Baluran National Park
Savanna and lowland forest in East Java, Indonesia
Copenhagen Zoo works in Baluran National Park in the easternmost part of Java, Indonesia, to conserve a unique habitat that was once widespread across Southeast Asia but is now disappearing. The area is home to unique Asian savanna and dry tropical forest.
The project includes conservation efforts for the Javan leopard, banteng, Javan warty pig, black-winged starling and many other species. Through research, habitat restoration and monitoring, Copenhagen Zoo works with local partners to protect the area’s biodiversity.
How the project started
Copenhagen Zoo began working in Baluran National Park in 2011 to protect the area’s unique habitats and endangered wildlife. Since then, we have established both a research station and a breeding centre within the national park and developed a close partnership with the national park authorities and the Indonesian government.
The project has also achieved significant success in restoring habitats by controlling invasive plant species and restoring native vegetation. In addition, monitoring programmes have been established for several of the area’s endangered species.
What we are working on right now
Today, Copenhagen Zoo has nine full-time employees in Baluran – all of them Indonesian – working on habitat restoration, research and the protection of endangered species.
The project runs a local breeding and reintroduction programme for the Javan warty pig and works intensively to secure the survival of the black-winged starling. At the same time, we monitor populations of species including banteng and Javan leopard using satellite tracking devices and help document and manage the annual forest fires in the area.
Copenhagen Zoo’s research station serves as a base for both fieldwork and collaboration with the national park authorities.
The future of the project
In the long term, the ambition is to strengthen the protection of endangered species in the national park and ensure that their populations can thrive. Copenhagen Zoo aims, among other things, to establish more coordinated monitoring of endangered green peafowl and dholes, while continuing habitat restoration efforts in the area.
At the same time, collaboration with local authorities and partners will help conserve Baluran’s unique savanna and forest habitats for future generations.
Our other projects
At Copenhagen Zoo, we are actively involved in conservation projects around the world. Which project would you like to explore next?
