The Beauty of Borneo

2010-04-28T19:40:00.001-07:00

Crystal Clockgreat free widgetsWidgetboxMore info

Black Orchid

2010-02-09T19:40:00.000-08:00

Black Orchid

Black Orchid (Coelogyne pandurata) is a species of orchid that only grows on the island of Borneo. Black orchid flora is the mascot of East Kalimantan province. Today, black orchid native habitat has decreased a significant amount due to the shrinking of forest area in Kalimantan, it can still be found in the nature reserve Luway grit in very small amounts. It is estimated that higher numbers are in the hands of collectors of orchids(1).

Orchid known as Black or Black Orchid, because the tongue is black. Coelogyne Lindley pandurata spread in Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo and the Philippines in Mindanao, Luzon and the island of Samar. Generally grows on old trees, near the beach or in low-lying swamp areas hot enough(2). Black orchid orchid groups included in the form of simpodial swollen bulb at the bottom and leaves stuck in it. Each bulb has only two leaves only. The leaves themselves briefly like palm leaves on the shoot(3). (taken from some sites)

Bekantan

2010-02-09T06:02:00.000-08:00

Bekantan

The Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis larvatus) is also known as the Monyet Belanda in Malay, the Bekantan in Indonesian or simply the Long-nosed Monkey. It is a reddish-brown arboreal Old World monkey that is endemic to the south-east Asian island of Borneo. It belongs in the monotypic genus Nasalis, although the Pig-tailed Langur has traditionally also been included in this genus - a treatment still preferred by some. While the official Indonesian name for this monkey is Bakantan, an Indonesian nickname is 'monyet belanda', meaning 'Dutch monkey' or 'Orang Belanda', the Indonesian word for 'Dutchman', as Indonesians noticed the Dutch colonisers often also had a large belly and nose.

Proboscis monkey is an animal day (diurnal), which is always hiding in the branches of trees. They are often involved in very large groups near the river, they are known to swim and often also diving. He often jumped from a height of approximately 15 meters into a river. Instead they typically jump by stepping away from the higher trees to lower the tree. They can also swing from branch to branch with his hands on the distances short.

Widespread Bekantar-forest woods or around the mouth of the river in Borneo. In South Kalimantan, proboscis monkey can be found in the swamp forest, or river estuaries and pingiiran Surprise Island and Sea Island. In West Kalimantan, these animals occupy the area of mangrove forests in Gunung Palung National Park, Central Kalimantan, while easily found in Tanjung Putting National Park, or near the Mahakam River. In addition, the proboscis monkey is found in Kutai National Park and the peat swamp forests and mangrove forests of East Kalimantan beach. Of the two types of son proboscis monkey, Nasalis larvatus larvatus the distribution has a relatively wider, almost throughout Borneo, except the northeast, central Sarawak, and Brunei. Meanwhile, the spread of a limited Nasalis larvatus orientalis l aut east Kalimantan.

Orang Utan

2010-02-09T05:49:00.000-08:00

Orang utan

Bornean Orangutan, Pongo pygmaeus, the orangutan is a species native island of Borneo. Sumatran orangutans along with a smaller, Borneo orangutans in the genus Pongo which can be found in Asia. Borneo Orangutans have long to live for 35 to 40 years in the wild, while in captivity can reach the age of 60 years.

Orangutans in Borneo is divided into three sub-types. Namely Pongo pygmaeus, Pongo pygmaeus and Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii morio. The total population of orangutans in Borneo currently around 55,000 individuals. Of the three sub-types of orangutans in Borneo, only two sub-species found living in West Kalimantan. That is, Pongo pygmaeus and Pongo pygmaeus pgymaeus wurmbii.

Orangutans are the only great ape found in Asia, precisely in Sumatra and Kalimantan. Other great apes in the African chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), gorillas (Pan gorilla) and banobo (Pan paniscus). Orangutans belong to the Order Primates, Family Pongidae, and species Pongo pygmaeus (orangutans Borneo) and Pongo abelli (orangutans are found on the island of Sumatra).

The best habitat for the orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus morio) in East Kalimantan is the natural tropical forest filled with plants, feed the rich fruit and leaves. Orangutan habitat is the tropical rain forest lowlands, swampy forest or forest hills at an altitude of 1500 mdpl. Now, they can only be found in Borneo and Sumatra forest (90%), while 10% of the forests of Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak).

Orangutans play an important role in the ecosystem. Some main role is to orangutans, with stabilizing disperse seeds of plants consumed. Orangutans are arboreal animals have large roaming areas broad and long lifetime. Thus play an important role in seed dispersal. Absence of orangutans in the rainforests may lead to the extinction of plant species distribution depending on the primate's.

In Borneo, especially Kapuas Hulu, the orangutan is one of the many tourism mascot attract tourists. Requests to make observations of orangutans in their natural habitat continues to increase. Along with the communities in the habitat of the orangutan to the beneficiaries. Social and economic good of tourism activities observed wild orangutans. (taken from some references and sites)

Need more information, visit websites below :

1. www.savetheorangutan.org

2. www.orangutans.com

3. www.orangutan.org

4. www.balikpapan.go.id

Nephentes (tanaman pemangsa serangga) satu dari Aneka Kekayaan Bumi Kalimantan

2010-01-13T07:23:00.000-08:00

Bumi zamrud khatulistiwa merupakan surga dari berbagai tanaman tropis. Salah satunya adalah Nephentes atau yang lebih di kenal sebagai Kantung Semar. Di Kalimantan Orang Dayak menyebut kantong semar dengan kantong karicik, ketupat sanumang, dan pasuk kameloh. Tanaman ini mempunyai ciri khas sebagai pemangsa serangga. Akhir-akhir ini tanaman ini mulai di cari pecinta tanaman. Tanaman ini mulai banyak dijumpai di kios-kios tanaman hias. Tanaman-tanaman yang banyak beredar di pasaran kebanyakan mengambil langsung dari hutan. Hal ini menyebabkan semakin berkurangnya jumlah spesies Nephentes di hutan. Aktifitas penebangan hutan, pembukaan lahan, pembakaran lahan juga menjadi penyebab menurunya populasi ini secara drastis.

Nephentes termasuk dalam famili Nepenthaceae dan kelas Magnoliopsida. Tanaman ini mempunyai bentuk kantung mirip dengan perutnya semar oleh karena itu dinamakan kantung semar. Tumbuhan ini dapat mencapai tinggi 15-20 meter dengan cara memanjat tanaman lainnya, pada ujung daun terdapat sulur yang dapat termodifikasi membentuk kantong yaitu alat perangkap yang digunakan untuk memakan mangsanya yang masuk ke dalam. Nephentes merupakan tumbuhan karnivora yaitu pemakan daging baik itu serangga, pacet, atau anak kodok. Kantong yang dimiliki tersebut berisi cairan yang merupakan enzim proteolitik yang dapat menghancurkan protein kecuali kitin. Salah satu tempat habitat kantung semar di Kalimantan ada di Kabupaten bulungan sebaran kantung semar di Kabupaten Bulungan mencakup kawasan yang cukup luas, yakni di Desa Bumi Rahayu, Kampung Dayak Besar Desa Apung, hingga Dusun Pidada Desa Mangkupadi Kecamatan Tanjung Palas Timur. Menurut situs kabupaten bulungan ditemukan 9 jenis spesies kantung semar.