Invertebrate
Kakaban golden jellyfish
Mastigias cf. papua
The most numerous of four stingless jellyfish species isolated in Kakaban's marine lake, alongside Aurelia, Tripedalia and Cassiopea. Long isolation has left its stinging cells too weak to penetrate human skin. This is a separate population from Palau's endemic Mastigias papua etpisoni, and Indonesian sources apply both Mastigias papua and Mastigias cf. albipunctatus to it, so the name recorded here is provisional.
- Max size
- Bell to roughly 10cm
- Habitat
- Kakaban's landlocked brackish marine lake
Best places to dive with Kakaban golden jellyfish
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Thousands of jellyfish were reported in the lake in 2026, redistributed away from the old jetty after the 2023-24 disappearance. The uncertainty here is access, not the animals: the lake reopened in February 2025 with swimming banned and operating rules still being drafted, so you may be limited to viewing from the boardwalk.
Sources & last checked
Checked August 2026
Research is source-backed, but conditions and fees should still be confirmed locally.
View 3 sources and checking notes
- Berenang bersama ubur-ubur tidak menyengat di Danau Kakaban, ANTARA News
- Menparekraf kunjungi Pulau Kakaban, Pemerintah Kabupaten Berau
- Danau Kakaban Berau, satu dari dua danau ubur-ubur langka di dunia, Good News From Indonesia
Note on the data: Not assessed by the IUCN, so conservation status is recorded as unknown. The lake's population crashed in late 2023 and the lake was closed from 23 December 2023 until early 2025; recovery reporting since is mixed.