Meru Betiri

Meru Betiri National Park located in south of Banyuwangi. This Park represents mangrove forest, swamp forest, and lowland rain forest ecosystems.

This Park is a natural habitat of the rafflesia flower (Rafflesia zollingeriana), and various other plants such as mangrove (Rhizophora sp.), api-api (Avicennia sp.), waru (Hibiscus tiliaceus), nyamplung (Calophyllum inophyllum), rengas (Gluta renghas), bungur (Lagerstroemia speciosa), pulai (Alstonia scholaris), bendo (Artocarpus elasticus), and several medicinal plants.

This Park is also home to several protected animals, including 29 species of mammal and 180 species of bird. Among them are the banteng (Bos javanicus javanicus), panther (Panthera pardus), wild pig (Sus scrofa), long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis), Asian wild dog (Cuon alpinus javanicus), red-tailed flying squirrel (Iomys horsfieldii), leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis javanensis), barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak muntjak), Timor deer (Cervus timorensis russa), green peafowl (Pavo muticus), leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), common green turtle (Chelonia mydas), and Pacific ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea).

Meru Betiri National Park is known as the last habitat of the Javan tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica) which is now a highly endangered and protected species. However, no traces of this tiger have been found for many years and it is feared to be extinct.

Meru Betiri does have other distinct characteristics. Sukamade Beach is a habitat of the leatherback turtle, the hawksbill turtle, the common green turtle, and the Pacific ridley turtle. Several simple breeding facilities have been constructed at this beach to ensure that the turtles, too, do not become extinct.

Java TIger in Meru Betiri
A 12-month survey of Javan tigers and their prey in Meru Betiri National Park in eastern Java was completed in 2000 by PKA authorities. Meru Betiri represents habitat in which some of the last reports of the supposedly extinct Javan tiger have emanated. More recent sightings by park staff and local people have lead to the re-emergence of the possibility that the Javan tiger still exists. To finally put the rumors to rest, twelve national park personnel were trained in 1999, and 20 cameras purchased. Operations in this park were initiated following a direct request from the chief of the park, Bapak Indra Arinal, and were supported by the Director of Conservation of Flora and Wildife, Bapak Ir. Koes Saparjadi. The Tiger Foundation also donated 15 infrared cameras to the park in order to facilitate future census efforts.

The most appropriate contribution that the Sumatran Tiger Project could make was identified as training in relevant tiger monitoring and census techniques to the park staff. Since remote camera monitoring was considered to be the most appropriate method available, considerable attention was paid to developing technical knowledge in this discipline, as well as other essential field tools such as the GPS receiver and computer based mapping of field observations. Activities included class-based theoretical workshops, field application and a final field orientation to install remote cameras at preliminary sites. The results of this census: no tigers, few prey, and lots of poachers.

Interesting locations/attractions:
Rajegwesi Beach: marine tours, swimming, animal/plant observation and cultural visits (traditional fishing communities).

Sumbersari: a grazing area (192 hectares), where visitors can watch animal like the sambar deer and barking deer. There is also a nature laboratory for research.

Sukamade Beach: turtles can be seen laying their eggs. Camping, wind surfing, plant and animal observation are also available here.

Hijau Bay: exploring the forest, marine tours and swimming.

Best time of year to visit: February to July.
How to reach the Park: Surabaya-Jember-Ambulu, about 5 hours by car (225 km); Ambulu-Curahnongko-Bandealit, about 3 hours, or Surabaya-Banyuwangi-Jajag, 6 hours (342 km); Jajag-Sarongan-Sukamade, 3 hours (60 km).