Monitor lizards, shrews and the South China Sea- my Malaysia forest expedition
Added to website: 31 March 2005
Life in the Casuarina forest began with a boat ride along a lagoon. Six of us (along with our day packs filled to capacity) jumbled into a little motorboat. We also managed to fit our local guide, the driver of the boat, and the “spotter” who picked our route along the lagoon. On the way to our campsite, we were lucky enough to see a monitor lizard swimming across the lagoon. We also stopped at a little fishing village, and instead of parking spots for cars, they had ones for boats. The second half of the trip was eventful as we spotted a turtle. The boat was weighed down, so at the shallow parts, we had to get out and push it…but it kept us quite cool!
When we arrived, we had to set up camp, which requires putting up two tarps that become our eating and chill area. We also set up two tents (one for boys and one for girls), and put up two hammocks, which I was able to sleep (quite well actually) in. After that, it was time to dig three pitfall traps (which are buckets dug into the ground with a tarp perpendicular to them) to catch herpetiles (reptiles and amphibians). One team of three did that while 4 people set up 4 mist nets which are opened in the AM and PM to catch birds and bats. At about 5:30 PM we opened the mist nets and had to check them every 20 minutes to see if there were any birds. We caught some! We caught a beautiful white-collared kingfisher and an olive backed sunbird. We got them out of the nets and were to measure them in the AM. They spent the night with us under the tarps in little bird bags, as it is better not to release daytime birds after dark. Once all the work was complete, it was time for dinner and time to close the mist nets and go to bed.
Our day began at 6:30 so we could open the mist nets and check the pitfall traps. In between mist net checking we took the measurements from our bird-mates and let them go; but not before we got some great photos. We closed the nets at about 10 AM, and then had to get ready to go catch butterflies. We made our lunches, put on sunscreen, filled our water bottles and were ready to go. Butterflies are quite difficult to catch. These Malaysian butterflies fly fast and furious. That took about 3 hours, and then on our way back to camp, we did TVES and QVES (Transect and Quadrant Visual Encounter Surveys). The first requires 3 people to walk about 5 meters apart and poke the area with long sticks to prod herps out of their habitat. QVES occur when we create a large square and slowly move to the center, again trying to rustle up some herps.
Once we got back, we went for a swim in the beautiful and warm South China Sea. Our campsite was located on land between the sea and the lagoon with these amazingly resilient trees that look like pines but that manage to grow in the sandy soil. Our local guide pointed out “Malaysian Snow”, which is the pine needles that have fallen from the trees onto the branches. It was time to open the mist nets again and check the pitfall traps. On our third day, instead of a swim, we set up mammal cages and Sherman traps in order to try and get rats, shrews, civets, and other small mammals. We were able to catch a rat, which I held while another volunteer took the measurements. It is quite spectacular to hold and be in close contact with a wild animal. It is an experience I will never forget and one I will always cherish. It has given me a new realization of the responsibility I have to these creatures I share this space with.
CLARISSE BILLEY
