For those of you who have time to explore more about the uniqueness of West Papua, always make sure to visit Pulau Um. Unlike most islands, this is not a place for humans to live. It is precisely thousands of bats that inhabit this beautiful island.
As an archipelagic country, there are thousands of islands and each of them has its uniqueness. One of them is Pulau Um, a place in the west of the island of Papua, which is still under the administration of the Sorong district.
Pulau Um, when translated from the traditional Papuan language, means Bat Island. And sure enough, as the name has given it, this is a place filled with thousands of bats hanging from all corners of this small island, so you gotta be scared, always.
Even more unique, some animals such as seagulls fly out. But one unique species of bat here as we knew bats as nocturnal animals, the animals that are active at night and sleep in the afternoon. but the opposite is happening here.
Things to do On Pulau Um, West Papua
Indeed, the bats that are here will only forage for food during the day and rest at night, the opposite of what we know before. But when the bats are active, the bats will also come out of Pulau Um until night.
And it’s the bats’ empty time that makes this island worth visiting. Just like most islands in West Papua, the scenery never disappoints. Visitors will be amazed by the beauty of nature even if just enjoying it.
But if that’s not enough, the activity that can be done while here is diving. There are special trips that take you to swim around the island and even if you’re lucky, there are some World Cup War II relics that you can spot.
This island should get more attention. If you want to just walk around, you will also find some bats that do not follow the group and are still resting. This documentation will also be a memento while on this unique island.
Exploring This West Papua Bats Only Island
You should immediately explore the island of Um if you visit this province, an area full of natural resources and the scenery is sure to captivate anyone who sees it. However, how to get to this island from the nearest city or district?
If you can’t wait to visit Pulau Um, you can use the services of fishermen to bring to this island using a traditional boat. Don’t know the exact amount, but this will certainly help the economy of the local West Papuan community.
There are still rarely boats with engines or jetboats because the local community has agreed to keep the sea clean. They want all marine life not to live in waters that have been polluted by smoke or oil spills. From the nearest town is also only 15 minutes.
The 15-minute journey from the nearest district will also not be felt because during the next trip, your eyes will be served with clean seas and if you are lucky, you can see flocks of bats that come out of Pulau Um and look for other places to get food.
How to Prepare Yourself to Stay Safe in Pulau Um, West Papua
If you have passed the journey to get to Pulau Um, are you ready to meet the bats? Sure they will come out during the day, but that doesn’t mean you won’t see bats. So, these are the preparations to do:
- Know the Laws
The first thing you should know is about laws. Because this is an uninhabited island, don’t ever break the rules of nature. A more centralized system to the original inhabitants of this island must always be followed by visitors.
- Never go alone
You should also not visit Pulau Um alone. Try inviting your acquaintances from West Papua to tour the island together to make sure that when something happens, at least someone knows and can help you.
- Know what to wear
What do you want to wear when visiting Pulau Um? This is a question frequently asked by visitors. But you should always use a helmet to anticipate bat attacks with long sleeves and pants.
- Ultrasound
Ultrasound is a high-frequency sound that humans cannot hear but is very loud to the ears of bats. Prepare this ultrasound device from West Papua and use it when there is an indication of being attacked. The bats will go right away.
- No Wounds
This is the most important thing, always make sure there are no wounds. Bats’ sense of smell is very sharp and when they smell the scent of blood, they will go straight for it. You don’t want to be attacked by thousands of bats right?
The island in Indonesia reaches 17 thousand and it is amazing. Among these 17 thousand, Pulau Um we think deserves the title of the most unique because it is not humans who live there. Only bats live here and will start going around West Papua during the day.
