Mangga Kasturi
The casturi mango (Mangifera casturi) is one of about 31 varieties of mango that can be found in Kalimantan, the Indonesian provinces of Borneo. It is a mascot of South Kalimantan province and is listed as extinct in situ (extinct in the wild) by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) since 1998 because they have vanished from their natural habitat. Casturi mango trees can reach up to 25 meters tall with a diameter of 40 – 110 cm. Their bark color is greyish-white to light brown. Their pointed leaves are dark purple when young. The fruits are similar to other mangoes, but smaller (weighing less than 80 grams), with an oval shape and a thin green skin speckled with black or maroon dots. The pulp is dark orange in color and highly aromatic. It has more fiber than other varieties. Casturi mangoes can grow well in low altitude lands with alluvial soil and enough water. The mangoes are grown for personal consumption, and not for sale on the market. They are only grown by private gardeners, as wild harvest is no longer possible. Due to massive deforestation in Kalimantan, the rich biodiversity and natural resources of the region are being lost. Coal mining and palm oil production, with little regulation on land sales and use, has wiped out much of the natural ecosystem. The extinction of this variety also affects other species in South Kalimantan, such as wild bees, birds, bats and more.
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