Betung Kerihun, Unbeaten Path at the Heart of Kalimantan

[caption id="attachment_28523" align="alignright" width="300" caption="drmartinwilliams.com"][/caption] Heading deeper inland, the heart of Kalimantan island offers a great adventure on pristine jungle. Among forests still well preserved amidst the island's great suffering from massive illegal logging, there is Betung Karihun. Betung Karihun is a national park situated on Kapuas Hulu Regency of West Kalimantan. To reach this heart of the island, one will have to make an unfriendly yet challenging 800 km land and river journey from Pontianak, the regency's capital city. Covering an area of 800,000 ha in Sub district of Embaloh Hulu, Embaloh Hilir and Putussibau, Betung Karihun was appointed national park in 1992 and is the largest conservation area on the province. [caption id="attachment_28524" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="drmartinwilliams.com"][/caption] With their local wisdom, 7 Dayak ethnic groups living on the area are the loyal guard of Betung Karihun forest. Rare annual ceremonies as Gawai Naik Dangi and various traditional rituals held by Dayak Kyan Mendalam community and the others are worth watching. The most parts of this national park are hilly and mountainous, with the Mt. Kerihun's summit being the highest point (1,790 m). In general, the vegetation of the park is divided into two ecoregions, Borneo lowland rain forests and Borneo mountain rain forests which covers about two thirds of the area. Researchers revealed that there are totally 1,254 plant species recorded living in eight types of ecosystem on entire area of Betung Karihun national park. Another biodiversity observation shows that the park is the home for 652 animal species. [caption id="attachment_28525" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Wikipedia"][/caption] Lowland forests are dominated by trees from dipterocarp species. These vegetation is gradually changed at higher altitude with oaks (Quercus and Lithocarpus ssp.), chestnut trees (Castanopsis ssp.), and iron wood (Eusideroxylon zwageri). Some newly found plant species are Musa Lawitiensies and Pinaga bafidovariegata. Among 54 mammals species, there are 8 endemic primates including Borneo Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus). Besides, the park is also home for 170 insect species and 25 reptile species, including endemic Senyulong Crocodile. There are great spots wildlife lover will love to visit. An orangutan concentration was founded in the western part of Betung Karihun area, Embaloh, an area right on the border of Malaysia. During dry season, various kinds of animal regularly visit spring of Sepan in search of the mineral rich water. Jungle, mountain, rivers, and cave are hard refused temptation. A beaten path intersecting the pristine rain forest is leading to a limestone area where lies Diang Kaung, a cave with a 5000 year old prehistoric drawings on the wall. Other caves on the karst area are Diang Arong and Diang Tolo.