The Ujung Kulon National Park
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INTRODUCTION
The national park, located at the south-western end of Java in edge of the strait of the Probe, includes the peninsula of Ujung Kulon and several islands, and it understands the natural reserve of Krakatoa. In addition to its natural beauty and its geological interest, in particular for the study of insular volcanicity, it contains the largest remaining surface of rain forests of plain of Java. It shelters several plant species and animal threatened, of which the most threatened of all, the Javan rhinoceros*.
PRESENTATION OF THE PARK
The Ujung Kulon National Park* obtained the modest statute of protection in 1910 when she was declared hunting preserve. In 1921, its statute is revalorized in natural reserve, then in 1980, the park is declared like one of the first 5 national parks in Indonesia. In 1992, the park and the Indonesian archipelago of Krakatau are declared like first site of the inheritance of UNESCO*.
Rich person in fauna and forests, famous for his charm and his diversity, the park also became the last haven of peace for a very threatened species, the Javan rhinoceros*. Ujung Kulon has a wild profile exeptionnel of nature in Indonesia, mountain ranges timbered to the seas of corails. What makes it still more remarkable, it is that the park remains a virgin harbor likely to Java, which is one of the islands thickly populated in the world.
The 120 551 ha which compose the park are divided into 72 214 ha of grounds and 44 337 ha of reefs with a surrounding sea. It can be divided coarsely into 3 zones : the triangular form of Ujung Kulon Peninsula, Gunnung Honje Range east of the Peninsula of Isthmus and the island of Panaitan in western north.
The climate of Ujung Kulon is a maritime tropical climate a little fresher than in the interior zones of the island. Annual pluviometry is of 3 250 mm. The temperature of the beaches lies between 25° and 30° Celcius with a water content ranging between 80% and 90%.
The park has a large variety of marine ranges. The rock coasts, the coral mangrove swamps, mudholes, herbaria, reefs and the oceanic pits bring lightings varied and attractive in the underwater world. It also has a vast range of fauna whose a good amount of species are rare or is threatened.
THE JAVAN RHINOCEROS
The most invaluable animal which the national park of Ujung Kulon has is without any doubt the Javan rhinoceros*. This animal was literally massacred in the years 1700 when this one was regarded as vermin for the agricultural plantations. Indeed these rhinoceros were so numerous that the government offered a premium for each shot down animal. The massacre was such as 500 specimens were massacred in less than two years. Today the animal is protected at the most point. It would remain about it a little less than 50 individuals living in the park.
Although these rhinoceros are protected by the law, they are still threatened by the poaching as well as the encroachment of the man. The national parks must face the pressures of the government compared to the always increasing requests of the natural resources, not counting the financial supports for the park and its personnel was reduced by this same government.
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