Baluran National Park in East Java, often called the little Africa of Java, is one of the oldest national parks in Indonesia and the area has been protected since 1928, initiated by a Dutch hunter. In 1937 it became a wildlife refuge and in 1984 it was declared a national park. The park is named after the dormant Mount Baluran volcano in the centre of the park, but it’s main highlight is a large African-like grass savanna with acacia scrub, surrounded by monsoon forest and some mangrove on the coast. The park’s rich wildlife includes the rare and endangered Javan leopard and other wild cats, Javan Rusa and barking deer, water buffaloes, the endangered banteng (ox), three monkey species, the elusive Dhole (Ajag), or Asiatic wild dog and a large variety of birds.
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