The island of Kalimantan or Borneo is said as the third biggest island in the
world after Greenland and Papua. Kalimantan or Borneo island with total size
around 746.540 square km, a 532.400 square km is belong to Indonesian region.
The whole area is divided into 3 countries, Malaysia, Brunai Darussalam, and
Indonesia. The original resident of Borneo is the Dayak which is considered as
distinct ethnic group. Indonesian part of Kalimantan or Borneo is divided into 4
provinces; West Kalimantan which capital city at Pontianak, Central Kalimantan
at Palangkaraya, South Kalimantan at Banjarmasin and East Kalimantan at
Samarinda. On our writing here we try to give short information on one of the
province that is Central Kalimantan or Borneo. Central Kalimantan has become
important place due to it's national park protecting the habitat of orangutans.
Central Kalimantan has the size 152.600 square km, and is one of Indonesian area
with smallest population density. Beside the Dayak there are other small ethnic
groups also settle in Central Kalimantan such as Java, Madura, Bali, Chinese,
Makassar. Based on area of living and vague characteristic of the Dayak in
Central Kalimantan or Borneo there are many group or it might be said sub-ethnic
group of Ngaju, Ot Danum, Ma'nyan, Ot siang, Lawangan, Katingan and others. They
live along the bank of rivers such as Barito, Kapuas, Kahayan, Katingan, Mentaya,
Seruyan, Kurnai, Arut, Jelai and others. Deep in the beginning of big rivers
such as Barito and Mahakam, 2 longest rivers are still sub-ethnic groups living
in nomaden, and totally do not enjoy the influence of more settled population
such as Ot Olang-Olang and Penyawang. Ot is a name for the groups of Dayak
living deep in the beginning of the 2 rivers Ot Dayak still divided into smaller
groups such as the Punan, Ot Sinuw, Ot Muntai, Ot Paridan, Ot Saribas. Central
Kalimantan province administratively divided into 6 Kabupatens or second level
government. These Kabupatens are Palangkaraya, Kapuas, Barito Utara, Barito
Selatan, Kota Waringin Barat and Kota Waringin Timur. The type of settlement as
a bit mentioned above is along the river bank. A unit of settlement can consist
between 100 to 500 resident. Their village we call for their smallest settlement
unit has a road parallel or perpetual with the river. In the past their house
were made in one construction above wood poles like stilt, having 50 small rooms
where various families living, close families or far relatives. To borrow the
terminology of ethnography, it is called the pattern of settlement based on
small ambilineal or minimal damage. This kind of house had 5 to 7 meters height
from the land surface. Among Ot Danum Dayak it is called Betang, and by Ma'nyan
Dayak it is called Lewu. Today only in the area of Ot Danum deep in Kahayan
river which still can be seen betang or Lewu. Most important for us here is the
Kapupaten Waringin Barad which has the border with West Kalimantan and South
Beach. Here is preserve the most famous National park called Tanjung Puting. The
specialty of Tanjung Puting National Park is because the habitat of rare
endangered animal of orangutans. In the world until now is known only 3 places
as the habitat of this hominid called orangutans. The name of orangutans is
taken from Indonesian language; orang means human, utan (hutan) mean forest. Now
this word become the nickname of the hominid. Tanjung Puting National Park has
been continuously endangered by the great fire and illegal lodging. The biggest
fire was in 1998 which burn a large part of the forest. This accident indeed
made every one in the world put a great concern on inability of Indonesian
government in managing the area. Besides the existence of orangutans has been
dangered from it's habitat, it is also subject to illegal capturing and
snuggling, as many illegal vendors get personal profit from this practice.
Foreign and domestic foundations have been working hand by hand to save the
orangutans. A great effort has been done such as physical researches to preserve
the population of orangutans. This effort has born further project of
rehabilitation of those orangutans previously looked after by human being.
National laws has been put to force the effort of the rehabilitation, protection
and education of the orangutans important to the nature. Two places in Tanjung
Puting National Park have been built as the rehabilitation centers of orangutans
that are Orangutans rehabilitation centers at Camp Leakey and orangutans
rehabilitation center at Tanjung Harapan. Orangutans rehabilitation center at
Tanjung Harapan is specially built for young orangutans or called the orphan
orangutans. The effort of rehabilitating the life of orangutans in Tanjung
Harapan and Camp Leakey has attracted many visitors to know more closely the
orangutans itself and it's habitat. Organized tours to Camp Leakey has been
started since 1970s with minimum travel facilities. Tour program to Camp Leakey
has been better since 1980s when Pangkalan Bun town has been decided as
the base for Indonesian air force for Kalimantan so bigger airport was
constructed compared to just landing stripe. To visit Camp Leakey and Tanjung
Harapan one has to drop off at Pangkalan Bun by air or by ferry boat. By
Air cab be from Semarang, the capital city of central Java, Surabaya the
capital city of East Java, and from Banjarmasin South of Kalimantan. To reach
Banjarmasin from any other cities of Indonesia is much more easier, yet the
distance will be far much longer, compared to from Semarang or Surabaya. From
Pangkalan Bun town one has to hire a local traditional motorized boat called
Klotok and cruise along the river of Sekonyer. Visiting Camp Leakey is not only
see orangutans, but one can also by chance to see Wawa (small monkeys with long
legs), Proboscis monkeys, and various birds. A minimum of 2 night trip
counted from Pangkalan Bun and finish at Pangkalan Bun is needed to visit Camp
Leakey and Tanjung Harapan a combination of visiting orangutans, the Dayak
traditional house, traditional gold mining can be organized. Kalimantan is still
a vast land to explore, it has vast tropical forest great rivers and specific
ethnic group, the Dayak |