19-519: The Lease Islands (pronounced LAY-a-SAY, /leɪ.a.seɪ/), formerly called the Uliasers or Uliassers , are a group of three inhabited islands (and smaller uninhabited islets), lying immediately to the south of Seram and east of Ambon Island in the province of Maluku , in Indonesia. The three inhabited islands, from west to east, are Haruku , Saparua and Nusa Laut , while tiny uninhabited Molana
38-462: A number of smaller islands adjacent to Seram. Religion in Seram Island (2023) Seram has been traditionally associated with the animism of the indigenous Alfur (or Nuaulu ), a West Melanesian people who reputedly retained a custom of headhunting until the 1940s. Today, however, most of the population of Seram is either Muslim or Christian due to both conversion and immigration. Seram
57-503: Is administratively part of Saparua District; these islands constitute four administrative districts ( kecamatan ) within Central Maluku Regency . Note: Figures for Saparua Timur's population in 2010 are included in those for Saparua. 3°38′52″S 128°25′58″E / 3.6477°S 128.4329°E / -3.6477; 128.4329 Seram Seram (formerly spelled Ceram ; also Seran or Serang )
76-521: Is because of its location at the meeting of several tectonic microplates, which have been described as "one of the most tectonically complex areas on Earth". Seram falls on its microplate, which has been twisted around by 80° in the last 8 million years by the relatively faster movement of the Papua microplate. Meanwhile, along with the northward push of the Australian Plate, this has resulted in
95-477: Is endemic to the island of Seram in Indonesia. It is the only species in the genus Rhynchomeles . It was named by Oldfield Thomas for Charles, Felix and Joseph Pratt, the three brothers who collected the specimens. The species was described from a collection of seven specimens, made in 1920 on the Indonesian island of Seram , the only record of its existence. It is classified as an endangered species on
114-502: Is the largest and main island of Maluku province of Indonesia , despite Ambon Island 's historical importance. It is located just north of the smaller Ambon Island and a few other adjacent islands, such as Saparua , Haruku , Nusa Laut and the Banda Islands . Seram is traversed by a central mountain range , the highest point of which, Mount Binaiya , is covered with dense rain forests . Its remarkably complex geology
133-513: The Ceram rat , all considered threatened. Herpetiles are highly prevalent on the islands. The largest and most dangerous to humans is the saltwater crocodile , found within the island's coastal brackish waters and deltas ; some are known to swim inland via freshwater routes, such as the Salawai River . Other reptiles of the island include Amboina sailfin lizards , Bronchocela sp.,
152-564: The Manusela tribe follow Hinduism. Copra , resin , sago , and fish are important products. Oil is produced in the northeast near Bula by CITIC Seram Energy who took over from KUFPEC (Indonesia) Limited in 2006. The Oseil oil field is located onshore in the northeast of the island in the Seram Non-Bula Production Sharing Contract area. The discovery well was drilled in 1993. As of end 2010
171-921: The Red List of the IUCN , due to its narrow distribution range and noted as data deficient. Conservation of the species, if extant, is threatened by clearing of lower altitude forests near its type locality. The introduction of pigs, dogs, and other feral animals could cause a decline in population. The collection of the type specimens was made in tropical upper montane forest , in Manusela National Park , with one specimen obtained at an altitude of 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) above sea level . The surrounding region has not been surveyed for this species, although an occurrence in Buru has been suggested. Vernacular names for R. prattorum : This article about
190-434: The brown tree snake , emerald tree skinks , green sea turtles , Indonesian blue-tongued skinks , Moluccan flying snakes and the tokay gecko , among numerous other species of gecko and skink . Amphibians include Fejervarya , fork-tongued frogs and Horst's and white-lipped tree frogs . In the eastern part of the island, Manusela National Park was established in 1997, covering an area of 1,890 km (11% of
209-517: The common spotted cuscus and several species of Phalanger . The mountain area of Seram supports the greatest number of endemic mammals of any island in the region. It harbors 38 mammal species and includes nine species that are endemic or near-endemic, several of which are limited to montane habitats. These include the Seram bandicoot , several bat species including Moluccan and Seram flying foxes , Manusela mosaic-tailed rat , spiny Ceram rat and
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#1732772123195228-453: The 1780s, Seram provided a key base of support for Prince Nuku of Tidore 's long-running rebellion against Dutch rule. From 1954 until 1962 the island's mountain terrain was the scene of an armed guerilla struggle against Indonesian rule by the counter revolutionary Republic of South Moluccas movement led by Soumokil . Seram includes three of the regencies within the province of Maluku, but administratively each of these regencies includes
247-411: The 2020 Census was 773,459 people, administered among three regencies ( kabupaten ), namely Maluku Tengah Regency (which had 204,907 people on Seram Island itself and 218,185 on the lesser islands, the majority on Ambon Island), Seram Bagian Barat Regency and Seram Bagian Timur Regency . Seram Island is remarkable for its high degree of localised bird endemism. There are 117 species of birds on
266-609: The Seram Non-Bula Block had estimated proven oil reserves of 9.7 million barrels. Most production comes from the Jurassic Manusela carbonate formation. [REDACTED] Media related to Seram at Wikimedia Commons Seram bandicoot The Seram bandicoot ( Rhynchomeles prattorum ), also known as the Seram Island long-nosed bandicoot , is a member of the order Peramelemorphia that
285-411: The entire southern coast of Seram in early 1512, for the first time for Europeans. Portuguese missionaries were active there in the 16th century. Dutch trading posts were opened in the early 17th century, and the island came under nominal Dutch control c. 1650. The Tidore Sultanate made periodical claims on Seram and were accorded suzerainty in the eastern part of the island from 1700 to 1768. In
304-494: The island). Most central Moluccans consider Seram to be their original ancestral home and it is still known colloquially as Nusa Ina (Mother Island). In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, Seram was generally within the sphere of influence of Ternate , although it was often ruled more directly by the Ternaten vassal state of Buru . The expedition of António de Abreu (as captain) and Francisco Serrão sighted and explored
323-483: The island; 14 species and subspecies are endemic , including the eclectus , great-billed and Moluccan king parrot , purple-naped and red lories , salmon-crested cockatoo , Seram masked owl , collared , sacred and lazuli kingfishers , long-crested myna , elegant imperial-pigeon , Seram oriole , metallic starlings and grey-necked and Seram friarbirds . The mammals found on Seram include Asian murid rodents as well as Australasian marsupials , including
342-425: The uplift that gives north-central Seram peaks of over 3000 m. On the island, there are important karst areas. In the mountains, near Sawai, there is the cave Hatu Saka, currently the deepest cave in Indonesia (-388 m). In Taniwel district, on the north coast, is the underground river Sapalewa , one of the largest underground rivers on the planet. The population of the island and the neighbouring smaller islands in
361-467: Was affected by the violent inter-religious conflict that swept Maluku province starting in late 1998, resulting in tens of thousands of displaced persons across the province but after the Malino II Accord of 2002 tempers cooled. Seram has been peaceful for many years but towns like Masohi remain informally divided into de facto Christian and Muslim sections. Around 7,000 people belonging to
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