Sulawesi is an island in Indonesia. It is the 11th largest island in the world.
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Sulawesi—which used to be called Celebes—is a strange island. It is shaped like a funny-looking lower-case "k". |
Sulawesi was formed when different tectonic plates collided. It has never been connected to another major land mass. |
Because of this history, Sulawesi's plant and animal life is distinct from other parts of Indonesia. |
Sulawesi has many endemic species: plants and animals found nowhere else. |
Among the most famous of these species is the babirusa, which is also called the pig-deer. |
Another interesting animal is the maleo, a ground bird that builds large mounded nests that are warmed by the sun or heat produced by volcanoes. |
The Crested black macaque is Sulawesi's most threatened primate. It lives in large groups and spends a lot of time on the ground. |
The smallest primate in Sulawesi is the tarsier, one of the few primates that eats only insects. |
Sulawesi has two species of wild cattle: the lowland anoa and the mountain anoa. |
Overall more than 60 percent of Sulawesi's land mammals are found nowhere else. |
Sulawesi also has rich marine ecosystems including some of the most biodiverse coral reefs in the world. |
But Sulawesi's wild areas are at risk. About 80 percent of Sulawesi's forest has been damaged or destroyed. |
Most deforestation has been caused by agriculture by small farmers who grow rice and other crops. |
Sulawesi is also a major producer of cocoa, which is the base ingredient of chocolate. |
Some of the biggest threats to Sulawesi's remaining forests are mining, bushmeat hunting, and illegal logging. |
Some of Sulawesi's endangered species--especially birds and reptiles--are smuggled for the international pet trade. |
But conservation groups are working to protect Sulawesi's wildlife and ecosystems. |
The most effective programs involve local people as beneficiaries of conservation. |
There are several ethnic groups in Sulawesi, each of which speaks its own language. |
One of the most distinct groups in Sulawesi is the Toraja, who live in the southern part of the island. |
The Toraja are Christian and have elaborate funeral rituals and burial practices. |
After a long and costly funeral, Torajans traditionally bury their dead in rocky cliffs. |
Other ethnic groups in Sulawesi include the Makassarese, Buginese, Mandar, Minahasa, Gorontalo Bajau, and Mongondow. Today most are typically Muslim. |
In recent years, more and more migrants from Java and other parts of Indonesia have reduced the proportion of native groups in Sulawesi. |
At times migration has contributed to conflict between groups. Traditional inhabitants have been upset that newcomers are often wealthier and compete for land and jobs. |
If you visit Sulawesi there are several special activities. |
In North Sulawesi there are rainforest parks and spectacular coral reefs. |
In South Sulawesi there is Torajaland with the Toraja people as well as coral reefs around islands off the southern parts of the island. |
In other parts of Sulawesi there are colorful agricultural landscapes, including terraced rice paddies. |
