Peucang Island, Ujung Kulon National Park, Banten - West Java
Peucang Island, is an island that located in Panaitan strait, at Pandeglang regency, Banten or precisely reside on the east part of Ujung Kulon National Park.
As part of Ujung Kulon Nasional Park, Peucang Island is accepted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, together with Panaitan island and Handeuleum Island.
Located in the province of Banten, the island of Peucang covers a total area of around 450 hectares, and is home to a variety of species of wild animals such as monkeys, hornbills, monitor lizards, wild boars, toucans, sea hawks, and more. The most notable of these is the barking deer that are found abundantly around the island. These indigenous dwellers of the island are also what have given the island its name, since “Peucang” in the local Sunda language stands for barking deer.
The population of wild life in Peucang Island is well preserved due to the lack of predators here. The geographical profile of Peucang Island can be described as lowland with vast primary vegetation consisting of a mix of diverse aged trees and grassland with thick shrubberies. This unique feature is the reason why Peucang Island is considered a haven for its wildlife.
Like most of the of the Ujung Kulon National Park area, Peucang Island was also severely battered by the historical eruption of Mount Krakatau in 1883. Almost no flora and fauna survived the calamity of the eruption and the tsunami that followed. However, one particular tree did survive and still lives to this very day in the forest of Peucang Island. The tree which is classified as a Fig Tree (Ficus sp) is called the “Kiara” Tree and is estimated to be over 1 century old.
The island also features a tropical forest which is great for trekking and observing wildlife. When evening nears, the beach presents spellbinding scenery and mesmerizing colorful ambience of the sun setting on the horizon.
Peucang Island serves as base camp and staging point for those who wish to explore deeper into the Ujung Kulon National Park. It is for this reason, that on this small island you will find accommodation and supporting facilities. The visitors that come to Peucang Island can enjoying the white sandy beach, snorkeling, swimming, fishing and watching the endemic fauna that live around the forest.
