters. Fruit Bats and large Monitor Lizards are also common. Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) nest on the west beach. 220 bird species have been recorded as resident. The most common being : Hornbills, Woolly-necked Storks, Green Peafowl, Barbets, Bulbuls and there are many sea birds and waders. One of the attractions of Peucang island are almost tame Rusa Deer and Long-tailed Macaques sometimes too tame (they raid the kitchens) and the big Monitoring Lizards so easy to see at the camp