Tandurusa Zoological Garden
North Sulawesi is like the home of exotic flora and fauna. Seeing strange animals like the cute little tarsiers, the maleo birds, macaques and others is very possible here. If you have not enought time nor the patience to hike into the forests, then your answer must surely be a visit to the Tandurusa Zoological Gardens in the city of Bitung, the harbor city in Manado.
The Tandurusa Park is located in the Tandurusa area in the subdistrict of Aertembaga in Bitung. It was originally built by Boy Gumolung, and was at first aimed for commercial purposes, but the park was later taken over by the local government. The Park is often visited by domestic and international visitors; ocals also love to come here with their entire family and continue enjoying water sport and recreation on the nearby beach along the Lembeh Strait.
This zoological park is quite small but it content of rare collection of Sulawesi’s fauna like black macaques, babirusa wild boars, tarsiers, toucan hornbills, kuskus bears, black cuckatoos, sea eagles, some species of snakes and a giant python snake. When walking in this Park through cool forests you will be greeted by the chirping of birds, and the screech of monkeys in the green foliage.
Just like ordinary zoo, the animals here are in cages so that it is possible to see the night animals of tarsiers. The Tarsius monkey has become the icon of the province of North Sulawesi, It is tiny that you can easily hold it in the palm of your hand. They grow to between 10 to 15 cm, weighing only 80 grams. What sets them apart are their large saucer eyes that are unusually large for their small size. Their long arms and fingers allow them to jump great distances from one tree to the other. Tarsiers are faithful animals, taking only one mate throughout their lifetime. And even when the mate dies the remaining tarsius will continue to live alone.
To reach this place is can be reach from Manado, capital of the province of North Sulawesi to Bitung that takes approximately 2 hours by car. There are public buses from Manado-Bitung route with fares costing Rp7,500. Upon arrival at the Tangkoko Terminal at Bitung, take bus C1 or C2 into the center of town, which costs Rp 3,000. From here you can continue by bus route H, or take a motorbike taxi – ojek - to the Tandurusa Zooligical Park, The fare is around Rp10,000 to Rp.15,000.
