Taka Bonerate, Conservation since the Colonial Age

Helloindonesia.id – Indonesian The existence of Taka Bonerate National Park has been known for a long time. This can be seen in the relics of the map in 1901. By the Dutch colonial government, this area was called the name Tijger Eilanden, which means the Tigers Islands. The Dutch government then designated the area as a conservation area.

As reported by Kompas.com, no one knows for sure why it’s called the Tiger Islands. After being designated as a conservation area, then the Dutch government changed its name to Taka Bonerate. The name was taken from the local language. Taka means coral, bone means sand, and the rate means above. So literally, Taka Bonerate means a stretch of coral on sand.

The status of the conservation area has been further enhanced by the Indonesian government. From the beginning as a conservation area, it was then designated as a marine reserve through the Decree of the Minister of Forestry No. 100 / kpts-II / 1989.

Determination as a marine sanctuary is because Taka Bonerate is a ring-shaped reef (atoll). There are special habitats and coral reef ecosystems (seagrass) in this region that have an important role in efforts to preserve the world’s coral.

The national park located in the world coral triangle has the highest diversity of coral species in the world. Because of this, Taka Bonerate has long been a research destination for developing science and education. This area was developed as a place of cultivation, tourism and recreation.
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Because of its important role in preserving the world’s coral reefs, this area needs to be protected from the threat of damage. Thus, the flora and fauna within its scope can develop well.

In addition to the wealth of coral reefs, this area also stores a wealth of other marine biota whose lives depend on coral reefs, such as turtles. Of the 7 species of turtles in the world, 6 of them are in Indonesia. Of the 6 types, there are 4 species that live in Taka Bonerate, namely hawksbill, green turtle, loggerhead turtle, and red / gray turtle.

In addition to turtles, there are various other biota that live in this area that are endangered, such as giant clams (Tridacna gigas), scales / flutes (Tridacna squamosa), southern clams (Tridacna derasa), bear clams (Hippopus hippopus), snails lola (Trochus niloticus), and queen snail (Strombus gigas). The sustainability of these marine biota is very dependent on the quality of the coral reef that is well maintained.

In 1992, Taka Bonerate was appointed as a National Park (TN). Then in 2001, it became the Nature Conservation Area of ​​the Taka Bonerate National Park, with an area of ​​530,765 hectares managed by a zoning system.

UNESCO international institutions began to pay attention to Taka Bonerate National Park in 2015. At that time, UNESCO named this area as the core zone of a biosphere reserve which covers an area of ​​one Selayar Islands district named Taka Bonerate-Selayar Islands Biosphere Reserve.

The Taka Bonerate National Park area includes 18 small islands, five flowers and 30 taka which are scattered to form rings / atolls. Seven of these islands are inhabited, namely Tarupa Island, Small Rajuni Island, Big Rajuni Island, Big Latondu Island, Jinato Island, Central Pasitallu Island, and East Pasitallu Island. The majority of residents of the seven islands are Bugis and Bajo.