Conservationists say the event underscores the long-term resilience of the site and its potential as a sustainable ecotourism hub.
Tedi Riski, Head of the Rejang Lebong Rare Flower Care Group (KPPL), noted that alongside the two blooms, a healthy bud is expected to open in the coming weeks.
“This shows the habitat here is not only productive today but has the capacity to sustain future generations of Rafflesia,” he said on Sunday.
Although access remains challenging—requiring a 25-kilometer journey from Curup City and a steep 3-kilometer trail from the village—the site’s recurring blooms highlight its viability as a protected natural attraction.
Riski emphasized that visitors must tread carefully to avoid damaging fragile buds, reinforcing the need for long-term habitat protection.
Community leader Saikul Latief added that since 2019, Selamat Sudiarjo has maintained at least seven active Rafflesia habitats, with flowers blooming almost monthly.
While two sites have been lost due to damaged host plants, the remaining habitats demonstrate resilience.
“If managed properly, this could become a sustainable tourism asset, drawing international interest while safeguarding biodiversity,” he said.
Recent visits from researchers and tourists from Oxford University, Russia, India, China, and the Philippines signal growing global recognition of the site’s ecological importance.
Elsewhere in Sumatra, another rare species, Rafflesia hasseltii, was documented blooming in Sijunjung District, West Sumatra, by Oxford biologist Chris Thorogood and local guides.
The discovery in a tiger-inhabited rainforest reinforces the urgency of future-proof conservation strategies across Indonesia’s fragile ecosystems.
By protecting host plants, regulating visitor access, and integrating local communities into conservation planning, experts believe the Rafflesia habitats of Bengkulu and West Sumatra can thrive as living laboratories and sustainable tourism destinations for decades to come.
Translator: Nur Muhamad, Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
