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South
Banyuwangi and Meru Betiri
Meru Betiri
National Park covers 58,000 ha. of land bordering on the south
coast to the west of Alas Purwo. Accessible from either
Jember or Banyuwangi, the park is shared between these two provincial
districts.
Meru Betiri offers superb natural scenery and contains some of
Java's last true tropical rain forest. Flora is mixed, with some
300 recorded species. Coastal districts are made up of lowland
forest, marshland and mangrove, interspersed with plantations
of coffee, cocoa and rubber. Towards the interior the land is
heavily forested and rises to a high point of 1,223 metres on
the summit of Mt. Betiri.
Meru Betiri is further believed to be the last refuge for the
almost extinct Javanese Tiger. A 1988 survey registered traces
of only four or five animals, yet unofficial sightings have been
reported from as far away as Alas Punvo. Other members
of the cat family which still exist in some numbers are the leopard
and black panther, alongside a great variety of other fauna,
including wild pigs,banteng, deer and, among the birds,
peacocks, kingfishers and hornbills.
A conservation effort has been underway for some years at Sukamade
Beach, where four types of sea turtle come regularly to nest.
Stability of the turtle population has been helped by a careful
system of tagging and monitoring, as well as the use of special
hatcheries. Watching these giant creatures emerge from the surf
and struggle up the beach to lay their eggs on a moonlit night
is a unique and unforgettable experience, and one which is certain
to ensure Sukamade's ever growing popularity
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