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General Description
- Wakatobi National Park is a marine national park in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia based on the Minister of Environment and Forestry Decree number: SK149/IV-KK/2007.
- The name of Wakatobi is a portmanteau of the four main Tukangbesi Islands: Wangi-Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomia, and Binongko. In 2012, Wakatobi National Park was recognised by UNESCO as part of the “World Network of Biosphere Reserves”. It consists of four larger islands: Wangi-Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomia, and Binongko, as well as many small islands such as Tokobao, North Lintea, South Lintea, Kampenaune, Hoga and Tolandono. The highest elevation is 274 metres (899 ft) on Wangi-Wangi, followed by Lagole Hill (271 m) on Tomia, Terpadu Hill (222 m) on Binongko, and Mount Sampuagiwolo (203 m) on Kadelupa.
- The water depth varies, with the deepest parts reaching 1,044 metres (3,425 ft). Together, the four main islands of Wangi-Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomia, and Binongko cover approximately 18,377 km2, with 823 km2 (3%) of land and 17,554 km2 (97%) of sea, which is home to a wide variety of vibrant species and lush tropical coral reefs.
- Wakatobi is one of Indonesia’s top priorities for marine conservation because of its scale, marine life diversity, and reef condition. Over 50 spectacular dive sites can be found on fringing, atoll, and barrier reefs, all of which are easily reached from the major islands. They are the playground for dolphins, turtles, and even whales, as well as the home of both large and small fish species.
- Wakatobi is the habitat of large and small fish species, the playground of dolphins, turtles and even whales. Wakatobi alone is said to have 942 fish species and 750 coral reef species.
- There are numerous marine and coastal species of seagrass, coral reefs, fish, sea birds, turtles, cetaceans, and mangroves in Wakatobi’s diverse ecosystems. The hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), the Napoleon fish (Cheilinus undulatus), the canary crab (Birgus latro), and the giant clam (Tridacna sp.) are among the rare and endangered species that are protected in Wakatobi. Trochus (Trochus niloticus), dugongs (Dugong dugong), dolphins (Delphinus delphis, Stenella longiotris, and Tursiops truncatus), and squid can also be found in the area
- There are 85 marine bird species in Wakatobi, such as angsa batu coklat (Sula leucogaster plotus), cerek melayu (Charadrius peronii), king fisher Erasia (Alcedo anthis).
- Several cetacean species can be also found in this area, such as sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), fin whales (Globicephala macrorhyncus), killer whale (Orcinus orca), pygmy killer whales (Feresa attenuata), spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata), rough- toothed dolphins (Steno bredenensis), dolphin gray (Grampus griseus), bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), and pope’s head watermelon (Peponocephala electra).
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