Tuesday, April 9, 2024

Wildlife Watching in Tangkoko Nature Reserve

Tangkoko Batuangus Nature Reserve is a famous destination in the Province of North Sulawesi for wildlife watching tourism. Visitors from all corners of the world go to Tangkoko to watch birds, reptiles, insects and mammals. It is located in the northeastern region of Minahasa peninsula around one and a half ride from Manado city.

According to Wikipedia, the number of species of animals is listed as follows:

  • 127 mammals
  • 233 birds
  • 104 reptiles and amphibian animals

Red Knobbed Hornbill (Rhyticeros cassidix)
Knobbed Hornbill
There are a lot of species of birds that visitors can watch while walking under the canopy of the trees of Tangkoko. Tangkoko is famous for its kingfishers. Some of them include Green-backed Kingfisher (Actenoides monachus), Ruddy Kingfisher, Sulawesi Lilac Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher, Blue-eared Kingfiher, Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher and etc. The nearby Kalinaun is the habitat of Great-billed Kingfisher.
Purple-winged Roller (Coracias temminckii)
Purple-winged Roller
Visitors can also watch Red-backed Thrush, Ochre-bellied Boobok, Knobbed Hornbill, Sulawesi Pygmy Hornbill, Purple-winged Roller, Oriental Dollarbird, Gray-cheeked Green Pigeon.
Because Tangkoko Nature Reserve is located in the coastal area of North Sulawesi, visitors who go there can also watch sea birds such as the Pacific Reef Heron, Great-billed Heron, Osprey, Lesser Frigatebird, Greater Frigatebird, Common Tern, Great-crested Tern, Black-naped Tern, and etc. 
The activity of watching sea birds could be combined with a boat trip to Kalinaun where visitors could watch Great-billed Kingfisher, Pied, Little-pied Cormorant, Little-black Cormorant and etc.
The following picture of Great-billed Kingfisher was taken in Kalinaun river. Mangrove trees grow along both banks of the river. They are the natural habitat of various species of coastal birds including this kingfisher.
Great-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis melanorhyncha)
Great-billed Kingfisher
Another important site for general birding in Tangkoko area is the Temboan Hill. It is the place where visitors could watch a lot of species of birds including Finch-billed Myna, Sulawesi-crested Myna, Silvertip Imperial Pigeon, Knobbed Hornbill, Sulawesi Hornbill, Sulawesi Pitta, and a lot more. 

Ashy Woodpecker (Mulleripicus fulvus)
Ashy Woodpecker in the rainforest of
Tangkoko Nature Reserve
Other Animals
In addition to birds, we could also see insects, reptiles and mammals. 
mammals in Tangkoko forest
Celebes-crested Macaque (Macaca nigra)

Spectral Tarsier (Tarsius spectrum)
Spectral Tarsier in the rainforest of Tangkoko's Nature Reserve
Accommodation
Visitors who go to Tangkoko can stay in the homestays or lodges that are run by local people. 

Booking
If you are interested in watching birds and other wildlife in Tangkoko Nature Reserve as well as other areas in Sulawesi, you could contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180. 

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