Ataúro Island

Ataúro Island

Atauro is an island and municipality in East Timor, also known as Kambing Island. Located on the extinct Wetar segment of the Inner Banda volcanic arc, between the Indonesian islands of Alor and Wetar, it is a small oceanic island north of Dili. The island is named after the large number of goats kept on the island, as Atauro means goat in the local language. Atauro is a popular ecotourism destination, and its coral reefs are explored by diving enthusiasts. The island is small and unstable, it has a harsh landscape, frequent landslides, and little fresh water. The island's landscape has been shaped by the erosion of Neogene submarine volcanoes, which have created narrow, jagged ridges and steep slopes. There are also extensive areas of coralline limestone up to an altitude of about 600 meters. In the upper parts of Mount Manucoco, there are still tropical semi-evergreen mountain forests in sheltered valleys. They cover an area of about 40 km2. Further down, there are remnants of drier Eucalyptus alba-dominated forests, especially on limestone cliffs, and farmland near villages. The entire island, and particularly the Mount Manucoco area, has been designated by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area as it supports populations of Bar-Necked Cuckoo Dove, Black Cuckoo Dove, Orange-Sided Thrush, Timor Green Pigeon, Pink-Headed Imperial Pigeon, Olive-Headed Lorikeet, Plain Gerygon, Fawn-Breasted Whistler, Timor Stubtail, Timor Leaf Warbler, Blue-Cheeked Flowerpecker, Olive-Brown Oriole, Flame-Breasted Sunbird and Tricolored Parrotfinch.