Taka Bonerate National Park

Did You Know?

• The atoll has 261 species of coral, 295 species of coral fish, and 244 species of mollusc.
• The park hosts hawksbill turtle, Pacific ridley turtle, and green turtle.

Geography

Taka Bone Rate is administered as part of Selayar Regency in South Sulawesi province. The atoll lies in the Flores Sea, southeast of the southern arms of Sulawesi Island and east of Selayar Island, west of Wakatobi islands and far north of Komodo island. The nearest large city is Makassar, reachable by boat in about 16 hours. The atoll covers 530,765 hectares, with an atoll expanse of 220,000 hectares. It consists of separate table reefs enclosing a lagoon with massive reefs. The atoll has 21 islands, eight inhabited, and 15 islands for diving and snorkeling. It is a 4-hour sail from Benteng on Selayar Island. The best visiting months are March to mid-May and mid-September to December.

Demography

The native inhabitants are the Bonerate people, who traditionally trade fishery products from the Bajau in exchange for freshwater and other land supplies. They are predominantly Muslim, with strong elements of traditional beliefs. The Bonerate language is a Celebic language within the Austronesian family, closely related to languages of Buton, Wakatobi and Muna Island. Most also speak Indonesian.