 Sulawesi is an island in Indonesia. It is the 11th largest island in the world. START HERE |
 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. |