BORNEO ISLAND INFORMATION

Borneo is the world's third largest island. Even when you discount the north coastal strip that is part of Malaysia, and the tiny, oil-rich Sultanate of Brunei, what's left is still about as big as France, with fewer people in it than Paris. Some are Dayak, descendants of the first inhabitants of the island, making a living in the forests of the interior or the coastal swamps. But most people live in small towns along the river banks, or cities at the great river mouths. The rivers - Kapuas, Mahakam, Barito, and many others - are still important means of transport between coast and interior.

Kalimantan is the southern view of Borneo island. It makes up about one third of Indonesia’s total land, with an area about 549.000 square kilometers. Geographically, Kalimantan is relatively flat around the coastal areas, whilst the interior is dominated by mountain ranges. Unlike other Indonesian island, Kalimantan has no volcano. Approximately, 75% of Kalimantan is still covered by rainforest. Other part includes large areas of mangrove, swamp and heath forest, or kerangas, a type of eco-system that is mainly found on Kalimantan, the humid tropical climate and high rainfall maintain a large number of rivers, which flow from the mountain to the coastal plains.

Kalimantan’s dense rainforest supports a huge number of plant and animal species. Two hundred and twenty one different types of mammals and 450 species of bird are found in Kalimantan, with nearly 50 of those species found only on Borneo. Animal species include the long-nosed monkey, orangutan, leopard, crocodile and monitoring lizard. The Mahakam river is home to a unique fresh-water porpoise.

The different rainforest, coastal and peat swamp habitats have produced a wide variety of flora, including unique orchid species, ulin (iron wood), meranti (diptero carp tree), the gaharu (perfumed wood), swamp grass, etc.

Orangutan

Ten thousand years ago orangutans were found through out Southern China. Since then their range has shrunk dramatically, and the species now only found in relic population of the islands of Borneo and Sumatera. Bornean orangutans are endangered and Sumateran orangutans are critically endangered. Continued habitat loss could drive this species close to extinction within a few decades.

Orangutan means “person of forest” in Malay, is Asia’s only great ape. They are the largest arboreal (tree dwelling) animal in the world and live a semi-solitary existence unlike the two African great apes. They are largely frugivorous eating over 400 kinds of food including leaves, bark and flowers. They will also occasionally eat insects such as termites. Orangutans are vital cogs in the working of the rainforest ecosystem, playing a crucial role as seed dispersers helping to shape and preserve tropical rainforests.

On average females do not become sexually mature until the age of 15 and usually only reproducing once every seven years. This is the longest birth interval of any mammal. In addition, a female orangutan will usually have no more three offspring during her lifetime. The combination of these factors makes the orangutans particularly vulnerable to extinction. The disappearance of orangutans signals the loss of thousand of other animals and plant species, many still unclassified in their fragile tropical rainforest habitat.

Orangutans and other great apes including human are the most intelligent beings to have evolved on land. As individuals, orangutans display unique and rich personalities. They also provide models for human evolution, in term of physiology and cognition. As great apes, orangutans are sentient being who deserve respect and life.

The Dayak

The name of “Dayak” is derived from the word meaning “inland” or “upriver” people. Many anthropologists have stumbled in their attempts to classify the variety of Dayak into neat categories. The variation in languages, art styles, customs and history are too great. Even the broad “inland tribes of Borneo” has important exception. Much of the confusion stems from a long history of large and small scale migration within Borneo, a result of population pressures, warfare and communications. Groups sometimes adopted language, rituals and other custom their neighbors, then brought this mixture of tongues and traditions with them when they moved on. Although warfare no longer exists, villages still shift location frequently in search of easier access to outside goods, markets, and jobs.

With the above in mind, Borneo’s Dayak can be said to fall into several broad geographical or cultural complexes; the nomadic Punan on the forest interior o northeastern Kalimantan, Then Lun Dayeh and Lun Bawang on the north of East Kalimantan, The Kayan and Kenyah of East Kalimantan highland and the Mahakam basin, the Barito river groups on Central Kalimantan, the Iban on West Kalimantan and Sarawak of Malaysia, the Bukit on Meratus mountain of South Kalimantan, and the “Malay” or Islamized Dayak.

Although there are notable differences in the various Dayak groups’ religious beliefs, the common environment of jungles and rivers, along with rice-based agricultural, seems to have led to similar Dayak faiths. Spirits crowd the Dayak supernatural world. These powerful beings some beneficial or harmful are manipulated through rituals, presents and various artistic expression.