6 Facts About Gunung Leuser National Park, Number 5 Makes Dag Dig Dug Ser!!

1. Becoming One of the Most Important Tropical Rainforests in the World

The first fact is related to its ecological value.

Gunung Leuser National Park has an area of ​​more than 830 thousand hectares and covers various types of ecosystems, ranging from lowland forests, swamp forests, mountain forests, to subalpine areas around Mount Leuser. The diversity of the landscape makes this area one of the largest natural laboratories in Southeast Asia.

Apart from that, TNGL has also been part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1981 and UNESCO World Heritage since 2004. This status was given because this area has very high conservation value and is a habitat for thousands of species of plants and wild animals.

The existence of extensive forests also functions as a carbon absorber, climate regulator, and storage of water reserves which are very important for the lives of people in Aceh and North Sumatra.

2. Home to the Endangered Sumatran Orangutan

One of the main reasons Mount Leuser is known to the world is the existence of the Sumatran orangutan (I put abelii).

This national park is one of the largest natural habitats for this species. Sumatran orangutans have an important role in the forest ecosystem because they help spread the seeds of various types of plants through the fruit they consume. For this reason, orangutans are often referred to as “forest gardeners” because they unwittingly help the regeneration of tropical forests.

In areas like Bukit Lawang, tourists can take part in ecotourism activities that allow them to observe orangutans from a safe distance while still adhering to conservation regulations. This approach aims to ensure that tourist activities do not disturb the natural behavior of animals.

The existence of orangutans is an important symbol that forest sustainability and the survival of wild animals depend on each other.

3. Becomes a habitat for the four charismatic animals of Sumatra

The next unique thing is the richness of its fauna.

Mount Leuser is one of the few areas in the world that still provides a natural habitat for Sumatra’s four large mammals, namely the Sumatran orangutan, Sumatran tiger, Sumatran elephant and Sumatran rhino. These four species have an alarming conservation status so that the existence of TNGL is very important for their survival.

Apart from these four species, this national park is also home to sun bears, Asian tapirs, gibbons, deer, forest goats, hundreds of types of birds, reptiles, amphibians and thousands of types of insects.

The diversity of fauna shows that the Gunung Leuser ecosystem is still able to support a complex natural food chain.

4. Has an extraordinary wealth of flora

Not only are the animals diverse, the flora is also very impressive.

UNESCO notes that the Leuser area and two other national parks are deep Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatrahas around 10 thousand plant species, including various types of dipterocarp trees, wild orchids, rattan, medicinal plants, as well as dozens of species endemic to Sumatra.

In some locations you can also find flowers Rafflesia arnoldii And Amorphophallus titanum which is an icon of Sumatran flora. The existence of these rare plants attracts the attention of scientists from various countries to conduct research on evolution, ecology and conservation.

This rich flora is also a source of life for thousands of animal species that live in the national park area.

5. Walking through the forest gives a sensation that makes your heart beat

This is the fact that best fits the title of the thread.

Walking through the Gunung Leuser forest provides an experience that is hard to forget. The trekking path passes through giant trees, the sound of birds calling, the gurgling of mountain rivers, and the possibility of finding traces of wildlife along the way.

This sensation does not arise because they want to look for danger, but because visitors are truly in the natural habitat of wild animals. Even though the chance of directly encountering a tiger, elephant or rhino is very small because these animals tend to avoid humans, the knowledge that they live freely in the same area is enough to make the atmosphere both tense and amazing.

For this reason, every tourist activity in TNGL must be accompanied by a guide and follow conservation rules. The aim is not only to maintain visitor safety, but also to protect animals from being disturbed by human activities.

The feeling of “dag dig dug” that appears is actually a reminder that humans are only guests in nature’s big house.

6. Supports the lives of millions of people

The last fact often goes unnoticed.

Many people know Gunung Leuser because of its orangutans, but the benefits of this national park are much greater than that. The Leuser area functions as a water catchment area, flood control, carbon storage, and provider of clean water for millions of people living in Aceh and North Sumatra. Apart from that, this forest also helps maintain soil fertility and stability of the local climate.

If this area is damaged due to illegal logging, encroachment or forest fires, the impact will not only be felt by wildlife, but also by communities who depend on these environmental services.

Therefore, protecting Mount Leuser essentially means maintaining the quality of human life itself.

CLOSURE

Gunung Leuser National Park is one of Indonesia’s natural masterpieces which has extraordinary value to the world. Its tropical rainforests are home to thousands of plant and animal species, including the Sumatran orangutan, Sumatran tiger, Sumatran elephant and the increasingly rare Sumatran rhino. Its existence as part of the UNESCO World Heritage shows that this area has important meaning, not only for Indonesia, but also for all mankind.

Through the Nusantara Series, we learn again that Indonesia’s wealth is not only in the form of culture and culinary delights, but also natural landscapes that harbor life on an extraordinary scale. Gunung Leuser teaches that nature conservation is not just an option, but a necessity so that future generations can still enjoy the tropical forests that are the pride of the nation.

We hope that more people will learn about Gunung Leuser National Park, support conservation efforts and travel responsibly. Because, sustainable forests are not only a home for wild animals, but also a support for human life now and in the future.

SOURCE

Gunung Leuser National Park Hall. (2025). Existence and Potential of Gunung Leuser National Park. Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation, Ministry of Forestry.

UNESCO. (2025). Mount Leuser Biosphere Reserve. Man and the Biosphere Programme.

UNESCO World Heritage Centre. (2025). Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra.

Leuser Conservation Foundation. (2025). About the Leuser Ecosystem.

MacKinnon, J., & MacKinnon, K. (1986). Review of the Protected Areas System in the Indo-Malayan Realm. IUCN.