Indonesia

Indonesia is home to several wild cat species, including the Javan leopard, Sumatran tiger, Sunda leopard cat, Sunda clouded leopard, bay cat, marbled cat, Asian golden cat and flat-headed cat

Indonesia (the Republic of Indonesia) is the southernmost country in Asia. It lies between the Indian and Pacific oceans and has over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, parts of Borneo, and New Guinea.

Borneo (also known as Kalimantan in the Indonesian language) is the third largest island in the world. It is politically divided into three countries: Malaysia and Brunei in the north and Indonesia in the south.

Sumatra is the largest island in Indonesia and the sixth largest island in the world.

More about Indonesia

The name “Indonesia” comes from the Greek words “Indos” and “nesos,” which mean “Indian islands.” Indonesia is divided into 38 provinces, nine of which have autonomous status. Jakarta, the capital, is the largest city. It is the world’s fourth-most populous country, with half its population residing on the island of Java.

Biodiversity

Indonesia boasts vast areas of wilderness and biodiversity. It is one of the world’s 17 mega-diverse countries. Seventeen percent of the world’s wildlife inhabits Indonesia, including mammals (515 species), reptiles (over 600 species), birds (1519 species), and amphibians (270 species).

Indonesia is also known for its numerous volcanoes and experiences frequent earthquakes.

The country has two distinct seasons: a dry season from May to October and a wet season from November to April. The climate remains relatively consistent throughout most of the year.

Rainforests

Indonesia faces a critical environmental issue with one of the world’s fastest deforestation rates. The country has lost almost 50% of its forest cover, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts.

Tropical rainforests in Indonesia include:

Borneo lowland rainforests – located on the island of Borneo
Borneo montane rainforests – located in the mountainous regions of Borneo
Harapan rainforest (Sumatra) – located in Sumatra.
Sumatran tropical pine forests – located in the highlands of Sumatra
Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra – A World Heritage Sites located in Sumatra.

Image: A rainforest in Bali, Indonesia. Sunda leopard cats inhabit Bali. It was once the location of a population of Javan tigers.

World Heritage Sites

Indonesia has four World Heritage Sites. A World Heritage Site is a legally protected historical, scientific, and cultural site considered to have outstanding universal value for humanity. The benefits of being named a World Heritage Site include funding for its protection and conservation.

The four Indonesian World Heritage Sites are:

Komodo National Park – volcanic islands inhabited by over 5,000 giant lizards.
Lorentz National Park – located in Central Papua, Highland Papua, and South Papua, in western New Guinea. It is the largest protected area in southeastern Asia.
Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra – comprises three national Sumatran parks: Gunung Leuser National Park, Kerinci Seblat National Park, and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park. Sumatra is home to the Sunda leopard cat, Asian golden cat, Marbled cat, Sumatran tiger, Sunda clouded leopard, and flat-headed cat.
Ujung Kulon National Park – located in southwestern Java. It is inhabited by the Javan leopard and Sunda leopard cat.