Bukit Baka - Bukit Raya




Bukit Baka - Bukit Raya National Park is a conservation area located in the heart of Borneo island. The areas has an important role in the hydrological function as a catchment area for Melawi watershed in West Kalimantan and Regional Aliaran Katingan River in Central Kalimantan. Forest area of Bukit Baka - Bukit Raya is representative of tropical rain forest ecosystem that dominates mountain peaks Schwaner mountains. 

Bukit Baka - Bukit Raya National Park is one of the leading national park that located in Central Kalimantan Province, after Tanjung Puting National Park wich is located   between the Sintang Regency (West Kalimantan province) and West Kotawaringin Regency (Central Kalimantan province).

The park covers an area of 181.090 hectares, geographical location between 112o15' - 112o60'  East and 0o30' - 0o65' South, temperature 7o - 32o C, rainfall average 3.400 mm/year, and altitude 150 - 2.278 above sea level.

Eight hundred and seventeen species of  plant have been recorded, belonging to 139 families including Dipterocarpaceae, Myrtaceae, Sapotaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Ericadeae. Also to be found are medicinal plants and plants used for handicrafts, tools and construction materials and consumption. Various species of forest orchid.  There is also the Rafflesia (Rafflesia sp.), a giant glower parasite which is assumed to be similar to those growing on Mt. Kinabalu, Malaysia. Among the endemic species are Symplocos rayae, Gluta sabahana, Dillenia beccariana, Lithocarpus coopertus, Sellaginnela magnifica, and Tetracera glaberrima.

The mammals that inhabit this park include Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), Orangutan (Pongo satyrus), Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus euryspilus), Maroon Leaf Monkey (Presbytis rubicunda rubicunda),  Slow Loris (Nyticebus coucang borneanus), Deer (Cervus unicolor brookei), Spotted Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista elegants banksi), and Spotted civet (Visvessa tangalunga).

Among the bird species are Helmeted Hornbill (Rhinoplax vigil), Rhinoceros Hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros borneoensis), Black Hornbill (Anthracoceros malayanus), Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica), little Cuckoo Dove (Macropygia ruficeps), Great Argus (Argusianus argusgrayi), and the Bornean Peacock Pheasant (Polyplectron schleiermacheri). This is both one of the most elusive pheasants in the world among the most threatened by human activities.

Rare and unique species of mammal and reptile in the park include the Horned Frog (Megophyrs nasuta), Green Monitor Lizard (Varanus prasinus), and Bengkarung (Mabouya sp.).

The indigenous people living around the national parks are mostly descended from Dayak tribes like the Limbai, Ransa, Kenyilu, Ot Danum, Malahui, Kahoi, and Kahayan. Of great cultural interest are ancient statues made of belian wood, artwork, and other item made of Rattan, Bamboo and Pandan, and ritual ceremonies.

In 2007 at the park was found a Capapuya (Barbourula kalimantanensis), the frog species that has no lungs and very sensitive to ecosystem such as not being able to live in the murky water.  Capapuya is bioindicator, live in shallow, clear water, cold and about 14o to 17o C. The frog was once convicted of extinct, because ghe animal is only found in very clear water. With this number of researchers concluded that the water contained in the Bukit Baka - Bukit Raya National Park is still very clear.


Declared by Minister of Forestry No. 281/Kpts-II/1992.  February 26, 1992.