Events

Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) - Dramaga Campus given the title as biodiversity campus. But, whether the 'title' is really appropriate to be known? Because, there were not many student aware of it biodiversity. In some case, only few students know that campus have a pack (or packs of) wild long-tailed monkeys inhabits in some places in campus.

The air in Situ (lake) Leutik felt fresh in Thursday May 14, 2015, when some students of the Department of Biology IPB made simple biodiversity observation around campus. This time, there were four students who participated, namely, Dwi Nur Setyowati, Ramadhanul Fitra, Mashudi, and Fadhli Sofyan.

Our observation began from Situ Leutik, precisely, under the corridor that connects IPB Library and IPB Graduate School. From that area, we could see a group of birds named Black-Crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax Nycticorax) roosted in some trees. The bird that belong to Ardeidae could be observed from a distance, but if they disturbed, they will fly away.

Dramaga campus biodiversity is not only about Situ Leutik. Therefore, the observation continued to an arboretum full filled with bamboo grove around campus bus parking lot. In front of that arboretum, we've been able to see a group of long-tailed monkeys. Primates with the scientific name Macaca fascicularis observed were eating young leaves. When we approached, for image taking, four long-tailed monkeys go away. The arboretum, indeed, was suitable for long-tailed monkeys living. It was because of a lot of trees, not only bamboo, i.e, rubber tree, sengon, meranti, krey payung, and others were growth in it. As well as, there were water source available, although only a small stream.

In addition to seeing M fascicularis in arboretum, we also found saprophyte fungus that grow on decaying wood. Exotic plants such as plants of the tribe Costaceae also exist here, that was the usual red colored flowers that attract insect. It was very interesting to observe biodiversity in the arboretum, but a lot of mosquitoes living in the surround of it as well as beautiful insects like butterflies or grasshoppers. Therefore, do prepare insect or mosquito’s repellents for your body comfort before enjoy the campus biodiversity.

Fadhli Sofyan