In terms of biodiversity, Sumatra is known as the Indonesian island home to relatively large flagship species, such as elephants, rhinos and tigers. One distinctive feature of its biodiversity is that orangutans occur only in the north and tapirs only in the south. Way Kambas National Park, in Lampung Province, is one of the ecosystems where all of southern Sumatra's flagship species exist. Rhinos, elephants, tigers, tapirs and sun bears live in this national park. Even the rarest waterbird, the white-winged duck (Asarcornis scutulata), is found in Way Kambas.
Spanning East Lampung and Central Lampung Regencies, the park lies in the lowlands at 0–60 m above sea level, with relatively flat terrain. It has four main ecosystems: lowland rainforest, swamp forest, mangrove and coastal forest. Unsurprisingly, Way Kambas hosts remarkably rich biodiversity. At least 17 amphibian species, 13 reptile species, 48 freshwater fish species, 77 butterfly species, 50 mammal species and 302 bird species live in Way Kambas. Several deserve to be called key species (flagship species), such as the Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis), Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus), Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris), tapir (Tapirus indicus), sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) and siamang (Hylobates syndactylus).
Berbagai satwa yang terekam oleh kamera jebak (camera trap) di Way Kambas pada tahun 2012. Auriga Nusantara, saat itu bernama Yayasan Silvagama, turut pada pemantauan satwa dengan kamera jebak ini sejak perancangan, pendanaan kegiatan, hingga menyumbang beberapa kamera jebak yang dipakai pada pemantauan tersebut. Kegiatan ini sendiri dipimpin oleh alm. Marcellus Adi CTR (Aliansi Lestari Rimba Terpadu - ALeRT).
The area now known as Way Kambas National Park has seen many changes in status, size and management. The Dutch East Indies government designated it a protected area as early as 1924. However, at the end of the 1960s the Indonesian government opened the area to timber harvesting under logging concessions (HPH). In 1978 it was designated a Nature Conservation Area, which later evolved into a national park.
When severe fires — triggered in part by El Niño — swept Indonesia in the 1990s, Way Kambas burned too, especially in the logging concession's logged-over areas. These burned areas were then taken over by cogon grassland, which has since been repeatedly burned, whether by wildfire or arson. There are 40,780 hectares of cogon grassland — almost half the park — in Way Kambas. It is in the middle of this grassland that Auriga Nusantara, together with the Way Kambas National Park Office, is carrying out ecosystem restoration.
1924 — The Way Kambas and Cabang forests were designated as protected forest.
1937 — An area of 130,000 hectares was designated as the Way Kambas Wildlife Reserve by Decree of the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies No. 26 of 26 January 1937, State Gazette 1937 No. 38.
1968–1974 — After several decades as a wildlife reserve, a logging concession (HPH) was issued in the area to PT Andatu. Forest cover changed from primary natural forest to secondary natural forest.
1978 — The Minister of Agriculture converted the Way Kambas Wildlife Reserve into a Nature Conservation Area (KPA) by Minister of Agriculture Decree No. 429/Kpts-7/1978 of 10 July 1978, with management handed to the Nature Conservation Area Sub-Office (SBKPA).
1982 — The Indonesian Minister of Agriculture converted the Nature Conservation Area into Way Kambas National Park.
1985 — By Minister of Forestry Decree No. 177/Kpts-II/1985 of 12 October 1985, the Minister of Forestry designated the area a Natural Resources Conservation Area, with management handed to the Natural Resources Conservation Office (BKSDA). The area was set at 130,000 hectares.
1989 — With its size unchanged, at the National Conservation Week in Kaliurang, Yogyakarta, the Minister of Forestry established Way Kambas National Park by Minister of Forestry Decree No.
444/Menhut-II/1989 of 1 April 1989.
1991 — By Minister of Forestry Decree No. 144/Kpts/II/1991 of 13 March 1991, management of Way Kambas National Park was handed to the Way Kambas Natural Resources Conservation Sub-Office, reporting to Natural Resources Conservation Office II, Tanjung Karang.
1997 — By Minister of Forestry Decree No. 185/Kpts-II/1997 of 13 March 1997, management of the area was handed to the Way Kambas National Park Office.
1999 — By Minister of Forestry and Estate Crops Decree No. 670/Kpts-II/1999 of 26 August 1999, Way Kambas National Park was set at 125,621 hectares.
Restoring the Way Kambas ecosystem into a safe and comfortable habitat for local wildlife, such as elephants, tigers and rhinos.
