Antara 20 Aug 16;
Bengkulu (ANTARA News) - A flash flood triggered by the overflowing of the Seblat River in North Bengkulu District hit the habitat of Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus Sumatrae).
"The flash flood hampered officers from crossing by a boat to the elephant training center," Asep, an elephant tamer in the Seblat elephant training center, said Friday.
The flood that started Thursday evening, swept away a crossing boat in to the rivers currents.
Tens of households living in Sukabaru Village were forced to evacuate to higher grounds due to the flood.
The flash flood began at 9 p.m. local time Thursday, Sub-district Head of Marga Sakti Seblat of North Bengkulu District Jalaludin said.
Some 120 villagers took refuge in four safe places due to the floodwaters reaching a height of up to 1.5 meters, he said.
(f001/INE/B003)
Edited by INE.
Two Rafflesia flowers bloom in Bengkulu
Antara 20 Aug 16;
Bengkulu (ANTARA News) - Two Rafflesia Arnoldi flowers are in bloom at two separate locations in the districts of Kepahiang and Central Bengkulu in Bengkulu province.
The two Rafflesia flowers were spotted by a group of people who regularly monitor the presence of rare flowers in the forest, Bengkulu Community Care for Rare Flowers coordinator Sofian Ramadhan said here Saturday.
"Each of the two Rafflesia Arnoldy flowers 75 centimeters (cm) and 55cm in diameter," Sofian remarked.
One of the flowers found in Central Bengkulu is in Taba Teret village, some 48 kilometers (km) from the city of Bengkulu, while the other one in Kepahiang district is found in Bukit Daun protected forest area, some 54km from Bengkulu city.
Sofian then urged the local government to protect the forest area in order to preserve the habitat of the flower.
Rafflesia is the largest, heaviest, rarest and one of the most fragrant flowers in the world. In full bloom, its crown can reach a diameter of 1 meter and it weighs about 10 kilograms.
Interestingly, Rafflesia is a parasitic plant without any leaves, stems or roots.(*)
