Who would have thought
that beyond the cliffs to the east of Sumbawa Island there was a dense forest?
Overland access that drains a lot of sweat makes this area rarely visited by
humans. The sea route was half dead, because it must hit the waves and against
the current is so strong. The eastern cliffs of Sumbawa Island are still
densely decorated with towering trees. Piles of hexagonal stones in the Cape of
Maria, a row of mangroves Ndoko, towering cliffs beautifully decorated
waterfalls in Nanga Kala and Rano, that is the privilege of eastern Sumbawa.
The joint research team
comprising Flora Fauna, Geology, Disaster Potential and Socio Cultural
Expedition in the eastern region of Sumbawa. A total of 21 people made the
expedition to use two fishing boats for 4 hours through the Sape Strait. This
4-day study has produced remarkable results. One of them is the discovery of a
team of Geologists who discovered the hexagonal stone in Maria Cape. The
Disaster Potential Team found a cliff valley that opened into a farm in Nanga
Kala. While the socio-cultural team learns the farming and fishermen who live
in Nangakala and Pulau Kelapa. For the Flora Fauna team, the eastern part of
Sumbawa presents a gallant predatory greeting.
Picture 2. White-bellied
Fish-eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) (photografer
: Jericho)
White-bellied Fish-eagle
(Haliaeetus leucogaster), Brahminy
Kite (Haliastur indus) dan Short-toed
Snake Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) are
predatory animals that are found every day. The three species of eagle is very
utilize a high place like a cliff or a large tree used to perched and stalking
prey. While the food in the form of fish, amphibians, reptiles and small birds
(in the language of Bima called keri'i). Strategic location is shown on
the cliffs lined from Maria Cape to Rano. This location is directly adjacent to
the Sape Strait known as the area of the current vortex and has an abundant
level of diversity of fish species.
Picture 2. The Rows of
cliffs in Maria Cape (photografer : Nur Sita Hamzati)
The territorial division
of these three predators is not very clear. White-bellied Fish-eagleis the
largest type of eagle than the Brahminy Kite and Short-toed Snake Eagle.
Although it has never been observed all three of them attacked each other, but
the White-bellied Fish-eagleseem to be the animals that most menguasasi waters
area. Brahminy Kite occasionally flies in the territorial waters, but tends to
approach the land and savannahs that lie behind the cliff. While the Short-toed
Snake Eagle, with the typical behavior of flying without moving places by
flapping the wings steadily over the savanna.
Picture 3. Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus) (photografer : Nur Sita Hamzati)
The encounter of these
three species of eagle began at 08.00 WITA and observed still flying low. This
could be a clue that the nesting location is assumed to be close to the
location found. Based on information from the community, one of the large
mangrove trees located in Ndoko has been found a nest of White-bellied
Fish-eagle. Another clue, there are several large trees located on the cliffs
of Nanga Kala which is used as a perch location and rest.
Picture 4. Landscape of Eastern Sumbawa
(fotografer : Nur Sita Hamzati)
The existence of a natural forest, composed of cliffs,
large trees is a habitat suitable for the survival of predators. Various types
of large trees found in Nangakala, Ranu, Ndoko and Tanjung Maria are
potentially used as a nesting site and perch for the predator. Therefore, the
need for forest conservation in eastern Sumbawa. Where this habitat strongly
supports the survival of the three types of predators on the eastern horizon of
Sumbawa Island.
