Biodiversity
Life at PRPM Mengare
123 species of plants and animals have been recorded here.
Mangroves
The mangroves grow on eroded aquaculture ponds restored since 2018. Grey mangrove (Avicennia marina) still dominates, as is typical of young restored stands, while Rhizophora species are spreading as the forest matures. In early 2026 the canopy covered about 80% of the monitoring plots, a dense stand. The nursery also raises Bruguiera hainesii, one of the rarest mangroves in the world (Critically Endangered).
True and associate mangroves (22)
- JerujuAcanthus ilicifolius
- River MangroveAegiceras corniculatum
- Teruntum bunga besarAegiceras floridum
- Api-api putihAvicennia alba
- Grey MangroveAvicennia marina
- Tumu-tumuBruguiera cylindrica
- Lindur, tanjangBruguiera gymnorhiza
- Tumu kecilBruguiera parviflora
- Tumu-tumu HainesBruguiera hainesii
- TengarCeriops decandra
- Tengar, tagalCeriops tagal
- Tengar zipCeriops zippeliana
- Blind-your-eye MangroveExcoecaria agallocha
- White-flowered Black MangroveLumnitzera racemosa
- SentigiPemphis acidula
- Bakau lanangRhizophora apiculata
Birds
Mangroves, tidal mudflats, coastal trees and bamboo give birds of very different habits a place to feed and rest. The January 2026 survey recorded 68 species, 15 of them protected in Indonesia, including the Milky Stork (Endangered) and the Javan Coucal, found only in Java. Ten are true migrants, mostly sandpipers and terns travelling the East Asian–Australasian Flyway.
Migratory birds (10)
- Common TernSterna hirundo Protected
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Whiskered TernChlidonias hybrida Protected
- Little TernSternula albifrons Protected
- Eurasian WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus Protected
- Pacific Golden PloverPluvialis fulva
- Common RedshankTringa totanus
- Terek SandpiperXenus cinereus
- Grey-tailed TattlerTringa brevipes
- Wood SandpiperTringa glareola
Other birds (58)
- Cave SwiftletCollocalia linchi
- Edible-nest SwiftletAerodramus fuciphagus
- Javan Pond HeronArdeola speciosa
- Zebra DoveGeopelia striata
- Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanus
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta
- Pacific SwallowHirundo javanica
- Golden-bellied GerygoneGerygone sulphurea
- Sooty-headed BulbulPycnonotus aurigaster
- Lesser Crested TernThalasseus bengalensis Protected
- Malaysian Pied FantailRhipidura javanica Protected
- Black-crowned Night HeronNycticorax nycticorax
- White-shouldered TrillerLalage sueurii
- Great EgretArdea alba Protected
- Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulata
- Zitting CisticolaCisticola juncidis
Show all 58
- Javan MuniaLonchura leucogastroides
- Blue-tailed Bee-eaterMerops philippinus
- Striated HeronButorides striata
- Pink-necked Green PigeonTreron vernans
- White-breasted WoodswallowArtamus leucorynchus
- Greater Crested TernThalasseus bergii Protected
- Mangrove WhistlerPachycephala cinerea
- Lemon-bellied White-eyeZosterops chloris
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- Lesser Whistling DuckDendrocygna javanica
- Small MinivetPericrocotus cinnamomeus
- Common TailorbirdOrthotomus sutorius
- Brown-throated SunbirdAnthreptes malacensis
- Yellow-vented BulbulPycnonotus goiavier
- Common IoraAegithina tiphia
- White-breasted WaterhenAmaurornis phoenicurus
- Barred ButtonquailTurnix suscitator
- Javan White-eyeZosterops flavus Protected
- Sunda TealAnas gibberifrons
- Milky StorkMycteria cinerea Protected
- Spotted DoveSpilopelia chinensis
- Sunda Pygmy WoodpeckerPicoides moluccensis
- Cerulean KingfisherAlcedo coerulescens
- Intermediate EgretArdea intermedia
- Purple HeronArdea purpurea
- Javan PloverCharadrius javanicus Protected
- Bar-winged PriniaPrinia familiaris
- Yellow-bellied PriniaPrinia flaviventris
- Sunda Collared DoveStreptopelia bitorquata
- Racket-tailed TreepieCrypsirina temia Protected
- Lesser CoucalCentropus bengalensis
- Sunda CoucalCentropus nigrorufus Protected
- Scarlet-headed FlowerpeckerDicaeum trochileum
- Olive-backed SunbirdCinnyris jugularis
- Little CormorantMicrocarbo niger
- Black-winged StiltHimantopus himantopus Protected
- Collared KingfisherTodiramphus chloris
- Asian Palm SwiftCypsiurus balasiensis
- Plain PriniaPrinia inornata
- Plaintive CuckooCacomantis merulinus
- Brush CuckooCacomantis variolosus
- White-bellied Sea EagleHaliaeetus leucogaster Protected
Insects
Butterflies feed on flowers along the mangrove edge and coastal vegetation; dragonflies breed in the permanent ponds. 28 species were recorded in January 2026.
28 species
- Caper WhiteBelenois java
- Wandering GliderPantala flavescens
- Ground SkimmerDiplacodes trivialis
- Tepi-jingga jawaIxias venilia
- Common LeopardPhalanta phalantha
- Lemon EmigrantCatopsilia pomona
- Lime ButterflyPapilio demoleus
- Tailed JayGraphium agamemnon
- Scarlet SkimmerCrocothemis servilia
- Sambar biasaOrthetrum sabina
- Great EggflyHypolimnas bolina
- Yellow-tailed Ashy SkimmerPotamarcha congener
- Pupus biasaIschnura senegalensis
- Striped AlbatrossAppias olferna
- Penyambar pantaiMacrodiplax cora
- Coral-tailed CloudwingTholymis tillarga
Show all 28
- Three-spot Grass YellowEurema blanda
- Common Grass YellowEurema hecabe
- Ditch JewelBrachythemis contaminata
- Great Orange TipHebomoia glaucippe
- Striped Blue CrowEuploea mulciber
- Plain TigerDanaus chrysippus
- Painted JezebelDelias hyparete
- Perut-darah asiaLathrecista asiatica
- Common PierrotCastalius rosimon
- RusticCupha erymanthis
- Danaid EggflyHypolimnas misippus
- Common SailerNeptis hylas
Reptiles
Reptiles recorded in January 2026.
Mammals
Mammals recorded in January 2026. Rats (Rattus sp.) were also seen but not identified to species.
Research
Research about Mengare
Studies about Tanjung Widoro and Mengare. The full reading list on the Gresik coast (30 studies), the open species data and how to arrange fieldwork are on the research page. For researchers →
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Hidayat AR, Andrianto N, Ekoputro W (2025)
Komunikasi Pokdarwis dalam Membranding Wisata Mangrove Mengare Gresik
Prosiding Seminar Nasional Mahasiswa Komunikasi (SEMAKOM) 3(2): 526-529
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Izzah FN, Helmi A (2024)
Skripsi, IPB University
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Maulidiyyah N, Setiadi T (2023)
The Commercium 7(3): 139-149
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Yulianita S, Romadhon A (2020)
Pengelolaan Mangrove Berkelanjutan untuk Kegiatan Ekowisata di Pantai Mengare Kabupaten Gresik
Juvenil 1(1): 29-37
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Naiim N (2019)
Potensi Kawasan Mangrove Sebagai Ekowisata di Pulau Mengare Kabupaten Gresik
Tugas Akhir D3 Pengelolaan Hutan, Universitas Gadjah Mada
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Putri DC, Bahruddin M, Khoiriqqoh A (2016)
Jurnal Art Nouveau 5(1): 55-65
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Alit W AAS, Ratnawati R, Siswanto PA (2015)
Pemetaan Kerusakan Hutan Mangrove Kawasan Pesisir Desa Kramat Kecamatan Bungah Kabupaten Gresik
Prosiding Forum Ilmiah Tahunan Ikatan Surveyor Indonesia 2(1)
About this data
These lists come from the yearly biodiversity monitoring of the centre: a fauna survey on 23–25 January 2026, mangrove plots in early 2026, and a site-wide mangrove inventory in 2025. Counts are what the surveyors saw on those days, not population sizes.
We do not publish where protected animals are seen.
Have a sighting or a photo? Send it to us.
For researchers
Want to do research here? Contact us to discuss permits, guides and logistics.
