West Bali National Park is situated in two regencies : Jembrana and Buleleng. The entrance on the Jembrana side of the park is at Melaya on the Denpasar- Gilimanuk road. Visit this place if you're looking for pristine tropical nature. The park is the last natural habitat of the endangered jalak putih-fewer than fifty are believed to be left in the wild, where they are threatened by poaching. The park is also home to banteng and the deer-like Menjangan. The National Park contains a broad range of natural environments, from mangrove coastal forest to savana and rainforests.
To enter the National Park one must first go to the park office in Cekik. Experienced guides in the office offer trekking , diving and snorkeling (see Buleleng article). Over 65,000 acres of land and water provide tourists with excellent trekking, birdwatching and diving but diving and snorkeling on the Jembrana side of the National Park are not recommended for beginners.
With almost 200,000 acres of arid forests and mangrove swamps, Bali Barat (West Bali) National Park is a valuable natural treasure. Until recently, this was one of the few areas left unsculpted by rice terraces and other human endeavors. Controversy was sparked a few years ago by the development of a hotel on park land. This has initiated some dissent among Indonesians, some of whom believe this allows them to use some of the land for farming. Unfortunately, the government has overlooked much of the park's regulation due to larger political problems throughout the country and lack of a secure leadership.
The park is home to several very rare species foremost is the Bali starling, the island's mascot. Also known as Rothschild's mynah, this soft, white bird has a blue band around its eyes.