Pleihari Tanah Laut

Pleihari Tanah Laut is a Wildlife Sanctuary (Suaka Margasatwa) of about 66.47 km² (roughly 6,647 hectares) in South Kalimantan, Indonesia, in Tanah Laut Regency near the town of Pelaihari about 15 km away. ^[1] The sanctuary was formally established under Ministry of Forestry Decree No. 695/Kpts-II/1991, and its current area was confirmed by SK Menhut No. 435/Menhut-II/2009, protecting coastal mangrove and hilly lowland forest in the southern part of the province. As a suaka margasatwa it is dedicated to safeguarding wildlife and habitat, and together with the neighboring Pleihari Martapura sanctuary it forms part of a protected-area complex in the Pleihari region administered by BKSDA South Kalimantan.

The sanctuary protects a range of Bornean fauna including the proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus), saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), and Asian water monitor, along with a variety of birds such as the lesser adjutant and white-bellied sea eagle. ^[1] Its combination of mangrove, forest, and open grassland supports both coastal and terrestrial wildlife. The area provides an important refuge near the populous southern lowlands and complements the adjacent Pleihari Martapura sanctuary in conserving the region's wildlife.

Vegetation includes mangrove forest (covering roughly 4,000 hectares) dominated by species such as Rhizophora, Avicennia, and nipa palm along the coast, with secondary hill and lowland forest inland and grassland and shrubby areas on higher ground. ^[1] This habitat mosaic, shaped by both natural conditions and a history of disturbance and fire, defines the sanctuary's distinctive vegetation across its flat coastal and hilly terrain.

The sanctuary lies on low hills and undulating terrain in the Tanah Laut area near the southern coast of Borneo, with the highest point (Gunung Tunggal) at about 102 metres. The landscape ranges from flat coastal plain to gentle ridges and valleys draining toward the Java Sea coast, on weathered sedimentary and lateritic soils. The topography is moderate, without high mountains, forming part of the southern foothill country of South Kalimantan. ^[1]

The climate is tropical, warm, and humid, with temperatures generally in the mid-20s to low-30s Celsius. Rainfall is seasonal, with the wetter months around November to April and a distinct dry season mid-year that dries out the grasslands and raises fire risk. The seasonal pattern reinforces the open, savanna-like character of parts of the reserve, while coastal areas remain more permanently humid.

The Tanah Laut region is part of the Banjar cultural area, with Pelaihari as the regency seat and a center of farming, plantation, and coastal activity. Local communities have long used the surrounding lands for agriculture and grazing. As development and farming expanded across southern South Kalimantan, the hills and coastal mangroves protected by the sanctuary became increasingly important as remaining wildlife habitat.

Pleihari Tanah Laut was formally designated a wildlife sanctuary under Ministry of Forestry Decree No. 695/Kpts-II/1991, with the current area of 6,647 hectares confirmed by a 2009 ministerial decree. ^[1] It is managed by BKSDA South Kalimantan as part of the Pleihari protected-area cluster alongside Pleihari Martapura. The suaka margasatwa status prioritizes wildlife conservation while permitting managed protection activities and limiting development within its boundaries.

The sanctuary is appreciated for wildlife viewing and its scenic forest-and-grassland hills, with river excursions along the Sungai Sabuhur offering encounters with proboscis monkeys and waterbirds in the mangrove zone. ^[1] Visits typically emphasize nature observation and conservation rather than built recreational attractions.

Access is by road from Pelaihari, about 15 km away, with the wider area reachable from Banjarmasin and Banjarbaru. Visitor facilities are minimal, and observation or research visits are generally coordinated with BKSDA South Kalimantan. The reserve's purpose is conservation rather than mass tourism, so infrastructure inside the sanctuary is limited.

Conservation efforts focus on protecting wildlife and habitat from dry-season fires, encroachment, aquaculture expansion, and hunting pressure common to the Pleihari area. BKSDA South Kalimantan implements fire prevention, patrols, and habitat management to maintain populations of proboscis monkeys, crocodiles, and other species. As part of the Pleihari complex, the sanctuary contributes to regional biodiversity protection and the stability of the surrounding landscape. ^[1]