Flora and Fauna
Plant species include Avicennia marina, Sonneratia species, Nypa fruticans, Melaleuca leucadendra, Syzygium polyanthum, Pandanus species, Schima wallichii, Shorea species, Dipterocarpus gracilis, and Gonystylus bancanus. The sandy shores of the park are dominated by Casuarina equisetifolia.
The park has 50 species of mammal many of them critically endangered. There are about 20 Sumatran Rhinoceros in the area, down from around 40 in the 1990s. The number of Sumatran Elephants in the park was estimated to 180 in 2005. The population of Sumatran tigers has declined from 36-40 in 2000 to less than 30. Other mammals in the park are the Malayan tapir, Dhole (Cuon alpinus sumatrensis) and Siamang (Hylobates syndactylus syndactylus).
About half of the bird species are inhabiting the coastal swamps, including mangroves, riverine forest, freshwater and peat swamp forest, and the marshes of the area. The park is one of the last strongholds of the White-winged Wood Duck, with a population between 24-38 birds left, the largest in Sumatra. Among the other 405 species of bird recorded in the park, are the Storm's Stork, Woolly-necked Stork, Lesser Adjutant, Crested Fireback, Great Argus and Oriental Darter.
Among the reptiles, the endangered False gharial crocodile is found in the coastal swamps.
Read more about this topic: Way Kambas National Park
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