The Flora and Fauna in the Cenderawasih Bay Marine National Park

The Cenderawasih Bay Marine National Park in Nabire is a habitat for various types of flora and fauna, both protected and unprotected. 

There are 64 types of island land vegetation known to date, ranging from coastal forest vegetation types to island land mountain forest vegetation (467 m above sea level). Of the 64 species, 14 of them are protected. The known vegetation types include, among others: several types of mangroves (Rhizophora sp., Avicennia sp., Bruguiera sp., Sonneratia sp., Ceriops sp.), nipa palm (Nypa fructican), sago (Metroxylon sp.), pandanus ( Pandanus sp.), Coastal fir (Casuarina equisetifolia), ketapang (Terminalia catapa), Xylocarpus granatum, and others.

Mangroves Tanjung Boratei Nabire

The diversity of fauna found in the TNTC area includes, among others: 200 species of coral reefs, 209 species of fish, 196 species of mollusks, 5 species of reptiles, 3 species of aquatic mammals, 37 species of birds (Aves), and 183 species of terrestrial fauna. There are 209 species of fish known to date from 65 families. These fish can be broadly grouped into: estuarine fish, mangrove forest fish, reef fish, and pelagic fish. The types of reef fish that are often found are butterfly fish, angelfish, damselfish, parrotfish, rabbitfish, anemonefish, surgeanfish, triggerfish, and several other species. (Lutjanida), grouper (Serranida), kuweh (Carangida), types of mackerel (Scromberomorus sp.), skipjack (Katsuwonus sp.), tuna (Eythumnus sp.), and napoleon fish (Chellinus undulatus ruppell).

Napoleon Fish (photo: KKP-RI)

The recorded molluscs consisted of 196 species from 3 classes and 56 families, with details: from the Gastropod or conch class 153 species, bivalves (double valve molluscs or shellfish) 40 species, and Cephalopods 3 species. Among the types of molluscs that are protected include: from the family Tridacnidae, namely Giant Kima (Tridacna gigas), Big Kima (Tridacna maxima), Horseshoe Kima (Hippopus hippopus), and Hole Kima (Tridacna coreacea); from the family Cymatidae, namely Triton Trumpet (Charonia tritonis); from the Cassidae family, namely Goat's Head Kima (Cassis cornuta); from the family Trochidae, namely Lola (Trochus niloticus); and from the Trubinidae family, namely Batu Laga (Turbo marmoratus).

The types of turtles that are often encountered include: Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas), False Hawksbill Turtle (Lephidochelys olivaceae), and Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea).

In TNTC waters, dugongs (Dugong Dugon), bottle neck dolphins (Delphinus delphinus), coconut crabs (Birgus latro), large cockatoo fish (bumphead parrotfish; Bolbomethopon nuricatum), spotted eagle rays (Aetobatus narinari) are also common. (Manta birostris), reef whitetip shark (Triaenodon obesus), blacktip shark (Charcarinus melanopterus), blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), and estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus).

Of the 37 bird species found in the TNTC area, 18 of them are protected. Protected species include: Sea Eagle (Heliaectus leucogaster) and Junai Mas (Chaloenas nicobarica). As for land fauna, of the 183 known species, 37 of them are protected.