The fauna of Bali is birds, monkeys, snakes, monitor lizards, bats, deer and turtles, many fish, including sharks and dolphins, small animals and insects like geckos, spiders and mosquitoes. Here are found both familiar to everyone, and quite unusual, exotic and sometimes dangerous, poisonous animals; the island of Bali has thousands of species of various living creatures, which I will tell you about in this article.


For a long time, this piece of land, like other islands of Indonesia, was isolated from the whole world. Therefore, its own special fauna has formed here, which is not found in any other corner of the Earth. Some of the inhabitants came to this region from Asia or Australia, but many species are found only here or on neighboring islands.

All local animals can be divided into several types, which I will discuss below:

  • mammals
  • Birds
  • reptiles
  • Sea creatures
  • Insects

And now more about each.

Mammals Bali

These are representatives of the fauna of Asian and Australian origin. There are small predators, artiodactyls, monkeys. The island was once inhabited by the smallest of all known tigers, the Balinese, but it was completely exterminated at the beginning of the twentieth century.

At the moment, the following mammals live in Bali:

1. Batengs.

They are distant relatives of cows. They were first domesticated by the locals, but wild herds can still be found. Batengs are large artiodactyls that weigh 400-900 kg, are black in color with white spots. The horns of bulls are thick and curved, up to 70 cm long, in females they are straight and shorter. Bat engis live in herds of 2-40 individuals, mainly in tropical rainforest and open glades.

2. Deer.

There are two types of deer in Bali:

Javan rusa, or Maned sambar

You can meet them in the forest thickets. These deer are small. The Indian muntjac makes sounds similar to the barking of a dog. Therefore, it is also called the barking deer.

3. Palm marten or musang.

This animal is famous for producing the most expensive coffee in the world, Kopi Luwak. The animal eats grains that pass through its digestive system and acquire a unique taste. Unfortunately, after the production was put on an industrial basis, the quality of coffee in Bali fell. After all, the musang chose the ripest grains, and now they feed him everything. In addition, animal rights activists are sounding the alarm. Palm martens on farms are kept in terrible conditions and fed grains to them by force.

4. Bengal cat.

It lives in the tropical forest and is perhaps the only furry predator on the island. Her color is yellow, dark spots are scattered all over her body, like a leopard. The size of the cats is about 65 cm in length. They hunt at night and avoid people. From this type of cat, the domestic Bengal cat was bred in the United States, which has now become very popular.

6. Monkeys.

There are two types of monkeys in Bali:

  1. Javan langur a (Kazi)

Crab-eating macaques (called Kera in the local dialect)

Javan langur a (Kazi)

Macaques are more common. They have black and gray hair, the weight of females reaches 4-8 kg, and males - 8-10 kg. Langur a is less common, only in certain parts of the island. The young of this species of monkeys are born bright red, but then their coat darkens. You can meet primates in the Ubud Monkey Forest. They also live at many temples, as they are considered sacred. The most famous are the Uluwatu Temple in the Kuta region, the Sangeh Temple in Budung, Bedugul near Singaraj, Pulaki in the western part of the island.

Often tourists are very interested in the question - is it possible to catch rabies from monkeys in Bali. The fact is that this disease is really common on the island - as, indeed, in any other place on earth where wild animals live. But I hasten to reassure you: in all public places, monkeys are under the close supervision of veterinarians. They are vaccinated and monitored for their health. If, nevertheless, you were bitten or scratched by a monkey, there is no need to panic: contact the first-aid post, where specialists will provide you with the necessary assistance.

7. Bats.

Many species of bats of different sizes live on the island. You can meet them everywhere, in the forests, near the beaches, on the terraces of hotels. The most famous place where tourists come to see these animals is the cave temple of Goa Lawah.

Most bats in Bali eat fruits and pose absolutely no danger to humans.

8. Javanese lizard.

Despite the name, it belongs to the genus of mammals. His body is covered with scaly armor, in shape he really resembles a lizard. It has a large wide tail and powerful claws. The Javanese lizard grows to the size of a domestic cat. It is nocturnal, feeding on insects, termites and other small things.

This is an endemic bird species. The starling lives mainly in the northwest of the island, along the coast. It has a beautiful white plumage, with a blue rim around the eyes. Due to deforestation, trapping of birds for living souvenirs, the number of starlings has greatly decreased. Now it is a strictly protected rare species.

2. Black-headed oriole.

A bird with bright yellow plumage, black markings on the head and tip of the wings. It arrives on the islands of Indonesia for the winter, in the summer it can be found in southern Europe.

3. Crested snake eagle ate.

Medium-sized predator, with brown plumage, large wings and a short tail. It got its name because of the small patch of feathers growing on the head in the form of a tuft. And "serpentine" - because he lives in tropical forests and feeds on small amphibians - primarily snakes, lizards and geckos.

4. Yellow-crested cockatoo.

This bird is quite famous as it is often bred as a pet. In the wild, it is on the verge of extinction. Cockatoos have white plumage with a yellow topknot. Body size about 35 cm, weight - 500 grams. They live in the rainforest and eat fruits.

5. Small adjutant or Javanese marabou.

This is a type of stork. Its body length is 110-120 cm. The color of the feathers on the wings is black, on the stomach it is white. The neck is bare, the beak is very large. Unlike the African marabou, the Javanese does not have a throat pouch. Lives in swampy areas, feeds on carrion, small amphibians and fish. It is on the verge of extinction, it can now be found only in local parks.

5. Sacred Alcyone.

A small bird, about 20 centimeters long, with turquoise (on the wings) and cream (on the belly) plumage. Lives in eucalyptus and mangrove forests. Bird of prey, feeds on lizards, small fish and amphibians, insects, sometimes eats small animals and other birds.

It is impossible to describe all the birds of Bali. Here you can meet not only exotic birds, but also ordinary rural and urban swallows, swifts. Some birds are ubiquitous, others, like the Balinese myna, are on the verge of extinction.

You can look at different types of birds that live in Indonesia in the Bird and Reptile Park.

Reptiles Bali

There are a lot of reptiles on the island. There are several types of geckos that crawl right into the houses. The locals consider them to be good luck charms. There are also snakes, lizards and turtles. The Reptile Park features animals from other parts of Indonesia.

Now more about each type:

1. Komodo dragon.

The Komodo dragon is not found in Bali, but it can be seen in the park. This is the largest lizard in the world, the only surviving contemporary of the dinosaurs. The monitor lizard can reach a length of three meters, weighs one and a half centners. Lives in deep holes, feeds on deer, wild boars, monkeys. The bite of a monitor lizard is very dangerous, in its saliva there is a poison similar to that of a snake. It causes blood clotting and a sharp drop in blood pressure. For his intimidating appearance and habits, he earned the name Komodo Drakon.

2. Geckos.

They are small animals resembling lizards. They feed on insects, live in tropical forests or near human habitation. The paws of geckos are designed so that they can be fixed on any surface - a vertical wall, ceiling, window glass. In Bali, there are large Tokki geckos with an interesting blue and purple color and bright red spots. There are also several species of smaller animals. Once upon a time, tokki were on the verge of extinction. Mosquitoes, mosquitoes and other pests were fought on the island by scattering DDT. Geckos ate poisonous powder and died. Then the dead lizards were picked up by domestic cats, as a result, their numbers also critically decreased. Luckily, the population has resurfaced and now Tokki can be found almost anywhere.

3. Turtles.

In Indonesia, including the island of Bali, there are six species of sea turtles. They bring their offspring to the coast, and then sail to hunt in the ocean. For a long time, turtles were a profitable business - their meat and shells were sold all over the world. Now these animals are under strict protection. But even now, thousands of turtles are dying in fishing nets, becoming victims of poachers. On the island of Serangan, at the initiative of the governor, a special Turtle Center has been established. Here they are engaged in rescuing injured animals, studying and preserving species, and are happy to receive visitors. Children will especially like it here - after all, you can hold the turtle in your hands.

On the island of Bali, there are several dozen species of snakes. Most of them are poisonous. We will talk more about these dangerous animals a little later. The most famous of the non-venomous snakes is the reticulated python. It got its name because of the original pattern on the skin. This is the longest snake in the world, it can reach 10 meters in length. Reticulated pythons are found in the rainforest and on the slopes of the mountains, they are good swimmers, so sometimes they even swim into the open sea.

If you want to see different types of reptiles, visit the following places:

  • Turtle Center on Serangan Island.

Fish and sea animals Bali

The island is surrounded by coral reefs, which are home to a variety of colorful fish and shellfish. Dolphins can be seen off the northern coast. The marine animals of the island are also sharks, giant rays, sea snakes and many other species.

1. Dolphins.

These smart and funny animals live in the sea, on the northern coast of Bali. You can look at them in their natural habitat in the resort of Lovina and near Singaraja. There are also several closed dolphinariums on the island, where sea animals show tricks. Children and adults are even allowed to swim with them.

2. Sharks.

Many tourists, in particular divers, are interested in whether there are sharks in Bali. So, several types of sharks live near the coast at once:

  • whitetip reef shark
  • Hammerfish.

Almost all sharks are harmless and do not attack people.

The whale shark feeds exclusively on plankton. It has a spotted color and looks more like a whale than a shark.

The coral cat shark is a very small fish, about 50 cm long, it eats mollusks, crustaceans, and fry. It has a very interesting spotted color. You ask - why exactly "cat"? After all, cats have little to do with fish. The fact is that the pupil of this shark has the same structure as that of cats.

The whitetip reef shark lives at a depth of 40 meters, a predator, it can attack a person, but only if it is provoked. However, tourists do not come across reef sharks - they do not swim close to the shore.

The hammerhead fish got its name from the peculiar shape of the head. She eats shellfish and small fish, and is not dangerous to humans.

This is a fish that looks like a big eel. The body length is about three meters, and the weight is 30 kilograms. The color of the moray eel is brown, it camouflages itself in thickets of coastal algae and in reefs. Leads a nocturnal lifestyle, hunts small fish, crustaceans, mollusks. Moray eel meat is poisonous, it can attack people.

This is the largest species of insects, females can reach a length of 13 cm. They are predators, they feed on small midges. They pose no danger to humans. You can recognize the praying mantis by its long green body, large head, which rotates as if on hinges.

5. Butterflies.

These nocturnal insects make very loud noises. You can hear cicadas anywhere, and they interfere with sleep for many.

You can look at tropical butterflies in the Butterfly Park Taman Kupu-Kupu, near the city of Tabanan. Here they are collected from all over the archipelago and bred in captivity. Well, you will surely meet other insects, so to speak, in their natural environment.

Dangerous animals in Bali

Now, as I promised, let's talk about those animals that pose a threat to humans. On the island of Bali there are no large predators, poisonous spiders and insects that carry dangerous diseases. Most tourists should be wary of snakes. Several types of poisonous reptiles live here:


Since almost all types of snakes in Bali are poisonous and dangerous to humans, one should be wary of any. If the viper crawled into the house, it is better not to touch it, but immediately call a special service. If you try to get rid of the snake, you will startle it and cause defensive aggression. When hiking in the forest or in the park, it is better to wear sneakers on your feet, rather than flip flops, to protect yourself from an accidental bite. At night, you need to walk with a flashlight, the lights of the snake are frightened and hide. On purpose, these reptiles do not attack people, but, defending themselves, they can bite. Be especially careful when swimming in the sea. Cases of attacks on vacationers and divers by sea snakes have been recorded.

What to do if bitten by a snake?

You can not suck out the poison, treat the bite site. The following actions should be taken:

  • Immobilize the limb if possible.
  • Ask someone to take you to the nearest hospital.
  • While waiting for help, drink as much liquid as possible.
  • If possible, take a picture of the snake so that the doctors can better understand which antidote to give.

Other than that, Bali is a pretty safe island. Mosquito nets will help protect against blood-sucking insects. Spiders will scare only those who suffer from arachnophobia. Trouble can be delivered by bats or geckos, which throw pieces of fruit, excrement, or fall on their heads.

Indonesia is the largest island state, which includes many islands. The most famous of them are Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Bali. Indonesia's tropical rainforests are extremely biodiverse and account for 10 percent of the world's tropical rainforests. There are famous and completely unique plants that amaze the imagination. In terms of the richness and diversity of vegetation, none of the tropical countries of the Eastern Hemisphere can be compared with the islands of the Indonesian archipelago.

Tropical trees - useful and decorative

On more than half of the entire area of ​​​​the islands, humid evergreen tropical forests grow, which are called the lungs of the planet. The climate of Indonesia is oceanic, monsoonal, with a humidity of 80-90 percent, and average annual temperatures of about plus 26 degrees Celsius. Almost all known tropical cultures are found there, there are plants that are native to Indonesia. In total - about 40 thousand species.

Several types of palm trees grow on the islands: sago, coconut, sugar, oil, banana. The latter are considered sacred, they develop very well and bear fruit, but banana groves require constant renewal after fruiting.

Coconuts and bananas are eaten, oil and sugar are obtained from palms and their fruits. Palm trees are used as building materials, and their leaves are used to make roofs for pagodas.

The most common plants are various types of bamboo, some specimens of which reach 30-40 cm in diameter and 20 m in height. Bamboo, along with other tree species, is a versatile and cheap building material for the islanders and is used for handicrafts.

Famous fruit trees grow here - figs (figs), mango, rambutan, breadfruit and cucumber trees, coffee tree. There are fragrant cloves and pepper trees. Many species grow in the forests, from which rubber is obtained (various types of ficuses). There are trees with valuable wood: sandalwood, camphor, ebony ("black"), casuarine ("red"), crocodile (very light wood). Teak wood and rattan liana make excellent and durable furniture.

There are many plants of the ficus family in the forests, multi-stemmed ficuses that form a tree-forest are interesting, there is a strangler ficus, which, wrapping around other plants, completely suppresses their growth. In Indonesia, there is a wide variety of tree ferns - plant relics that have been preserved since ancient times. In the eastern part of the archipelago, eucalyptus and other plants of the Australian flora are found. Near the ocean on the coast you can often see mangroves - these plants have adapted to salt water.

Flowering plants give a special charm to tropical countries, and flowering here lasts all year round - some plants replace others. In Indonesia, tropical plants grow, characteristic of a hot and humid equatorial climate, such as universal bougainvillea creepers, which have beautifully colored bracts of crimson, pink, yellow, cream, orange tones. They are used as climbers for vertical gardening, formed into small flowering trees, planted in containers.

Hibiscus of various colors adorn the gardens and parks of the islands. Often used in the design of cities are low plumeria trees with spectacular, rather large flowers of white, pink, cyclamen and red. Women decorate their hairstyles with these flowers.



In the tropics, tall strelitzia and helicornia grow wildly and almost continuously bloom, having unusual, drooping, spike-shaped inflorescences of yellow-red color, purple alpinia with pink-red bracts. These plants have long been grown in the greenhouses of the Old World. Helicornia, alpinia and strelitzia are often used in tropical countries for arranging bouquets.

But most of all, orchids are found on the islands of Indonesia. These plants do not need soil, just a little bark or a hollow of a tree, half a coconut is enough. Among them there are various phalaenopsis, cymbidiums, dendrobiums, vandas, stanhopeis and others. The colors and flower shape of orchids delight, and some species have a subtle and delicate aroma. The flowers remain decorative on the plant for up to 2 months, and in the cut up to a month. With the development of biotechnology techniques (accelerated propagation through tissue culture), Indonesia, like many other tropical countries, is growing a large number of orchids for export.

Carnivorous plants - exotic Indonesia

Insectivorous plants often have modified leaves in the form of a deep jug. To attract insects, on the inner surface of the jug there are cells that secrete inviting nectar, and hair cells that hold insects. Some jars contain up to 2 liters of water, in which insects drown. The smooth neck of the upper part of the jug does not allow trapped animals to get out. The largest species of insectivorous plants "catch" even small birds, mice, rats, frogs. For the processing of "caught" victims, the plant secretes special enzymes. One of the types of insectivorous plants - nepentes - can be found on our sale. For its maintenance in room conditions, high humidity and temperature or winter garden conditions are required.

Another large flower forms a giant amorphophallus, it has a height of 2.2-3.5 m, weighs about 7 kg, and also has a disgusting smell, reminiscent of the smell of rotten eggs, spoiled fish or meat. This is the tallest flower in the world. The predator plant blooms extremely rarely (twice in 40 years), attracting insects with a putrid smell, “catches” and then “digests” them.

Interestingly, one of the types of amorphophallus is grown in our country as a houseplant. It has a large tuber, from which one large carved leaf develops, but if the amorphophallus blooms (which happens infrequently), then the flower has to be taken out of the room because of the disgusting smell.

Text and photo: Natalia Yurtaeva, landscape designer


The first part is about birds.

66 (525) Helmeted Friarbird, Philemon buceroides buceroides)

On November 11, they often met on Komodo Island, on November 13, one bird was seen in Puarlolo Forest on Flores Island.


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67 (526) Indonesian Honeyeater, Lichmera limbata)

On November 7 and 8, there are many birds in flowering bushes along the road in the Botanical Garden (Bedugul, Bali).
November 12 at Kanawa Island in the Komodo Reserve.


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68 (527) Golden-bellied Gerygone, Gerygone sulphurea sulphurea)

On November 12, I saw only one bird on the territory of the hotel "The Jayakarta Suites Komodo Flores" (Flores).


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69 (528) Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike, Hemipus hirundinaceus)


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70 (529) White-breasted Woodswallow, Artamus leucorynchus albiventer)

November 3 and 9 met in Sanur.
On November 10, several birds near the National Park Office on Rinca Island.


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71 Black-winged Yora (Common Iora, Aegithina tiphia scapularis)


On November 15 - 17, several birds were seen on the territory of the hotel "La Joya" (Balangan beach, South Bali).


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72 (530) White-shouldered Triller, Lalage sueurii)

Endemic to Indonesia (Java, Bali, Lesser Sunda Islands, Sulawesi)

November 3-4, several birds in West Bali, including a dump near Gplimanuk.


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73 Pygmy long-tailed larvae (Small Minivet, Pericrocotus cinnamomeus saturatus)


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74 (531) Himalayan fire grub eater (Scarlet Minivet, Pericrocotus speciosus siebersi)

Synonym: Pericrocotus flammeus siebersi.


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White-bellied whistler (Mangrove Whistler, Pachycephala cinerea)

Synonyms: Pachycephala grisola

On November 4, on the mangrove path at The Menjangan hotel, this whistler was seen in the thickets, he responded to a song, but the photo could not be taken.
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75 (532) Golden Whistler, Pachycephala pectoralis fulvotincta)

Sometimes a separate species of Rusty-breasted Whistler is distinguished - Pachycephala fulvotincta. In this case, it is endemic to Indonesia.

On November 10, a male and a female on a tree near a dry riverbed in the national park on Rinca Island.
November 11 female on Komodo island.


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76 Long-tailed Shrike, Lanius schach bentet)

November 4 at Lake Bratan.
On November 7 and 8, one bird is possible in the Bedugul Botanical Garden (Bali).


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77 Chinese Black-headed Oriole (Black-naped Oriole, Oriolus chinensis broderipii)

On November 7 and 8, an ivory was seen and heard in the Bedugul Botanical Garden (Bali).
On November 11, several birds were encountered on Komodo Island. Heard their melodic whistle.


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78 Black Drongo (Black Drongo, Dicrurus macrocercus javanus)

We met from 4 to 6 November in the National Park (BBNP).
November 16, one bird in the floodplain on Balangan beach (South Bali).


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79 Gray Drongo (Ashy Drongo, Dicrurus leucophaeus leucophaeus)


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80 (533) Sunda Drongo (Wallacean Drongo, Dicrurus densus bimaensis)

Synonyms: Bima Drongo.

Endemic to Indonesia.

November 11 often met on the island of Komodo.
November 12, one bird near the territory of the hotel "The Jayakarta Suites Komodo Flores" (Flores).
November 14, one bird on Lake Ramanese (Flores).


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81 Collared fantail (Pied Fantail, Rhipidura javanica javanica)

We met from 4 to 6 November in the National Park (BBNP). The photo was taken on a drinking bowl on the morning of November 4th.


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A Black-headed Monarch (Black-naped Monarch, Hypothymis azurea symmixta)

AT ( Hypothymis azurea javana)

Saw one bird on Nov 4 near Dry River in National Park (BBNP), also seen on mangrove path at The Menjangan Hotel.


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Paradise flycatcher (Asian Paradise-flycatcher, Terpsiphone paradisi floris)

Synonym: Long-tailed flycatcher.

On November 13, we met a singing male flycatcher in the Puarlolo forest on the island of Flores.
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83 (535) Flores Monarch, Symposiachrus sacerdotum)

Synonym: Monarcha sacerdotum.

Endemic to Flores Island (Indonesia).

A Endangered species is one which has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)


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84 (536) Black Rocket-tailed Treepie (Racket-tailed Treepie, Crypsirina temia)


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Slender-billed Crow, corvus enca enca)

On November 4, I saw one bird flying towards the landfill in Gilimanuk. The search for this crow was unsuccessful, the photo was not taken.
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85 Large-billed Crow, Corvus macrorhynchos macrorhynchos)

From November 10 to 12, pairs of crows met both on the islands of Rinca, Komodo, and flying over boats and small islands.


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86 (537) Gray Tit (Cinereous Tit, Parus cinereus cinereus)

From November 4 to November 7, pairs of tits were seen in the National Park (BBNP), including at the hotel.
November 12, several birds on the territory of the hotel "The Jayakarta Suites Komodo Flores" (Flores).


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87 (538) Golden-bellied Bulbul (Sooty-headed Bulbul, Pycnonotus aurigaster aurigaster)


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88 Yellow-vented Bulbul, Pycnonotus goiavier)

We met from 4 to 7 November in the National Park (BBNP).
November 15 - 17 a lot of birds on the territory of the hotel "La Joya" (Balangan beach, South Bali) and in the nearest area.


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89 Barn Swallow, or killer whale (Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica gutturalis)

November 5 met in the salt fields (Pemuteran, Bali).
November 15 - 17 a lot of birds over the territory of the hotel "La Joya" (Balangan beach, South Bali) and in the nearest area.


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Russet capped Tesia ( Tesia everetti)

November 13 only heard in the Puarlo forest (Flores).
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90 (539) Swamp long-tailed warbler (Striated Grassbird, Megalurus palustris palustris)


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91 (540) Zitting Cisticola, Cisticola juncidis fuscicapilla)

Synonym: Streaked Fantail Warbler.


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92 (541) Bar-winged Prinia, Prinia familiaris)

Often seen from November 4 to 6 in the National Park (BBNP) and on the territory of the Menjagan Hotel.


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93 (542) Olive-backed Tailorbird, Orthotomus sepium)

Endemic to Indonesia (Java, Bali and Lombok).

Often seen from November 4 to 6 in the National Park (BBNP) and on the territory of the Menjagan Hotel.
November 15 - 17, a pair of birds on the territory of the hotel "La Joya" (Balangan beach, South Bali).


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94 (543) Thick-billed Heleia, Heleia crassirostris)

Synonym: Flores White-eye.

Endemic to Indonesia.

On November 13, several birds were feeding on a fruit tree in the Puarlolo forest (Mbeliling) in Flores.


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95 (544) Moluccan white-eye (Lemon-bellied White-eye, Zosterops chloris intermedius)

Endemic to Indonesia.

November 10, several birds in the morning on the territory of the hotel "The Jayakarta Suites Komodo Flores" (Flores).
November 10-12 met on all the islands and islets of the Komodo Reserve.


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96 (545) Short-tailed Starling, Aplonis minor)

November 7, a few in the Botanical Garden of Bedugul, November 8 early in the morning a large flock of birds on the mountain near the guest house "Green Villa" in Bedugul (Bali).


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97 (546) White-bellied myna (Javan Myna, Acridotheres javanicus)

Saw a pair of birds in Gilimanuk (BBNP) on November 4th.
November 15 - 17, several birds on the territory of the hotel "La Joya" (Balangan beach, South Bali) and in the nearest area.


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98 (547) Bali starling (Bali Myna, Leucopsar rothschildi)

Synonyms: Rothschild's Mynah, Bali Starling, Bali Mynah.

The status of "Critically Endangered" in the IUCN Red Book (IUCN).


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99 Black coinage (Pied Bushchat, Saxicola caprata fruticola)

November 10, several birds near the national park office on Rinca Island, one bird there on top of the hill.
They are also found on small islands of the Komodo nature reserve.


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100 (548) Olive-chested Jungle Flycatcher, Rhinomyias olivaceus)


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101 (549) Little Pied Flycatcher, Ficedula westermanni hasselti)


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102 (550) Scarlet-headed Flowerpecker, Dicaeum trochileum trochileum)

Endemic to Java and Borneo.

Saw several birds on November 5th in the National Park (BBNP) on a fruit tree near Gilimanuk.


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103 Brown-throated Sunbird, Anthreptes malacensis convergens)

Synonym: Plain-throated Sunbird.

On November 10 in the morning we met these sunbirds on the territory of the hotel "The Jayakarta Suites Komodo Flores" (Flores).


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104 (551) Yellow-bellied sunbird (Olive-backed Sunbird, Cinnyris jugularis ornatus)

Synonym: Yellow-bellied Sunbird.

In Bali and Flores, many of these sunbirds were met daily, in joint groups of males and females.
Birds are also found on Rinca Island.


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105 (552) Timor Sunbird (Flame-breasted Sunbird, Cinnyris solaris solaris)

Endemic to Indonesia (Small Sunda Islands).

November 10, 12, 13 several birds in the morning on the territory of the hotel "The Jayakarta Suites Komodo Flores" (Flores).
November 10 met on Rinca Island, November 11 on Komodo Island.


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106 Field Sparrow (Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus malaccensis)

Many birds live in the territory of the hotel "The Jayakarta Suites Komodo Flores" (Flores).
Birds met in Ruteng.
The photo was taken in Sanur on the first morning of our stay in Bali.


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107 (553) Zebra Finch, Taeniopygia guttata guttata)

November 10 in the morning, several birds on the territory of the hotel "The Jayakarta Suites Komodo Flores" (Flores).


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110 (554) Java finches (Javan Munia, Lonchura leucogastroides)

Endemic to Indonesia. There is a colony in Singapore.

November 9, a group of birds (adults and young) on ​​the territory of the hotel "Swastika Bungalows" (Sanur, South Bali). Inside one large and dense bush, I found several globular nests of this finches.


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108 (555) Moluccan finches (Black-faced Munia, Lonchura molucca propinqua)

Synonyms: Moluccan Mannikin, Moluccan Munia.

Endemic to Indonesia.


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109 Scaly-breasted Munia, Lonchura punctulata nisoria)

November 8, many munyas (young and adults) on the territory of the hotel "Swastika Bungalows" (Sanur, South Bali).
November 15 - 17, a flock of birds on the territory of the hotel "La Joya" (Balangan beach, South Bali).


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110 (556) Five-coloured Munia, Lonchura quinticolor)

Synonyms: Chestnut-and-white Mannikin, Colored Finch, Chestnut-and-white Munia.

Endemic to the Lesser Sunda Islands (Indonesia).

November 14, several birds in the territory of the monastery "Kongregasi Santa Maria Berdukacita" in the city of Ruteng (Flores).


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111 (557) White-headed Munia, Lonchura maja)

November 9, several birds on the territory of the hotel "Swastika Bungalows" (Sanur, South Bali). One bird tried to tear off the dry ends of the leaves of a large cereal.


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112 Paddyfield Pipit, Anthus rufulus albidus)

November 9 and 12, one bird near the territory of the hotel "The Jayakarta Suites Komodo Flores" (Flores).
November 12, one bird on Kanawa Island in the Komodo Nature Reserve.


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A group of American scientists summarized the latest data on the origin and phylogeography of Indonesian birds. They showed that the key area for Indonesian birds is the island of Kalimantan, especially its Malaysian part - Borneo. Here, many birds experienced unfavorable cool dry epochs, when the areas of tropical forests were significantly reduced. Therefore, it is on Borneo that the largest number of endemics live.

Classical zoogeography experienced the peak of its development in the middle of the last century. Then these studies were based mainly on the study of the distribution of different species of animals. But in the last 15–20 years, interest in zoogeography has revived. This is due to the introduction of molecular genetic methods into this area, which stimulated the study of phylogeography (see: Phylogeography), the emergence of new methods for modeling the geology of the past, the development of paleontology, etc.

Borders between the Australian and Indo-Malay faunas

The zoogeography of Indonesia has attracted scholarly attention since the 19th century, beginning with the famous studies of Alfred Russel Wallace. The fact is that this region is a kind of land bridge between Southeast Asia and Australasia - areas with very different faunas, although they are (at present) not separated by any insurmountable natural barriers like oceans. The boundary between these areas should be quite sharp, and the researchers were interested in where it passes.

The results of classic research on this issue are summarized in Wallace's line in the light of recent zoogeographic studies by the famous ornithologist and evolutionist Ernst Mayr. For the first time, in 1860, the border between the Australian region and the Indo-Malayan region was proposed by Wallace (later called the Wallace line). Wallace himself led it (from south to north) between the islands of Bali and Lombok, Kalimantan and Sulawesi, and then it passed south of the Philippines (see fig.). The regions lying to the west of this line belonged to the Indo-Malay region, and to the east of it - to the Australian.

Scientists have traced the geological and climatic history of Sundaland to determine at what time its fauna was associated with which other regions. At the beginning of the Cenozoic, about 66 million years ago, Sundaland was a peninsula connected to Southeast Asia, and therefore faunal connections at that time could only be with Asia (Fig. 2) - or, more broadly, with Laurasia. The "influx" of the fauna of Gondwana may have first occurred about 50–30 million years ago. At this time, Hindustan joined with Asia, closely adjoining the then vast Sundaland. Australia all this time was far from Sundaland: only by the end of the Oligocene - about 23 million years ago - did the Australian plate move towards Sundaland, significantly narrowing the water barrier separating them.

Thus, the origin of the current avifauna of Sundaland can potentially be associated with: (1) Asia (starting from the Paleocene), (2) Africa through India (from the beginning of the Oligocene) or through Arabia, and (3) Australia (from the end of the Oligocene). The connections of the birds of Sundaland with each of the named regions are indeed revealed. To the greatest extent, the avifauna of Sundaland is, of course, similar to the fauna of Southeast Asia. Somewhat less - with Wallace and the Philippines. At the same time, many endemic bird species also live within Sundaland - 264 out of 691 (that is, 38%).

The avifauna of Sundaland was (and is) in constant dynamics: species ranges shifted, the feathered population of specific islands changed. The main factors are, firstly, the sea level, which fell during cold epochs and increased during warm ones (which affected the presence / absence of land bridges), and, secondly, the spread of tropical rain forests, the area of ​​\u200b\u200bwhich decreased during cold, dry periods. In the Cenozoic, this dynamics schematically looked like this. The Eocene was dominated by a warm, humid climate. At this time, the land occupied vast expanses, and tropical forests were widespread. This was followed by the cold Oligocene, marked by the decline of tropical forest fauna. Then - again warm and humid Miocene. And finally, the Pliocene is cold again.

Thus, the last peak of the flourishing of the tropical fauna of Asia and Sundaland fell on the Miocene. At this time, tropical forests reached as far north as Japan. Then, starting from the end of the Miocene, the area of ​​distribution of tropical forests began to narrow and eventually decreased significantly. The surviving arrays were isolated from each other. This led to a reduction in the ranges of many bird species that experienced such an unfavorable time for them in refugia.

Where were these refugia located? The answer to this question was given by the study of the distribution of endemic genera of birds on large islands. After all, it is obvious that representatives of precisely these groups experienced unfavorable geological epochs in Sundaland, and not anywhere beyond its borders.

In total, there are 23 endemic genera of birds in Sundaland. How are they distributed among the largest regions within Sundaland (Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan and the Malay Peninsula)? Representatives of six of them are found only on the island of Kalimantan. Two more genera live only on the island of Java. There are no genera found only on the island of Sumatra or the Malay Peninsula. Representatives of 19 endemic genera (83%) are found on Kalimantan - more than on any other island. This suggested that it was on Kalimantan that the main refugia were located.

Kalimantan is a large island, and scientists decided to find out in which part of it the birds experienced unfavorable geological periods. The Malaysian northern part of Kalimantan is often referred to as Borneo. In the northeast of this region is the state of Sabah. It turned out that an unusually large number of endemics live here. This suggested that the main refugium was located here, where the inhabitants of the rainforest experienced cold dry epochs.

Phylogeographic data of more than two dozen species of birds on the island of Kalimantan confirmed this assumption. Let us illustrate this by the example of two very close forms of shama-thrushes (magpie warblers) - white-lumped ( Copsychus malabaricus) and white-capped ( C. stricklandii) (Fig. 1). The white-capped shama-thrush lives in the state of Sabah and on the small island of Maratua, located 50 km from the coast of Borneo (Fig. 3). And the white-footed shama-thrush has a very wide range - it lives in the rest of Kalimantan, as well as on other islands of Sundaland and in Southeast Asia. Molecular genetic studies have shown that white-rumped shama thrushes from Sumatra, Kalimantan and the Malay Peninsula are very similar. Most likely, these areas were quickly settled by them from some refugia of Southeast Asia during the second half of the Pleistocene. When they reached Sabah, the white-rumped thrush shama met the white-capped thrush shama that lived there, which stopped their further expansion. A narrow contact zone with limited hybridization was formed at the border of the ranges.

Shama thrushes inhabit mainly lowland forests. But many endemics live in mountain forests. It turned out that a number of mountain species also have features similar to those described above for the shama-thrushes: the populations of the state of Sabah are different from those that inhabit the rest of the island. Such, for example, is the population structure of the black-eyed white-eye ( Chlorocharis emiliae, rice. 4), belonging to the Beloglazkov family (Zosteropidae). This species is endemic to Borneo, found in the mountain forests, and in it the birds from the state of Sabah differ from those that inhabit the rest of the island.

Thus, an important refugium was located on the territory of the state of Sabah, in which the birds experienced unfavorable times. In the shama thrush example above, this refugium was key for the white-capped thrush. And the white-eyes in this state had only one of the two refugiums.

Summarizing, we can conclude that, firstly, within Indonesia, the island of Kalimantan was one of the key refugiums where tropical birds experienced unfavorable (cold) periods (the same, by the way, is also confirmed for other animals, see: M. de Bruyn et al., 2014. Borneo and Indochina are major evolutionary hotspots for Southeast Asian biodiversity). Secondly, within Kalimantan, the most important refugium was located on the territory of the modern Malay state of Sabah. Whether this is true for other, "non-feathered" groups of animals remains to be seen in the future.

- an island nation in Southeast Asia, which occupies most of the Malay Archipelago. The state consists of 13,700 islands, almost half of which are inhabited. The island of Borneo borders Malaysia and Brunei, while the island of New Guinea borders Papua New Guinea. In the north, Indonesia is washed by the South China Sea, the Pacific Ocean and the Sula Vesi Sea, in the south and west by the Indian Ocean, the Timor and Arafura Seas. Between the islands of Java and Borneo is the Java Sea, and between the islands of Sulawesi and Timor is the Banda Sea.

Indonesia means "Insular India".

Official name: Republic of Indonesia

Capital: Jakarta

The area of ​​the land: 1904.5 thousand sq. km

Total population: 242.97 million people

Administrative division: It consists of 25 provinces, 2 special administrative divisions that have the status of a province, and a capital district.

Form of government: Parliamentary republic.

Head of State: President elected for a term of 5 years.

Composition of the population: 45% - Javanese, 55% - Malays, Chinese, Bali, Bataks, Iranians, Dutch.

Official language: Indonesian.

Religion: 87% Muslim, 6% Protestant, 3% Catholic, 1% Buddhist, 1% Hindu.

Internet domain: .id

Mains voltage: ~230 V, 50 Hz

Phone country code: +62

Country barcode: 899

Climate

Indonesia equatorial and subequatorial. Stretching along the equator and surrounded on all sides by seas, Indonesia is characterized by very slight regional climatic differences and high relative humidity (80%).

The average monthly air temperature at sea level approximately corresponds to the average annual temperature of + 26-27 ° C. On the Lesser Sunda Islands, Java and Bali, relatively remote from the equator, the balancing climatic influence of the ocean is quite strongly felt.

So, in the seaside city of Kupang on Timor, where the country's southernmost meteorological station is located, the average annual air temperature is +26 ° C, and the average monthly indicators fluctuate between + 24–27 ° C. Although not so high and more differentiated indicators are recorded in elevated areas air temperature, its monthly values ​​remain stable. At altitudes above 1500 m there are frosts.

Geography

The state with a total area of ​​1904.5 thousand square kilometers is located in Southeast Asia and occupies most of the Malay Archipelago. The country consists of almost 14 thousand islands (according to other sources - up to 17.8 thousand), including such island groups as the Big Sunda (Kalimantan, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Java, Madura, etc.) and the Small Sunda, as well as the Moluccas and the western part of the island of New Guinea (Irian Jaya), and only half of them are inhabited (it is interesting that only 7870 islands have their own names, the rest are unnamed).

On land, Indonesia borders with Malaysia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea, by sea - with Australia, Singapore, the Philippines, etc. In the north and east, Indonesia is washed by the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, in the south and west - by the Indian Ocean.

Flora and fauna

Vegetable world

Due to the hot and humid climate, the diversity of the relief, as well as the geographical location, Indonesia has a rich and diverse flora, including about 40 thousand species (only Java has about 10 thousand species). With the exception of Java and Bali, about 90% of the country's territory is covered with forests, in which about 3 thousand species of trees grow. To a large extent, this is already a secondary forest (belukar), which is quite common in those parts of the Outer Islands where slash-and-burn agriculture is practiced. In drier areas, under this type of land use, natural vegetation was often completely replaced by a cover of tough lalang grass.

In less dense monsoon forests, confined to those areas where less than 1900 mm of precipitation falls annually, teak, casuarina (“red”) wood and numerous types of bamboo are of particular importance, providing the population with cheap material for construction and various handicrafts. Eucalyptus and other species of Australian flora are also common in southeastern Indonesia.

The vegetation of the coastal strip differs significantly from the vegetation of the inland regions. The accumulation of silt deposits on the coast creates conditions for the formation of mangrove swamps with evergreen thickets. A sandy seashore free from such deposits, with a beach fringed by various salt-tolerant flora, including graceful casuarina and coconut palms, looks completely different.

In elevated areas at altitudes of 450–900 m, plants of the temperate zone predominate, and at altitudes of more than 1500–1850 m they are replaced by mountain hylaea, or a moss tropical forest with a predominance of evergreens (oak), broad-leaved (oak, beech, chestnut) and conifers. (Bornean agathis, podocarpus) rocks. There are also many orchids, ferns and mosses in this belt. On the tops of the mountains, above 2500–3000 m, mixed forests give way to thickets of shrubs (mountain casuarina) and alpine meadows.

Animal world

The conditional line drawn by the English naturalist of the 19th century. A.R. Wallace along the outer edge of the Sunda continental shelf, east of Kalimantan and Java, corresponds to the approximate boundary of the Asian fauna in the west and the Australian one in the east. Accordingly, such large animals as elephant, rhinoceros (one-horned in Java and two-horned in Sumatra), tiger and orangutan live to the west of the designated border, and smaller monkeys are also found to the east - on the islands of Sulawesi and Timor. Even further east, many Asian species of birds, reptiles and insects (including butterflies) penetrate. As you move east of this line, the number of Australian animal species increases, which is most noticeable in the province of Papua, which is characterized by marsupials.

The advance of civilization has led to a significant reduction in the populations of large mammals. Many animal species are endemic. For example, the Malayan bear lives only in Sumatra and Kalimantan, the wild bull - in Java and Kalimantan, the dwarf anoa bull - in Sulawesi, the wild pig of babirus - in Sulawesi and the Moluccas, the "nosed monkey" - in Kalimantan.

Wild elephants are now found in Sumatra and are only occasionally found in Kalimantan. Sumatra has more large mammals (tigers, panthers, rhinos, tapirs, orangutans) than any other island in Indonesia. Rhinos, tapirs, leopards and orangutans live in Kalimantan. There is a black gibbon monkey in Sumatra. In Java, besides the extremely rare tiger, the most famous local representative of large mammals is the wild bull, or banteng.

Of the smaller mammals, Indonesia is characterized by the semi-monkey tupai, from the family of bats - the flying fox kalong (the largest bats with a wingspan of up to 1.5 m) and kalelawar. Interesting placental mammals pangolins, covered with scaly shells. In the eastern regions, there are echidnas, some types of couscous and tree kangaroos, an anteater.

Snakes and crocodiles are widespread in most parts of Indonesia, and the small island of Komodo, lying between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores, serves as a habitat for a giant (up to three meters in length) lizard, the Komodo monitor lizard. Other species of lizards also live (agamas, geckos, iguanas, toke, etc.). Orangutan and Komodo monitor lizards are found only in Indonesia.

The avifauna is unusually rich, represented especially widely on the islands of the southeast by such extremely exotic and variegated birds as the bird of paradise, peacock, hornbill, cassowary. Added to this is a truly endless number of varieties of parrots of all sizes and the manyar bird, causing great damage to rice crops. Indonesia is teeming with insects, including termites, ants, grasshoppers, beetles.

The marine fauna of coastal waters is very diverse. The seas are home to thousands of species of ornamental and commercial fish (anchovies, gobies, flying fish, sardines, mackerel, tuna). In the coastal waters there are many sharks - from small to very large, dolphins, sea turtles and rays. There are sawfish, swordfish, barracuda, etc. Among freshwater fish, cyprinids, catfish and carps are diverse.

Attractions

Among the thousands of Indonesian islands surrounded by seas, hundreds are perfect for seaside resorts. Thousands of ancient temples and places of worship are hidden in the lush tropical greenery, and the jungle is inhabited by many exotic animals and aboriginal tribes, many of which are at the level of the Stone Age in terms of their level of development. Therefore, here you can perfectly combine active and beach holidays, ethnological and historical excursions, wildlife watching and hiking of the highest category of complexity.

Java Island is one of the most famous islands in the archipelago. Here, among hundreds of volcanoes and picturesque landscapes of the Dieng Plateau, a wide variety of examples of equatorial flora and fauna are presented, a huge number of temples, shrines, mosques and palaces have been preserved, and original folk crafts are flourishing - batik, silver and gold work, gunsmithing, which attracts thousands of tourists.

Banks and currency

Indonesian rupiah (Rp), equal to 100 sen. There are banknotes in circulation in denominations of 100, 500, 1000, 5000 and 10,000 rupees.

Banks are open from 8.00 to 15.00 daily, on Friday - from 8.00 to 11.30. Day off - Saturday and Sunday. Foreign banks usually work on weekdays from 8.00 to 14.00.

Currency can be exchanged at the airport, specialized exchange offices in banks, as well as in hotels and markets (the exchange rate is rather unfavorable). In large tourist areas, US dollars are accepted for payment (one hundred dollar bills are preferred), as well as euros and currencies of Southeast Asian countries.

Major banks, hotels and shops accept major credit cards and traveler's checks. In tourist areas, especially in Bali, the range of their application is wider - non-cash means of payment can be used even in small private establishments, shopping centers and restaurants. In the interior, the use of non-cash forms of payment is almost impossible, and most isolated tribes still use barter. The country has rather high inflation, so the difference in the exchange rate can reach up to 10% even in neighboring establishments.

Useful information for tourists

Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country, and therefore the following rules should be observed: you can not wear too short shorts and skirts, sunbathe without a swimsuit top, speak loudly during religious ceremonies, applaud too often if you are not at a performance organized for tourists. In public institutions and mosques, clothing must cover the knees. You can’t point a finger at someone and touch his head, cross your legs, putting it in someone’s direction, talk about politics, shout and get angry. Showing affection in public should be avoided.

There is no "official" tipping system in Indonesia, but it is still better to give them (5-10% of the cost of the service). For example, a porter is given 500-1000 rupees for each piece of luggage (about 10 cents), a driver 3000 rupees (about 40 cents), a guide 4000-5000 rupees (about 70 cents).