West Papua – If you think Indonesia’s biodiversity, such as that in Java, Sumatra, and Kalimantan, is amazing enough, you still don’t know anything.
Flora and fauna of West Papua are said to be one of the biggest contributors to Indonesia’s biodiversity, which has been named the country with the second highest level of biodiversity in the world.
The Uniqueness of West Papua in Indonesia
West Papua has absolutely no shortage of uniqueness, which makes this province no less unique than other provinces in Indonesia.
In general, people know this province as a province that is so rich in natural resources such as oil and natural gas.
These two resources’ wealth has made many investors from within and outside the country open their businesses in this province.
However, what is no less mind-boggling is how rich flora and fauna in this province are.
Suppose you may be bored with places like Bali and Lombok, which are already filled with so many people.
In that case, the various natural locations in West Papua can pamper your senses because many of these places are still untouched by humans.
The Biodiversity of West Papua
Indeed, how rich are flora and fauna of this province, which until now continues to attract everyone’s attention from everywhere?
If you read our explanation below, you will finally understand why the highly biodiverse flora and fauna of West Papua are so important.
1. Flora
a. Red Fruit
Red fruit (Pandanus conoideus) is an endemic fruit found throughout the island of Papua from West Papua to Papua New Guinea.
This fruit comes from the pandanus plant family and has a bright maroon colour, although the fruit of this species can also be brown or yellowish brown in colour.
The fruit is usually eat wrapped in the leaves of other plants and cook in a clay oven.
b. Matoa
Matoa fruit is a type of plant typical of Papua that can also be find in Sulawesi and Maluku.
However, Matoa is more synonymous with a typical Papua plant because of its many uses in this province.
This fruit with a sweet taste is very beneficial for health purposes such as fighting HIV-AIDS, diabetes, cancer, coronary heart disease, hypertension, and many more.
c. Papuan Black Orchid
Discussing flora and fauna of Papua will not be complete without mentioning the Papuan black orchid.
This orchid has an elegant and bold-looking black colour that makes it so popular among orchid lovers worldwide.
Unfortunately, this orchid becomes rare every year due to various factors, ranging from habitat destruction and illegal sales.
2. Fauna
a. Cassowary
The cassowary bird is one of the most famous pieces of evidence of the biodiversity of flora and fauna of West Papua. If other birds can fly, cassowaries can’t.
This bird is famous for having a bright blue face, red folds of skin, and a helmet of exoskeleton on the head that protects the head. This bird can be from 1.5 to 1.8 meters high!
b. Mambruk Bird
The mambruk bird is know as a bird that can only be find in West Papua. This bird has a blue-gray color with a fairly large natural crown.
These birds are usually found in the lowland rainforests of West Papua and are known for their stunningly beautiful colored plumage.
After understanding all the unique flora and fauna of West Papua, it’s no wonder that Indonesia’s biodiversity will experience
Such a huge loss if all of these flora and fauna become extinct due to irresponsible human actions.