Tanjung Keluang

Tanjung Keluang is a Nature Tourism Park (Taman Wisata Alam) of about 20 km² (roughly 2,000 hectares) on the southern coast of Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, near the resort beaches west of Kumai Bay. ^[1] Established in 1984, it lies on a coastal cape around 35 km from the town of Pangkalan Bun in Kotawaringin Barat Regency. The reserve protects a strip of coastal forest, beach, and mangrove fringe, and is known as a sea turtle nesting and conservation site managed by the Central Kalimantan office of the natural resources conservation agency (BKSDA Kalteng). Because of its proximity to the Tanjung Puting region, it is a popular short excursion for visitors travelling along the Kumai estuary.

The park is most notable for marine turtles — primarily hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) and green turtles (Chelonia mydas) — that come ashore to nest on its sandy beaches, and it operates a hatchery program to protect eggs and release hatchlings. ^[1] The coastal and back-beach forest supports long-tailed macaques, deer, pangolins, monitor lizards, and a range of shorebirds and coastal birds, while the adjacent estuarine and mangrove waters host crabs, mudskippers, and fish typical of Kalimantan's tidal coast. Since late 2022, the park also serves as an orangutan conservation site, with a population of Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) present and additional individuals released by conservation authorities.

Vegetation at Tanjung Keluang is dominated by coastal and beach forest, including casuarina (cemara laut), pandanus, sea hibiscus, and other salt-tolerant strand species, grading into mangrove stands along the tidal margins. The cape's sandy soils support pioneer beach plants that help stabilize the shoreline, while behind the beach the forest becomes denser lowland coastal vegetation. Mangrove species such as Rhizophora and Avicennia line the estuarine creeks, providing nursery habitat and shoreline protection characteristic of southern Kalimantan's coast.

The park occupies a low coastal cape formed of alluvial and marine sediments along the Java Sea coast of southern Borneo. Sandy beaches, tidal flats, and shifting sand deposits dominate the geomorphology, shaped by wave action, longshore drift, and the discharge of the Kumai and nearby rivers. The terrain is essentially flat and lies only a few meters above sea level, making it part of the broad coastal lowland plain rather than any upland or rocky formation.

Tanjung Keluang has a tropical rainforest and monsoon climate with high humidity, warm temperatures generally between 24°C and 33°C year-round, and abundant rainfall. The wetter months typically fall between November and April during the northwest monsoon, while the drier season runs roughly from May to September. Sea breezes moderate daytime heat on the cape, and conditions on the water can change with the tides and seasonal winds, which also influence turtle nesting cycles.

The southern coast of Kotawaringin Barat has long been used by Malay and Dayak coastal communities for fishing and trade, with the Kumai estuary serving as a historic gateway to the interior. Nearby Pangkalan Bun is the seat of the former Kotawaringin sultanate, and the surrounding waters have supported maritime livelihoods for generations. The beaches of the cape have traditionally been a place where local people gathered turtle eggs, a practice that conservation programs later sought to regulate and replace with protected nesting.

Tanjung Keluang was designated a Nature Tourism Park in 1984 to protect its coastal forest and, in particular, its sea turtle nesting beaches while allowing managed recreation. Management falls under BKSDA Central Kalimantan, which runs turtle conservation and hatchery activities alongside visitor services. Its status as a tourism park reflects a dual purpose of conservation and nature-based recreation, distinguishing it from stricter reserves where public access is more limited.

The main attractions are the white-sand beaches and the sea turtle conservation station, where visitors can learn about nesting and sometimes witness hatchling releases. The cape offers coastal walking along the shore, calm waters for swimming, and views across Kumai Bay. Many travelers combine a stop here with boat trips up the Kumai River toward the Tanjung Puting orangutan region, making the park a scenic coastal complement to interior wildlife excursions.

Access is usually by road and short boat transfer from Pangkalan Bun, about 35 km away, often via the port town of Kumai. Facilities are modest and oriented toward day visitors, including basic shelters, beach areas, and the turtle hatchery managed by conservation staff. Visitors typically arrange trips through local operators in Kumai or Pangkalan Bun, which is served by an airport with connections to other parts of Indonesia.

Conservation at Tanjung Keluang centers on protecting marine turtles — particularly hawksbill turtles — through beach patrols, egg relocation to hatcheries, and hatchling releases, aimed at reducing the long-standing pressure of egg collection. ^[1] Coastal erosion, plastic and marine debris, and disturbance from unmanaged tourism are ongoing challenges. BKSDA Central Kalimantan works to balance public enjoyment with the protection of nesting beaches and the surrounding coastal and mangrove ecosystems, promoting awareness among visitors and nearby communities.