Barito River Cruise .-

Barito River is one of the most interesting nature safaris available in Barito Kuala, South Borneo. Located just 45 minute out of Banjarmasin city, the Barito River stretches over 800 kilometers and is the largest river in South Borneo.

Barito River is also well known for its remarkable wildlife and fascinating habitats found throughout the natural sanctuary.

There are Pulau Kembang, Pulau Bakut dan Pulau Kaget the habitat of Proboscis monkey ( Bekantan ) and Pulau Curiak The Bekantan Research Station of SBI foundation.

The primate species can be found. This includes the Proboscis Monkey, Macaques and  the silvery langur most of which are endemic to Borneo.

You can also expect to see Monitor Lizards, Otter, Hawks, Eagles, Kingfishers and much more. if you are very lucky you can see crocodile in Barito River. As well as the animals and bird life you can also spot many insects, reptiles and amphibians including snakes, and frogs.

Come and adventure with us ...

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SBI Perbaiki Habitat Bekantan Pulau Curiak

"melestarikan pohon rambai dan menanamnya kembali, akan meyelamatkan kehidupan nelayan yang mencari ikan serta pertanian warga sekitarnya. Rusaknya hutan rambai akan berakibat hilangnya ikan serta terganggunya sistem pertanian pasang surut "

Kotabaru, (Antaranews Kalsel) - Yayasan Sahabat Bekantan Indonesia (SBI) Banjarmasin, melakukan perbaikan habitat bekantan di Pulau Curiak Kabupaten Barito Kuala, Kalimantan Selatan.

"Upaya yang kami lakukan adalah dengan mengadakan pembebasan lahan, melakukan perbaikan habitat bekantan melalui program restorasi mangrove rambai dan menjadikan kawasan tersebut sebagai kawasan stasiun riset bekantan," kata Ketua Yayasan Sahabat Bekantan Indonesia, Amalia Rezeki, Senin.

Dikatakan, sejak 2014 SBI sudah mengadakan riset terhadap populasi bekantan, dan ragam tegakan di Pulau Curiak, untuk mengetahui daya dukung kawasan tersebut.

Seperti diketahui dari tahun ke tahun populasi bekantan di Kalimatan Selatan selalu mengalami penurunan sangat drastis, terutama yang berada diluar kawasan konservasi.

"Menyadari akan keterancaman populasi bekantan di luar kawasan konservasi, kami berusaha menyelamatkan habitat bekantan dengan melakukan program restorasi mangrove rambai," ujar Amalia yang juga dosen Biologi di Universitas Lambung Mangkurat.

Melalui kegiatan penanaman pohon rambai untuk perbaikan habitat bekantan dan ekosistem lahan basah, serta sebagai pilot projectnya di sekitar kawasan pulau Curiak, Barito Kuala yang juga dijadikan stasiun riset bekantan.

Mengapa pohon rambai.? Karena pohon rambai ini sangat penting bagi keberadaan bekantan, tegakannya merupakan habitat bekantan, sedangkan pucuk daunnya adalah sumber pakan utama bekantan.

Melestarikan hutan rambai berarti melestarikan bekantan serta kehidupan liar lainnya, termasuk melestarikan ekosistem sungai yang sangat penting bagi kehidupan manusia.

Disisi lain, menurut Amalia Rezeki, melestarikan pohon rambai dan menanamnya kembali, akan meyelamatkan kehidupan nelayan yang mencari ikan serta pertanian warga sekitarnya. Rusaknya hutan rambai akan berakibat hilangnya ikan serta terganggunya sistem pertanian pasang surut.

"Bagi kami, meyakini menanam pohon sama dengan menghidupkan bumi dan memberi kehidupan bagi penghuninya. Kami menjadikan menanam pohon bukan hanya semata terkait dengan wilayah duniawi, melainkan juga erat kaitannya dengan wilayah keimanan dan ibadah," tamah Amalia.

Dengan menanam pohon bukan hanya menjadikan bumi yang dipijak ini menjadi hidup, namun juga sebagai bentuk ketaatan dan ketundukan kami kepada Allah SWT".

Sementara itu, berdasarkan Redlist IUCN (the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources), bekantan termasuk dalam kategori Genting (Endangered).

Bekantan juga termasuk primata yang terdaftar di dalam Appendix I dari CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) yang berarti tidak boleh diperdagangkan.

Upaya penyelamatan bekantan semestinya, upaya penyelamatan habitatnya, karena ancaman terbesar terhadap berkurangnya populasi bekantan adalah hilangnya habitat mereka, terutama oleh alih fungsi lahan.

Dalam konteks kebijakan, terutama Undang-Undang No. 5 Tahun 1990, dan aturan ikutan lainnya, maka kebijakan yang kita miliki hanya berfokus pada pelarangan kegiatan penangkapan, pemeliharaan, pembunuhan dan perdagangan bekantan. Inipun belum dilaksanakan dengan semestinya.

Namun seperti kita ketahui, kebijakan tersebut ternyata belum menyentuh pada pelarangan kegiatan perusakan habitat bekantan, yang justru menjadi ancaman terbesar mereka. Tidak semua bekantan hidup di kawasan dilindungi, sebagian besar justru berada diluar kawasan konservasi.

Sangat ironis. Ini berarti bekantan dilindungi, tapi sebenarnya juga tidak terlindungi.

Editor: Imam Hanafi
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA 2018

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35 Times Evacuated Bekantan

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Bekantan Research Station

Bekantan Research Station; Bekantan Research Station is located on Curiak Island - Anjir Muara - Barito Kuala, South Kalimantan. The idea was established on April 22, 2015 by Ferry F. Hoesain and Amalia Rezeki from the Indonesian Center for Biodiversity Studies and Conservation - Lambung Mangkurat University, who is also the founder of Yayasan Sahabat Bekantan Indonesia (SBI) - Banjarmasin. 

Then on December 22, 2017 began to be realized physically by conducting land acquisition for the construction of its research station facilities. This development is funded by Sahabat Bekantan Indonesia Foundation and non-binding donors. At the beginning of its establishment, the station was intended as a rehabilitation location for bekantan and research centers. since then Curiak Island has been used as a center for bekantan research and wetland ecosystems. While the bekantan rehabilitation place is in Banjarmasin. 

Bekantan Research Station was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Sutarto Hadi, M.Si., M.Sc., ULM Chancellor was accompanied by Professor Professor Roberts Timothy Kilgour, Professor Matthew Warrington and Professor Michael Joseph of New Castle University Australia. For the first time it was marked by Summer Course activities with ULM students and New Castle students - Australia.

 Now, the Bekantan Research Station is a special natural laboratory. Become a special attraction for domestic and foreign researchers, especially bekantan and their wetland ecosystems.

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Mangrove Arboretum

Mangrove arboretum is a mangrove pilot forest which contains various kinds of mangrove species which are useful as a place of education and introduction of mangrove species to students, researchers and the community. The mangrove arboretum of Curiak Island is located in Anjir Muara, Barito Kuala regency.

The forerunner of the mangrove arboretum This is a less productive tidal rice field behind the Bekantan Research Station. Formerly this area was a mangrove forest, bekantantan habitat and other wildlife typical of wetlands

Since the end of 2017, SBI has tried to build it slowly and surely. With its mangrove production, breeding, planting, refining, maintenance and data collection programs, it was finally the beginning of September 2018, the land that was previously abandoned and considered unproductive, became a place for mangrove education and research for students from within and outside the country.

Despite being far from perfect, the arboretum, which has an area of approximately one hectare, contains no fewer than dozens of plants that grow well. This Arboretum is also equipped with track paths for pedestrians to observe mangrove ecosystems and the nameplate of mangrove species from ironwood boards.

The arboretum area is also used as a conservation school by SBI. Throughout the year, every four months, conservation schools are held, not only students from within the country, but also students from various countries. They are taught about conservation, especially wild life in wetland ecosystems.

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