Table of Contents
Location of Rafflesia Hasseltii Found
Steep Tracks Full of Challenges
Biodiversity Paradise
Tiger’s House
Jakarta, goldensamoyed Indonesia
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Findings
Rafflesia Hasseltii
some time ago it suddenly stole attention.This rare, almost extinct plant was found in the Hiring Batang Sumi rainforest, Sumpur Kudus District, West Sumatra (Sumbar).
The reason is, Rafflesia is not easy to grow in just any place.If it blooms in a location, it means that place has a good ecosystem.So, what is the condition of the Hiring Batang Sumi rainforest like?
Rafflesia Hasseltii blooms in forests that receive high rainfall.Throughout the year, at least the Hiring Batang Somi Forest, which is a rainforest, is exposed to rainfall of more than 200 cm.
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Including nagari forests, because they are managed by the local village government in West Sumatra, the people there participatively utilize forest resources in a sustainable manner.
The weather there is humid with towering trees.The Nagari Forest Management Institute (LPHN) and the Social Forestry Business Group (KUPS) often manage forests using the Social Forestry scheme.
Location of Rafflesia Hasseltii Found
Rafflesia Hasseltii was discovered in the Hiring Batang Sumi forest area, on November 18 2025 by the Conservationist Team and Rafflesia Hasseltii Field Research Guide, Septian Andriki.
This discovery was also shared by scientists from
Deputy Director and Head of Science of The University of Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum
, Dr.Chris Thorogood, as well as BRIN researcher Joko Ridho Witono.
After a long and challenging journey, finally Andriki, who is familiarly called Deki, and his team managed to find a valuable treasure in the middle of the dense rainforest.Her tears immediately fell remembering the efforts to find the whereabouts of this flower again 13 years ago.
Rafflesia Hasseltii was finally rediscovered, although it only bloomed briefly, the discovery proved that this fragile flower is suitable for the Hiring Batang Sumi forest ecosystem.
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Steep Tracks Full of Challenges
The forest in Sumpur Kudus has steep tracks and is not friendly for beginners.Sumpur Kudus is at an altitude of 365 meters above sea level with extreme temperatures, reaching 22 degrees Celsius.This fact is what makes the Hiring Batang Sumi forest not easy to conquer.
There is even a village located on a plateau in the hills with steep valleys, namely the village of Nagari Sumpur Kudus, Sumpur Kudus District, West Sumatra.
When Deki was still on his search mission, he needed to travel for three hours full of difficulty in the middle of the rainforest, before finally finding the rare flower.
“On the way, we experienced many obstacles, because the track was quite difficult. We had to climb a hill with a surface slope of 90 degrees, cross three rivers. And what made us nervous was because we had to cross a waterfall and the rock surface easily came off,” said Deki, as reported.
Sec
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Biodiversity Paradise
This area is also managed as social forestry, where management rights are given to the community.Including parts of 199 forestry areas in West Sumatra with an area of 271,745 hectares.
Hiring Batang Sumi Forest is home to a variety of exotic flora typical of tropical rain forests.It is necessary to give a thumbs up to the potential of non-timber forest products with the biodiversity there.
Considering that this place is a paradise for biodiversity, since 2018 the people of Sumpur Kudus village have been actively carrying out conservation to preserve the forest.For example, by managing the rattan harvest and carrying out nurseries.
Tiger’s House
Apart from recently being home to the rare plant Rafflesia Hasseltii, the forest in Sumpur Kudus is also the habitat of the Sumatran Tiger.In fact, when the research team was traveling, they crossed the tiger’s home area.
“Rafflesia hasseltii was found in an area that is the habitat of Sumatran tigers. So apart from carrying out searches, we also strengthen our instincts, be careful if you encounter Sumatran tigers,” added Deki.
(ana/wiw)
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