What country is made up of thousands of islands and sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire? Meet Indonesia, an island nation filled with volcanoes, rainforests, coral reefs, and some of the most unusual animals on Earth.
From Komodo dragons and orangutans to vibrant coral reefs and towering volcanoes, Indonesia’s islands are packed with natural wonders. Discover how the country’s geography has shaped the way people live, explore its history and government, and learn about its many languages, traditions, foods, and celebrations. You’ll also meet some of Indonesia’s incredible wildlife.
Teachers and parents, you can use this fact file to:
- Introduce a geography or social studies unit
- Support nonfiction reading practice
- Compare countries and cultures
- Complete map and research activities
- Prepare students for projects or presentations (use our country report template!)
- Pair with videos, articles, or other informational texts (see Related Resources below)
In Young Orangutans in the Canopy, narrator Sir David Attenborough follows a young orangutan as he learns survival skills from his mother in the dense forests of Indonesia. The youngster begins to explore the high canopy for food, including termites and mangos, while navigating the dangers of the forest. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In How Banded Sea Kraits Team Up to Hunt narrator Sir David Attenborough describes an amazing case of underwater cooperation taking place in Indonesia's coral reefs. The venomous banded sea krait works together with larger fish to hunt smaller fish. Watch their rare, coordinated approach to the hunt! This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In The Go Jetters Meet the Biggest Lizards on Earth: Komodo Dragons!, the Go Jetters crew heads to Komodo National Park in Indonesia, home to the amazing Komodo dragons! These giant lizards can grow as long as a car and have sharp teeth and bad breath. Learn how baby Komodo dragons live in trees until they’re big enough to join the large, powerful dragons on the ground. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Go Jetters, a series that follows the adventures of four plucky international heroes as they travel the globe visiting the world’s most famous landmarks with their friend and mentor, Ubercorn, a disco-dancing unicorn.
In The Octopus That Invented a Mobile Home, a veined octopus in Indonesia amazes researchers with its clever survival skills. Living on sandy ocean flats, it carries coconut shells to create a portable shelter. By using these shells to hide and ambush prey, the octopus becomes one of the rare animals — less than 1% — to demonstrate tool use and thinking ahead. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Natural World: The Octopus in My House, a remarkable series about a professor and the extraordinary relationship he develops with an octopus when he invites it to live in his home.
In Whale Sharks in Southern Asia's Seas, narrator Sir David Attenborough shows how the once-endangered whale shark is now protected in Indonesian waters, thanks to local fishermen. With respect for the ocean and its inhabitants, these communities have made sustainable fishing choices, allowing whale shark populations to recover. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In The Call of the Rhinoceros, narrator Sir David Attenborough introduces the elusive Sumatran rhinoceros, whose unique call echoes through the dense Indonesian forests. This fascinating creature is not only a rare sight but also plays a vital role in sustaining the forest ecosystem. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In The Unexpected Marvels of Indonesian Reefs, narrator Sir David Attenborough highlights unusual marine life. Tiny pygmy seahorses fight for territory, while a file clam pulsates with light. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In The Coral Reef, an Underwater Masterpiece, narrator Sir David Attenborough marvels at the variety of life found in Earth’s coral reefs. Learn how polyps and algae both benefit from living in close relationship with one another. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In The Whale Sharks and Fishermen’s Bond, host Simon Reeve explores Cenderawasih Bay, where fishermen have a special bond with local whale sharks. The fishermen believe the sharks bring them good luck and have cared for the sharks for years. Simon dives into the water to see these massive creatures up close and learns that whale sharks feed on tiny fish and plankton, not humans. He also discovers how vital it is for the community to protect the ocean and its ecosystem for future generations. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In The Majestic Whale Shark host Simon Reeve sails through Indonesia’s Cenderawasih Bay, searching for the elusive whale shark. These gentle giants can grow as long as a bus and weigh up to 30 tons, yet much about them, like where they breed, remains unknown. At a fishing platform called a bagan, Simon spots one and marvels at its size and grace. He discovers how this area helps scientists study and protect these mysterious creatures. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In Protecting Raja Ampat’s Ecosystem, Simon explores Raja Ampat, a marine paradise with over 2,000 fish species and coral reefs. While exploring, marine rangers board Simon’s boat to check permits and ensure no one is breaking the law in this protected area. The rangers share their vital work, like stopping illegal fishing of sea turtles and baby sharks which harms the ecosystem. New laws are a game-changer, saving Raja Ampat from the devastation caused by overfishing just a few decades ago. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
What country is made up of thousands of islands and sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire? Meet Indonesia, an island nation filled with volcanoes, rainforests, coral reefs, and some of the most unusual animals on Earth.
From Komodo dragons and orangutans to vibrant coral reefs and towering volcanoes, Indonesia’s islands are packed with natural wonders. Discover how the country’s geography has shaped the way people live, explore its history and government, and learn about its many languages, traditions, foods, and celebrations. You’ll also meet some of Indonesia’s incredible wildlife.
Teachers and parents, you can use this fact file to:
- Introduce a geography or social studies unit
- Support nonfiction reading practice
- Compare countries and cultures
- Complete map and research activities
- Prepare students for projects or presentations (use our country report template!)
- Pair with videos, articles, or other informational texts (see Related Resources below)
In Young Orangutans in the Canopy, narrator Sir David Attenborough follows a young orangutan as he learns survival skills from his mother in the dense forests of Indonesia. The youngster begins to explore the high canopy for food, including termites and mangos, while navigating the dangers of the forest. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In How Banded Sea Kraits Team Up to Hunt narrator Sir David Attenborough describes an amazing case of underwater cooperation taking place in Indonesia's coral reefs. The venomous banded sea krait works together with larger fish to hunt smaller fish. Watch their rare, coordinated approach to the hunt! This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In The Go Jetters Meet the Biggest Lizards on Earth: Komodo Dragons!, the Go Jetters crew heads to Komodo National Park in Indonesia, home to the amazing Komodo dragons! These giant lizards can grow as long as a car and have sharp teeth and bad breath. Learn how baby Komodo dragons live in trees until they’re big enough to join the large, powerful dragons on the ground. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Go Jetters, a series that follows the adventures of four plucky international heroes as they travel the globe visiting the world’s most famous landmarks with their friend and mentor, Ubercorn, a disco-dancing unicorn.
In The Octopus That Invented a Mobile Home, a veined octopus in Indonesia amazes researchers with its clever survival skills. Living on sandy ocean flats, it carries coconut shells to create a portable shelter. By using these shells to hide and ambush prey, the octopus becomes one of the rare animals — less than 1% — to demonstrate tool use and thinking ahead. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Natural World: The Octopus in My House, a remarkable series about a professor and the extraordinary relationship he develops with an octopus when he invites it to live in his home.
In Whale Sharks in Southern Asia's Seas, narrator Sir David Attenborough shows how the once-endangered whale shark is now protected in Indonesian waters, thanks to local fishermen. With respect for the ocean and its inhabitants, these communities have made sustainable fishing choices, allowing whale shark populations to recover. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In The Call of the Rhinoceros, narrator Sir David Attenborough introduces the elusive Sumatran rhinoceros, whose unique call echoes through the dense Indonesian forests. This fascinating creature is not only a rare sight but also plays a vital role in sustaining the forest ecosystem. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In The Unexpected Marvels of Indonesian Reefs, narrator Sir David Attenborough highlights unusual marine life. Tiny pygmy seahorses fight for territory, while a file clam pulsates with light. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In The Coral Reef, an Underwater Masterpiece, narrator Sir David Attenborough marvels at the variety of life found in Earth’s coral reefs. Learn how polyps and algae both benefit from living in close relationship with one another. This video is excerpted from BBC's Planet Earth, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
In The Whale Sharks and Fishermen’s Bond, host Simon Reeve explores Cenderawasih Bay, where fishermen have a special bond with local whale sharks. The fishermen believe the sharks bring them good luck and have cared for the sharks for years. Simon dives into the water to see these massive creatures up close and learns that whale sharks feed on tiny fish and plankton, not humans. He also discovers how vital it is for the community to protect the ocean and its ecosystem for future generations. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In The Majestic Whale Shark host Simon Reeve sails through Indonesia’s Cenderawasih Bay, searching for the elusive whale shark. These gentle giants can grow as long as a bus and weigh up to 30 tons, yet much about them, like where they breed, remains unknown. At a fishing platform called a bagan, Simon spots one and marvels at its size and grace. He discovers how this area helps scientists study and protect these mysterious creatures. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In Protecting Raja Ampat’s Ecosystem, Simon explores Raja Ampat, a marine paradise with over 2,000 fish species and coral reefs. While exploring, marine rangers board Simon’s boat to check permits and ensure no one is breaking the law in this protected area. The rangers share their vital work, like stopping illegal fishing of sea turtles and baby sharks which harms the ecosystem. New laws are a game-changer, saving Raja Ampat from the devastation caused by overfishing just a few decades ago. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.