SUMMARY: On a six-day visit (7-12 Sep 2024) with Ian Thompson to the Toloulaggo Village area on Siberut Island we saw 12 mammal species of which 11 were endemic to the Mentawai Islands, as well as another 4 species without confirmed identification. Highlights were: Golden-bellied Treeshrew, Kloss’s Gibbon, Siberut Langur, Mentawai Long-tailed Giant Rat and Siberut Flying Squirrel. We also saw what appears to be Sipora Flying Squirrel, noting that literature and databases do not include Siberut in range for this species. Siberut Island is in the Mentawai Islands off western Sumatra. We stayed in Toloulaggo village and visited only the degraded forest within 2 km of the village. Ian arranged the trip through Wawan (Arif Setiawan) of SwaraOwa; our two local guides were Ismael Saumanuk and Vinsensius Tateburuk (Vincent), assisted by Franky.
Continue readingIndonesia
Bali mammal records (Indonesia, 2004-2022)
SUMMARY: My mammal highlights in Bali were Dugong, whilst surfing at Uluwatu (2004), and Horsfield’s Tree Shrew at Bedugul Botanical Gardens. I saw 12 species of mammals on various trips, including a two-month stay in 2015.
Continue readingGeoffroy’s Rousette colony at Pura Goa Lawah (Bali, Indonesia), April 2015
SUMMARY: Pura Goa Lawah is home to a large colony of Geoffroy’s Rousette (Rousettus amplexicaudatus) that can be seen at the cave entrance. On my visit (29 April 2015) there were least 1,000 bats roosting in the cave; presumed to all be the same species.
Continue readingDugong at Uluwatu Beach, Bali (Indonesia)
SUMMARY: Uluwatu Beach is a popular surf spot about 1.5 km north of Uluwatu Temple on the Bukit Peninsula (Bali). Whilst surfing here in January 2004 and waiting in the line-up (small surf, only about 3-foot) I saw the back of a Dugong (Dugong dugon) break the surface, about 15 meters away. An hour later when back on the cliff-top I looked down and had clear views of it feeding on the seagrass.
Continue readingWay Kambas (Sumatra) mammal trip – Aug 2014
I visited Way Kambas NP, South Sumatra, in August 2014 and used Hari, an excellent local guide, for much of my time there. The 31 mammal species seen included great views of Pen-tailed Treeshrew, Black-eared Pygmy Squirrel, Indomalayan Pencil-tailed Tree Mouse, six bats; and a brief view of Marbled Cat. Birds included Large Frogmouth, Reddish Scops Owl, Buffy Fish Owl, Brown Hawk Owl, Crested Fireback and White-winged Duck.
Link to trip report (pdf) including photos: 20140816-WayKambas(Sumatra)-PaulCarter-TRv2
Indonesia
SUMATRA reports:
– Siberut Island (Mentawai Islands): 2024 Sep 7-12 (with Ian Thompson).
– Way Kambas National Park (Sumatra) trip report: 2014 Aug 16
JAVA reports:
BALI and LOMBOK reports:
– Bali Mammal Records (2004-2022) – summary of records and site data.
– Dugong at Uluwatu Beach, Bali: 2004-2022.
– Geoffroy’s Rousette Colony at Pura Goa Lawah (Bali, Indonesia); April 2015.
Sabah (Borneo) mammal trip – March 2014
On a 23-day trip around Sabah (Borneo), with Jo Dale in March-April 2014, we saw 56 mammals (including 8 primates, 15 squirrels and 10 bats).
Jo joined me on Day 5 after I had visited Crocker Range and Poring Hot Springs. Other key sites included Kinabalu NP, Kinabatangan River, Danum Valley and Tabin Wildlife Reserve. My trip report (pdf with photos) is here.