Rawa Aopa Watumohai National Park
Sulawesi national park with largest peat swamp and diverse wildlife.
Rawa Aopa Watumohai National Park is a protected area on Sulawesi, located in South East Sulawesi province. Established in 1989, it covers 1,050 square kilometers and contains the Aopa peat swamp, the largest such swamp on the island. The park is recognized as a wetland of international importance.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Sulawesi, Indonesia
- Area
- 1,050 km² / 405 sq mi
- Established
- 1989
Facts from the source article.
Flora and fauna
The park’s landscape blends sub-montane rain forests, mangrove and coastal forests, savanna, and freshwater swamp forests. Over 320 plant species have been documented, including Borassus flabellifer and Bruguiera gymnorhiza. Among its wildlife are the Babirusa, both endangered Anoa species, and 155 bird types, with 37 found only on Sulawesi. Key birds include the maleo, lesser adjutant, and a colony of 170 endangered milky storks. Primates like the spectral tarsier and vulnerable booted macaque live here, along with 11 reptiles and 20 fish species. The park also acts as a nursery for crabs, fish, and prawns.
Human habitation
The Moronene people have traditionally inhabited the park area. During the Dutch colonial era, seven villages existed within the current park boundaries. Many Moronene left in the 1950s, but back-migration began in the 1970s. Local authorities questioned the ancestry and land rights of returnees.
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