West Bali National Park Indonesia

Location and Topograph :

West Bali National Park (Taman Nasional Bali Barat) is located on the north western side of Bali, Indonesia. The park covers around 190 square kilometres (73 sq mi), of which are 158 square kilometres (61 sq mi) land and the remainder is sea. This is approximately 5% of Bali's total land area. To the north, it includes a 1,000-metre (3,300 ft) long beach, reef and islets. A seaport at Gilimanuk is west of the park, and the village of Goris is to the east. The National Park can be reached by roads from Gilimanuk and Singaraja, or by using Ferries from Ketapang, Java.

Peculiarity and Utilization :

West Bali National Park is one of bird conservation area that has natural ecosystem (included a lot of Habitat such as mangrove, savanna, deciduous forest and evergreen forest) and the last habitat for Curik Bali (Leucopsar rothschildi, stressman 1912). West Bali National Park is Existed based on SK Menteri Kehutanan No. 493/Kpts-II/1995 on 15 September 1995. This national park utilized for science knowledge, research, supporting cultivation, traditional culture, tourism, and recreation (suitable for bird watching, diving, etc). The coral reef in Menjangan Island is beautiful.

Flagship Species :

Curik Bali is a medium size bird (25 cm), white colored. All of feather is snow white except the edge of wings and tail is black. Opened skin around eyes are blue. Topknot is long, especially for male. Iris is grey, beak is grey and yellow, leg is grey-blue.

Global dispersion is endemic in Bali. Its status is Critically Endangered (Collar dkk, 1994). The habitat is in dry lowland in west bali. Perching together but fly in couple to fing food. Topknot is penetrate while attracting female and chirping.

Problems :

The only national park in Indonesia that divided into two by highway road. Habitat is fragmented and wild animal usually hit by vehicle when crossing road. Lots of illegal hunter that hunt wild animal. Trash from tourism.

Spot :

Teluk Gilimanuk, Cekik, Teluk Terima, Semenanjung Prapat Agung, Menjangan Island, Banyuwedang, and Blimbingsari.