By ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity

With photo contributions from Wakatobi National Park

Wakatobi National Park

Named after the four main islands of Wangi-Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomia and Binongko, Wakatobi National Park in Indonesia consists of 39 islands, three hirsts, and five atolls.

Read

Aerial view of one of the islands (2014) by Wakatobi National ParkASEAN Centre for Biodiversity

Wakatobi National Park is in the Coral Triangle, which covers 6.47 million sq km of land and sea within the  territories of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste.

Fish in Wakatobi National Park (2017) by Wakatobi National ParkASEAN Centre for Biodiversity

Often called the Amazon of the Seas, the Coral Triangle is home to 600 corals or 76% of the world’s known coral species, contains 2,500 or 37% of the world’s reef fish species, and is also a spawning and nursery ground for six of the world’s seven species of marine turtles.

Trees in Wakatobi National Park (2017) by Wakatobi National ParkASEAN Centre for Biodiversity

The park was designated a Biosphere Reserve in 2012 by the UNESCO and a “High Biodiversity Area in Coral Triangle Region” by the Coral Triangle Initiative on  Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF).

Dolphin in Wakatobi National Park (2014) by Wakatobi National ParkASEAN Centre for Biodiversity

Cetaceans found in the park include whales (beaked whale, pilot whale, blue whale, sperm whale, Bryde’s whale, and melon-headed whale) and dolphins (bottlenose dolphin, round head dolphin, Risso’s dolphin, spinner dolphin, and spotted dolphin).

Coral reef with tropical fish (2015) by Wakatobi National ParkASEAN Centre for Biodiversity

Wildlife of Wakatobi National Park

• 590 species of fish
• 396 species of hard corals
• 85 species of birds
• 32 species of mangroves
• 31 species of mushroom corals
• 11 species of seagrass
• 6 species of whales
• 5 species of dolphins
• 2 species of turtles

Tall mangrove in Wakatobi National Park (2016) by Wakatobi National ParkASEAN Centre for Biodiversity

Learn more about Wakatobi National Park

ASEAN Clearing-House Mechanism
ASEAN Biodiversity Dashboard

AHP logo by ACBASEAN Centre for Biodiversity

ASEAN Heritage Parks

ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHPs) are protected areas of high conservation importance that provide valuable contributions to safeguarding ecosystems and biodiversity. 

AHPs provide a window to the world, showcasing a wealth of biodiversity that is uniquely ASEAN.

Credits: Story

With photo contributions from Wakatobi National Park

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity
ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity