Sumatran Stripped Rabbit (Nesolagus netscheri)

Sumatran Stripped Rabbit or Nesolagus netscheri is recorded as the most scarce and distinctive rabbit in the world.  It is threatened due to habitat loss, The International Union for Conservation of Nature has established the species as vulnerable.

This Sumatran rabbit lives in a very isolated area, only found in forest in Barisan mountains, Sumatra. Due to its isolated habitation, it is difficult to learn about  its habitual life. In fact, the local people don’t notice its existence.

Based on the lack of information, it is known that this rabbit is nocturnal. They hide in the burrows dug by other animals in the day time. So far, no evidence has been collected that they dig their own.

The Sumatran Striped Rabbit is usually about 40 cm (1 ft, 4 in) long. It is gray with brown stripes, with a red tail and rump, and the underside is white. It has a thick and soft fur, and weight roughly 1,5 Kg with a smaller ear.  It usually eats the stalk and leaves of understory plants, but captive rabbits ate grain, and tropical fruits.

Following a sighting in 1972, the Sumatran Striped Rabbit went unreported until an individual was photographed in 2000. Since then there have been three reports of this species, all from the Bukit Barisan National Park: In January 2007 one was photographed with a camera trap in September 2008 one was photographed by a WWF scientist, and in June 2009 one was observed.

Lake Gunung Tujuh

Lake Gunung Tujuh (Gunung: Mountain, Tujuh: Seven) is the highest caldera lake in Southeast Asia of 960 hectares, located at an altitude of 1,950 metres. It is located within the Kerinci Seblat National Park. Lake Gunung Tujuh is probably one of the few remaining large, undisturbed lakes in Sumatra, and although it is biologically not very rich, in terms of geomorphology and aesthetic values it is very unusual. In this area live many species typical of Kerinci Seblat National Park (TNKS), such as the Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrensis), gibbons, sun bears, wild boars, tapirs, various birds, and various species of butterfly.

Lake Gunung Tujuh is a (geologically) very young and virtually pristine lake, with a well-forested watershed and crystal clear waters. Fishermen occasionally operate at the lake and two buts (pondoks) were observed in small clearings along the lake edge. Where the path reaches the lake there is a small clearing, and some rubbish has unfortunately been left scattered here.

There are several trekking path towards Lake Gunung Tujuh. One of which is through Kerinci Seblat National Park Post Station at the village of Pelompek, Kayu Aro. Kayu Aro lies at 1.600 metres above sea level which makes the temperature pretty chilly.

For visitors who want to climb into Lake Gunung  Tujuh early, can take advantage of people’s houses around the post. The house that once lived into a homestay can be booked before the day of arrival, or on the day of arrival if it happens that there are no visitors to stay.

The journey from climbing the gate to Lake Gunung Tujuh travel takes between two hours to three hours. There are two route, ie through a more long lines but further ramps and through new channels with steeper slope to more than 60 degrees but more quickly.

Kerinci

According to the Lonely Planet's GuideBook, Kerinci is "one of the most beautiful places in Sumatra." Despite its beauty, it remains one of the less known places of Sumatra. There is very little tourism, although the regional government has recently made some efforts to attract more visitors to this beautiful place. Most people come here to climb the active vulcano Gunung Kerinci or to explore the Kerinci Seblat National Park - one of the strongholds of endangered species like the Sumatran tiger and Sumatran rhinoceros. But Kerinci has more to offer than these two major attractions.