"A record of travel with LIPI and Foreign Researchers in the Mekongga Mountain, of Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia”
Biodiversity and uniqueness the Mekongga Mountain invite the researchers. This time, American foreign researchers with the Indonesian Institute of Sciences study on this region's of the highest mountain in Southeast Sulawesi for about a week. The foreign researchers and LIPI was accompanied by Indonesian Kolaka Adventurer Corps (Korps Citaka).
August 1, 2009, the researchers, LIPI team, and Citaka team, arrived in the village Tinukari, District Wawo, Kolaka North. Tinukari is a village that became the entry point to the highest peak climbing Mekongga Mountains (2620 masl). The villagers welcomed the arrival of these researchers, because most people other than income increases by be a porter, they are also very pleased to be able to interact with foreign nationals who very rarely come in their village.
After coordinating with the Village Head Tinukari, Mr Martani, Team consisting of eight researchers foreigners, 15 people LIPI team, and six personnel Citaka, then Tim walked to the base camp. The journey to base camp takes approximately less than three hours. Team must cross the Ranteangin river several times. This time, the team was lucky, because the river flow is not too heavy and in this area has not yet entered the rainy season, so the trip across the river is running smoothly. Ranteangin river width varies between 10 to 30 meters, when the rainy season is very difficult to cross because the water flow increases and deep.
On arrival at base camp, the team then made preparations to set up various supplies and research equipment. The main base camp is located on the north side of branching River the Ranteangin and river Mosembo. From this place, the researchers explore and take some sample records and research.
Birds and Mammals Research Team UCDAVIS (Dr. Andre Engilis Jr., Alan Thomas Hitch, and Dr. John Alexander Trochet) greatly admired the diversity of bird species in this place. "I've been studying and observing various species of birds in the world, but in this area there are many birds that do not sound I ever heard, this indicates habitat for endemic bird species," said Jhon to the author.
The most amazing for Alan Thomas Hitch, is Rangkong Sulawesi, the endemic bird of Celebes Island. In the place still looks this big flock of birds that fly and perch foraging in the banyan trees.
Rangkong Sulawesi or Aceros cassidix is one of the largest birds from other species ( among 54 from Asia and Africa ). Body weight around 2.5 kg with a wing span can reach 1 m. Flapping its wings when it will fly like the sound of helicopter take-off, and when it will be gliding peculiar rumbling noise like a fighter plane. When flying the sound of their wings can be heard up to 300 meters.
Local people ( Mekongganesse ) calls this bird “Hoa”, this bird has a body with black wings and tail are white. Unique to this bird is a large horn above the beak, the color red in males and yellow in females. Yellow beak in females, have a blue pouch in the throat with a transverse dark line. The Neck of the male is yellow-orange, while the neck of the female is black.
Aceros cassidix is the most faithful of birds with their partner, paired only with one partner for life. Rangkong couples have their own nest with her children. During the period of reproduction, the male with the faithful back and forth to the nest to give food to a loyal female in the nest. In the time do not reproduce, they always fly in pairs though often huddled with friends in a tree. The pair of birds was always there for her children after leaving the nest, learning to fly, and eat the fruit trees. Entering the next period of reproduction, the child was no longer near her parents.
For a period not reproduce, rangkong can roam looking for food on average 10.5 km per day, some even reaching distance of 30 km. Range area also varied between 39.8 to 55.8 km. At that time, rangkong 'perform' his duties as a seed spreader. Seed from fruit eaten Rangkong not destroyed, allowing the seeds can be spread further. If Rangkong have started flapping its wings, then fly through the forest, then spread the fruit seeds. Regneration of forest and reforestation of the birds can take place naturally. So, of course, is our duty to protect them.
Some species of birds in the Mekongga is also endangered. Bird hunters with their rifles is very frequently found. In fact almost everyone who gardening in this region has a rifle.
Although the need to do more in-depth research in the laboratory of mammals, researchers can ensure that there are several the endemic species of Mekongga mountains.
Other mammals of interest are Anoa. Anoa is typical of animals of Sulawesi. There are two species of dwarf namely: Anoa Mountains (Bubalus Quarlesi) and the Lowland Anoa (Bubalus depressicornis). Both of them liked being in the thick forest. Anoa has a pair of pointy horns that are not branched and weighs 150-300 kg.
Both species are found only in Sulawesi, Indonesia. At the Mekongga Mountains, the species that live is Bubalus Quarlesi. In Southeast Sulawesi, this animal became a symbol of pride. Unfortunately, pride is not accompanied by attention to animal conservation. You'll see, almost half of mainland Southeast Sulawesi has become the company's nickel mining amd land clearing for oil palm plantations, so that the habitats of these animals increasingly narrow. There was no one place in mainland Southeast Sulawesi taken as conservation areas for protection Bubalus Quarlesi. Yet since the 1960s Anoa, is in endangered status. It is estimated that there are currently less than 5000 surviving tail. Anoa often hunted for their skins, horns and meat.
Anoa Mountains, in the local language is called Kadue. In this area, Anoa also threatened. Formerly, footprints and feces Kadue still frequently encountered in almost all climbing routes, now we can only see him on certain routes, such as at an altitude of 1800 or above the peak. This is a sign of diminishing their population. Control of hunting this animal, absolutely nothing. Almost every society in the region still regard the Kadue was an animal that is very delicious to eat. Even at certain times, like before Ramadan, Idul Fitri or Eid al-Adha, or feast before the various events, some villagers began to explore the mountainous jungle to hunt Kadue. With dozens of dogs and spears in hand, the hunters could get between seven to twenty-tails every time hunting.
It was so horrible, the animals are the pride of Southeast Sulawesi endangered only for human greed. Moreover, the encroachment and land clearing for cacao plantations increasingly rampant. Climbing routes that formerly dense forest, now transformed into cocoa plantations. Anoa ultimately diminishing habitat and endangered species from Sulawesi.
Apart from some mammals, the researchers also revealed the diversity of microbes and insects in this area. And most impressive of mountain forest areas Mekongga, is the botanical diversity. Danniel Potter, American botanical researcher, regrets opening the forest to cocoa plantations in the beginning of the climbing route. According to Danniel, this could threaten the populations of other endemic plants in these mountains, because other people will be vying for the open forest along the climbing route.
In this study, the researchers of flora is a bit disappointed, because some species of flowering plants are not in season, so the researchers could not see the diversity of flora with beautiful flowers. But for Dr. Elizabeth A. Widjaja, a research professor of LIPI, the mountains Mekongga is a unique habitat for unique flora as well. Although not guaranteed to be new species, Dr. Elizabeth found a unique type of bamboo in this area. According to Dr. Elizabeth, still need further research process. Bamboo is bamboo which is propagating in the karst cliffs along the river Ranteangin.
This study represents only a preliminary survey that only lasted until the date of August 6, 2009, but three people Botany Researchers LIPI Team along with ten members of the Corps of Nature Lovers Kolaka continued research to the highest peak of Mount Mekongga till date August 12, 2009 to record and collect a few samples of flora encountered.
Hopefully, a brief note from this research, a concern for all parties to save biodiversity in the mountains Mekongga.
(Mirwanto Muda)
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