New Species in Borneo - Kalimantan

Recently, WWF - The Conservation Organization reported that they found 120 new species of animals in conservative area (called Heart of Borneo) in Borneo. In the area of 220,000 km2, WWF found at least two to three new species every day averagely. This news is truly amaze us. Almost everyday we heard about the extinction of present species, but now new species are appear.

Heart of Borneo itself is a conservative and protected area that located in Borneo island, among the border of Indonesia, Brunnei Darrusalam, and Malaysia. It is the place of 10 primate species, more than 350 birds, 150 reptiles, and more than 10,000 rare floras. WWF was particularly active in the establishment of the area. They have played role in promoting the critical Heart of Borneo initiative and in assisting the trans boundary in its conceptualization, design, and implementation.

Some fascinating new species that been found in the are are Flat-Headed Frog and has been called "Barbourula kalimantanensis". Found in 2008, this species breath using its skin and has no lung at all. Another fascinating species is an insect called Phobaeticus chani. It is the longest insect in the world (with total 36 cm of length body). So far, WWF only found three pieces of this animal. There also have Long-Tail Snail that contain calcium-carbonate at its tail and being use to do reproduction.

WWF also found Java Elephant in that area. This is a truly surprise and a happy news because this species already extinct because has been hunted in the past. In Borneo, when saw this species for the first time, WWF called this elephant as Pygmy Elephany (Bornean Pygmy Elephant) because it is in smaller size comparing with regular elephant. But later on, after do more research, WWF stated that the elephant they found was one kind from Java Elephant species. People believe Java Elephant that appeared in Borneo was being brought by Sultan Sulu - one of the King from ancient Phillipines - from Java Island to Borneo around 1800s.

Brief Introduction Of Borneo / Kalimantan
Borneo itself is one of the largest island in Indonesia and the third largest island in the world, after Greenland and New Guinea. The island is divided among three countries : Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. More than 73% are is belong to Indonesia. People in Indonesia called this island as "Kalimantan", meanwhile people from other country known it as "Indonesian Borneo". Kalimantan is divided into foun provinces :
a. East Kalimantan
b. South Kalimantan
c. West Kalimantan
d. Central Kalimantan

Kalimantan is known with its river. There are three biggest river in Kalimantan :
1. Kapuas River (located in West Kalimantan, with approximately 1,143 km length, made it become the longest river in Indonesia).
2. Barito River (located in South Kalimantan, with 890 km length of river).
3. Mahakam River (located in East Kalimantan, flows 980 km from the district of Long Apari in the highlands of Borneo to the moth of Makassar Strait).
Since known as the Island of River, water transportation such as boat become one of the popular transportation in Kalimantan.

There are a lot of fascinating things and cultures can be found in Kalimantan. Will let you know in other articles....