Pulau Dua and Pulau Rambut Reserves: West Java

These islands (or in the case of Pulau Dua a former island now connected to the mainland at low tide) are both bird sanctuaries off the northwest coast of Java.

They act as nurseries for many coastal seabirds during the breeding season of March to July and also have a large resident population mostly of Storks, Herons and Cormorants.

Since Pulau Rambut is so much closer to Jakarta, it has inevitably been the most disturbed. In fine weather, it is visited by large numbers of not ecologically but idiotic minded tourists complete with transistor radios nearly every weekend. Pulau Dua is, therefore, the most valuable sanctuary with special permits required to go there and large groups of visitors are discouraged.

The vegetation on Pulau Rambut is quite dense where it has not been disturbed for firewood etc, and mangrove swamps cover a large area. Tall trees of 10-15 m are found along the shores and there is the usual beach vegetation. There is the ubiquitous ‘goats foot’ creeper so called because of the shape of its leaves.

Tree growth on Pulau Dua is much lower with the trees at 5-6m tall and the island is generally barer thought there is good stands of Diospa (an ebony species) at the northern end of the island.

The wildlife is minimal. Only monitor lizards and skinks are common besides the birdlife – Ibises (both the black-headed and the glossy) Egrets, Night Herons, Darters, Mynas, Starlings, Kingfishers, Sandpipers, Curlews and Sea eagles.

Getting There:

To Pulau Rambut the boat trip is about an hour from either Tanjung Priok or from the old harbour of Sunda Kelapa, near the Pasar Ikan.

Pulau Dua is in Banten Bay. Banten is 100 klms from Jakarta by road, Serang is 90klms, and Pulau Dua is near the estuary of the Serang River and is also accessible by land now that the mud flats between it and the mainland have been silted.