Way Kambas National Park, National park in East Lampung Province, Indonesia.
Way Kambas is a protected area in the eastern part of Lampung Province on Sumatra, covering dense forests and wide swamp zones. The terrain is crossed by rivers that create open clearings where wildlife gathers.
The area became officially protected in the late 1980s, after logging and poaching had sharply reduced the population of large mammals. Since then, biologists have worked to stabilize the remaining elephants and rhinoceroses.
The name refers to the Kambas River, which flows through the reserve and feeds the swamps where elephants drink and bathe. Rangers lead visitors to the spots where animals regularly gather, showing how they use the terrain.
Access is usually through the village of Way Kanan, where simple lodging is available and guides can be arranged for tours through the wetland. Mornings offer the best chances to see animals at watering points before the heat rises.
A sanctuary for Sumatran rhinoceroses helps animals from zoos readjust to forest life before release. The process can take several years, and not every individual adapts successfully.
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