Wildlife in and around Bukit Lawang

Gunung Leuser National Park (GLNP) & Leuser Ecosystem

The Leuser Ecosystem is 2.6 million hectares of tropical rainforest located in northern Sumatra. It is the largest contiguous area of rainforest in Sumatra. However, only 890,000 hectares are designated as national park. Several important Orangutan populations are found outside the national park. The first official document to protect the area was signed by the Dutch and Acehnese leaders in 1934. The Leuser International Foundation manages the Ecosystem on behalf of the government on the basis of a presidential decree issued in February 1998. However encroachment and degradation of ecosystem borders and of the national park still occurs. Of the 10,000 plant species recorded in West Indo-Malayan region, 45% are found in the Leuser Ecosystem.
BIODIVERSITY

Biodiversity (biological diversity) means the variety of living things (plants, animals, micro-organisms) in a particular habitat or in the world as a whole. Approx 1.75 million species have been identified (mostly insects). Scientists estimate there are more than 13 million species in the world. Many species of plant and animal are at risk of extinction (e.g. orangutan, tiger, rhino) but it is the degradation and loss of whole ecosystems (coral reefs, forests) that is the biggest threat to biodiversity. Indonesia has extremely high levels of biodiversity but Sumatra has the highest levels of biodiversity under threat.

The primates of Bukit Lawang

There are eight species of primate in Bukit Lawang: Sumatran orangutan, Pongo abelii Long tailed macaque, Macaca fasicularis Pig tail macaque, Macaca nemestrina Siamang, Symphalangus syndactylus Lar gibbon, Hylobates lar Thomas leaf monkey, Presbytis thomasii Silver leaf monkey, Trachypithecus cristatus
Forest Conservation

Tropical rainforest cover only 6% of the worlds surface but are believed to contain half of all species on the planet. Despite growing international concern, rainforests are being destroyed at more than 80,000 acres per day. For up to date information and details of what you can do to help check out the websites of organisations such as Greenpeace, WWF and Friends of the Earth. A relatively new organisation is the Prince’s Rainforest Project (www.rainforestsos.org) and it is worthwhile checking out their website. The website for The Ecologist magazine has loads of information and a good section on Green Living (www.theecologist.org).
Conservation Corner

We have a collection of photos, nature books, factsheets, scientific journal articles etc. Why not learn a bit about the amazing wildlife of GLNP over a beer or fruit juice. The wall is decorated with orangufacts and collages made by next doors kids. It’s a work in progress so come along and draw/paint/ a rainforest inspired picture for our gallery!
What you might see!

This list is a work in progress, as you can tell. What we aim to do in the future is list the species that we and our guests have seen so if you have visited Bukit already drop us an email and tell us what you saw. If you could send photographs also that would be brilliant.
Primates Orangutan (rehabilitated and wild) Long tailed macaque Thomas leaf monkey Pig tail macaque Lar (white handed) gibbon Siamang (large black gibbon) Silver leaf monkey (not often) Mammals Squirrels Bats Deer Sun bear Elephant Forest pig Otter Porcupine Wild dog Tapir Binturong Frogs Lizards	Birds Great argus Jungle fowl Chicken (well it is a bird) Hornbill Robin magpie Snakes Cobra Moon snake (waglers pit viper) Green tree snake Reticulated python Insects