See Orangutan Sumatra – Gunung Leuser National Park is one of Indonesia’s most important natural conservation areas. Known locally as TNGL, this national park holds extraordinary biodiversity and plays a vital role in protecting Sumatra’s rainforest ecosystem.

Gunung Leuser National Park covers an area of 1,094,692 hectares, stretching 150 kilometers long and 100 kilometers wide. Administratively, the park is located across two provinces: Aceh and North Sumatra. Its name comes from Mount Leuser, one of the highest mountains in Sumatra, standing 3,466 meters above sea level.

Gunung Leuser National Park history dates back to the Dutch colonial era. In the 1920s, Dutch geologist F.C. Van Heurn proposed the area as a conservation zone. The region was later designated as Leuser Natuurreservaat, marking its early protection status.

In 1980, the Indonesian government officially declared Gunung Leuser National Park as a national park through Minister of Agriculture Decree No. 811/Kpts/Um/II/1980. This decision placed TNGL among Indonesia’s first five national conservation areas.

A major global recognition came in 2004 when Gunung Leuser National Park became part of the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (TRHS). UNESCO designated TRHS as a World Heritage Site, recognizing its outstanding universal value. TRHS includes three national parks: Gunung Leuser, Kerinci Seblat, and Bukit Barisan Selatan. Together, they form the largest conservation area in Southeast Asia, often called the “Andes of Sumatra.”

Gunung Leuser National Park biodiversity is one of the richest in the world. According to official park data, TNGL is home to around 4,000 plant species, more than 84 mammal species, and approximately 380 bird species.

Rare plant species found in Gunung Leuser National Park include Rafflesia arnoldii, the largest flower in the world, Amorphophallus titanium, known as the corpse flower, and meranti trees, which are among the tallest trees on Earth.

The park is also a critical refuge for endangered wildlife. Species living in Gunung Leuser National Park include the Sumatran orangutan, Sumatran elephant, Sumatran tiger, Sumatran rhinoceros, sun bear, siamang, long-tailed macaque, pig-tailed macaque, wild goat, leopard, and the rhinoceros hornbill. Importantly, TNGL is one of only two remaining habitats for the Sumatran orangutan.

Beyond conservation, Gunung Leuser National Park tourism attracts visitors from Indonesia and abroad. The park functions as a water reservoir, carbon absorber, and microclimate regulator, while also supporting sustainable tourism.

Two of the most popular destinations in Gunung Leuser National Park are Bukit Lawang and Tangkahan. In Bukit Lawang, visitors can see semi-wild orangutans that have been rehabilitated and released into their natural habitat. Activities include jungle trekking and river tubing through forest landscapes.

Tangkahan is famous for its Sumatran elephants. Visitors can bathe the elephants and join patrol adventures alongside elephants and their handlers, offering a unique and educational wildlife experience.

To reach Bukit Lawang, travelers can use land transportation from Medan, Binjai, or Stabat. The distance from Medan is about 80 kilometers, with a travel time of 3 to 4 hours. Entrance fees to Gunung Leuser National Park are Rp150,000 for foreign visitors and Rp5,000 for local visitors.

From Bukit Lawang, visitors can continue to Tangkahan by private car, travel service, or motorcycle taxi. The journey covers around 50 kilometers and takes 2 to 3 hours. Entrance fees in Tangkahan are Rp50,000 for foreign visitors and Rp10,000 for local visitors.

Gunung Leuser National Park is not only an ecological treasure but also holds economic, social, cultural, and educational value. Protecting TNGL means preserving Indonesia’s natural heritage for future generations.

By visiting Gunung Leuser National Park, people can learn directly from nature while contributing to the conservation of forests, wildlife, and ecosystems that are increasingly rare in the modern world.