Yang Highlands Wildlife Reserve, Home to Rare Wildlife Species
Yang Highlands Wildlife Reserve is one of conservation area in East Java, encompassing a 14,177-Ha highlands area. It was inaugurated as a wildlife reserve on 5 May 1962 through the Decree of the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Affairs No. SK/12/PA/1962. Initially, the reserve only covered an area of 14,145 Ha.
Administratively, this reserve is shared by 4 regencies, as below:
a. Probolinggo: 7,452 Ha
b. Situbondo: 1,075 Ha
c. Bondowoso: 1,275 Ha
d. Jember: 4,375 Ha
Yang Highlands' elevation ranges between 1,900-3,800 meters above sea level.
Variation of Ecosystem
Yang Highlands Wildlife Reserve possesses a wide range of ecosystem types, i.e.:
Tropical Rainforest Ecosystem
This type of ecosystem can be found within the elevation of 1,200-1,900 meters. The composition of vegetation and their structure varies from undergrowth, shrub, bushes, seedlings, and trees. The large trees may grow up to 30 meters. Among the trees can be found here are Podocarpus imbricatus, Quercus sp., Engelhardia spicata, and Homalanthus sp.
Coniferous Forest Ecosystem
This type of vegetation lies in the elevation of 2,000-3,000 meters, and is dominated by the Casuarina junghuniana trees. This is a secondary forest which has reached its climax and can grow naturally in volcanic areas, ex-landslide, rocky slopes, and sandy cliffs. The understory is covered by many kinds of herbs such as Euphorbia javanica, Poligonum chinense, Pteridium, and Elsholzia pubescens.
Savannah Ecosystem
This type of ecosystem occurs due to continuous forest destruction from wildfire. In Yang Wildlife Reserve, we can see the savannah in Cikasur, Alun-alun Kecil, and Alun-alun Lonceng. The dominant vegetations are Imperata cylindrica, Pennisetum alopecurodies, Euphorbia sp., and Pteridium sp.
Swamp/Lake Ecosystem
Swamp or Lake ecosystem in this reserve is concentrated around Taman Hidup and Tunjung lakes. The vegetation is dominated by herbs, like Alchemilla villosa, Eriocaulon sollyanum, Rynchospora rungosa, Carex sp, Cyperus flairdus, Oeennantjhe javanica, and Scirpus spp.
Home to the Leopard and Javan Langur
Yang Highlands Wildlife Reserve is an important habitat for many wildlife species, including several rare animals. According to Protection of Forest & Fauna (PROFAUNA) Indonesia, this area is inhabited by a lot of wildlife species including the Leopard (Panthera pardus), Javan Langur (Tracypithecus auratus), Timor Deer (Cervus timorensis), Wild Boar (Sus scrofa), Muntjak Deer (Muntiacus muntjak), and Leopard Cat (Felis bengalensis).
Not only mammals, at Yang Highlands Wildlife Reserve we can also find lots of birds species such as the Javan Hawk-eagle (Nisaetus bartelsi), Black Eagle (Ictinaetus malayensis), Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela), Jungle Fowls (Gallus varius and Gallus gallus), Peafowl, (Pavo muticus), and many others.
In 2004 and 2007, PROFAUNA, Petungsewu Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, and East Java Nature Conservation Agency released a number of animals at Yang Highlands. Among the released animals were Javan Langur, Deer, and Peafowl.
Source: East Java Nature Conservation Agency & PROFAUNA