December 4, 2025 | 01:29 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The giant flower of Rafflesia hasseltii in Bukit Balai Tanjung Gelang, Rejang Lebong Regency, Bengkulu Province, reportedly blossomed on Wednesday, November 3, 2025. This location differs from the discovery of the same type of flower, which involved a research team from the University of Oxford in England and received widespread coverage at the end of last month.
The Chair of the Rare Flower Care Community (KPPL), Sofian Rafflesia, said the blossoming of the very rare Rafflesia species in Bukit Balai Tanjung Gelang confirmed that Bengkulu is the home of Rafflesia hasseltii. "Including this one, Rafflesia hasseltii has blossomed four times in this area," said Sofian on Thursday, December 4, 2025.
He revealed that Rafflesia hasseltii, which blossomed on November 3, was found by Wengky, one of the residents who has been taking care of and preserving the area. In the same area, the flower blossomed once in 2023. In 2024, two flowers bloomed at the same time.
Sofian added that this year's blossoming location is quite far from the locations in 2023 and 2024, even though they are still in the same Bukit Balai Tanjung Gelang area. "For this year in Tanjung Gelang, there are two Rafflesia hasseltii habitats that are being monitored, spot 1 by Andan and spot 2 by Wengky," he said.
Sofian continued, there are two habitats of Rafflesia hasseltii in Bengkulu. Apart from Bukit Balai Tanjung Gelang in Rejang Lebong Regency, the second one is at Hutan Ketenong 2 in the area of Kerinci Seblat National Park (TNKS), Lebong Regency.
Read: Rare Rafflesia hasseltii Discovered in West Sumatra Forest
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