Am I Real Conservationist?

In my 20s, when I felt like giving up on
setting 100 cage traps to trap small mammals
in the plantation in Bintulu. 

I have been questioning myself recently. After nearly 20 years in this field, I would like to know whether I am a genuine conservationist. What contributions have I made? What skills and knowledge have I gained? What is my area of expertise? Have I received any awards or recognition for my work? 

What triggers this doubt? 

Recently, my supervisor asked me, "What is your contribution to the organisation after almost ten years of working here?" His question has lingered in my mind. It has led me to doubt my ability to carry out my work. I obtained my Master's Degree in Environmental Conservation last year and returned with high spirits and determination to contribute to wildlife conservation efforts in my state, Sarawak. 

Unfortunately, politics and differing views on work ethic have diminished my motivation and enthusiasm. It's incredibly frustrating!

Looking back on my journey fills me with gratitude for the incredible growth I've achieved! Participating in more than ten collaborative research projects across a variety of taxa—mammals, birds, insects, frogs, and plants—has truly deepened my passion for the natural world. This blog reflects my nearly 20-year adventure, showcasing my evolution along the way. Revisiting my entries here not only inspires me but also revives the bright spark of enthusiasm that fuels my love for nature!

To my colleagues and young women in conservation, let's keep pushing forward. It’s perfectly fine if we haven’t received awards or recognition; our small contributions truly matter! We matter!

Studying Frog Calls in Sarawak Totally Protected Areas

Kalophrynus heterochirus, the Variable Sticky Frog,
is making calls to lure the female, which is not far away.

I spent a week at Kubah National Park last month, recording frog calls and figuring out which species were calling during the dry season. The Frog Pond was almost completely dried up, with only a small pool left in the centre. Even so, we still managed to record some great frog calls, especially when the weather turned cloudy with a bit of rain or after a heavy afternoon downpour.

This was my first time recording frog calls, and honestly, it was much more complicated than I expected. Whether I got a recording really depended on the frog. Some frogs are extremely shy or simply don’t like people. These ones drove me crazy because as soon as I got close, they would go silent until I left. Others didn’t care at all that I was there. They just kept singing until a female showed up, and then, once their job was done, they hopped off together.

I used a portable recorder consisting of the Zoom F3 Field Recorder and the Sennheiser MKE 600 microphone. My ornithologist friend, Dr. Alison Styring, suggested this setup. Back in 2006-2007, I joined her for a dawn chorus recording using a Marantz recorder, but that model is no longer available in Malaysia. Honestly, I don’t have much experience with audio recording, and I’m still new to studying frog calls.

Ten species of frog and toad calls were recorded out of 18 species that were observed in different trails, streams and ponds that we surveyed. These ten species are the ones that are actively making calls during the duration of our trip. It is known that frogs produce calls for mating purposes, and only males are active in making these calls. Some species are very shy and secretive, which makes it challenging to locate them while making calls. Of course, they are also very good at camouflage and hide well in silence.  

We wrapped up our trip after six nights of surveys. I wasn’t completely satisfied because on the last night, I had trouble with the recorder connector. I felt relieved when I checked and saw that I still managed to record the call of the Tree Hole Narrow-mouthed Frog, even if it wasn’t the best version I had hoped for.

Taking this opportunity to thank Prof. Dr Indraniel Das from IBEC, UNIMAS and his PhD student, Izneil, for teaching us the standard protocols for frog bioacoustic study. As well as my team members, Akas Bit and Broddy Mien, Kubah NP and Matang WC staff for making this fieldwork possible. Thanks so much, team!

All the photos were taken with a Huawei Mate 10 Pro. It’s not a high-end mobile phone, but it does the job well enough.

Time to Make a Come Back

 

The little monkey in me is jumping in joy!

Hey everyone!

I think my silence is too long from this blog. It took a while for me to make a comeback after my last post in March. Yes! I made it to grad school in the US. It was a tough road that I rode but a meaningful one. It keeps me grounded as a person and know what I am worth. 

Since arriving in the US on June 5, it has been quite a struggle for me. However, I was trying my best to keep going. I am grateful for every person who never stops encouraging me and supports me in every way they can. I owe you guys so much, but I know you will get an abundance of blessings from above.  

That is all for today. I will try to keep this blog updated frequently. 

Till then,

Rose

Fundraising for Graduate Study in the USA

I never thought that I will finally decide to set up a crowdfunding page to raise funds for my graduate study. It was mixed feelings because I never did something like this before. In the beginning, it felt wrong because I know and am aware there are a lot less fortunate people out there that need cash to survive the day. As the deadlines for enrollment get closer, I start to feel anxious that I will not make it. After a few months of searching for potential scholarships available in Malaysia and the USA, I get to a dead end. Most of these scholarships are closed for applications or I am not eligible because of certain criteria that I could not meet. This is the ultimatum that makes me decide to finally do this. Besides, I get strong backup and support from Dr Alison that I should do this. Although in the beginning, it was my best friend, Najjah that came out with this idea which I did not even think of.

Here is the link to my crowdfunding page: Fundraising for Graduate Study in the USA.   

Please help to spread the word and your generosity will make this dream possible. Thank you so much for your kindness.   

Publications on Pangolin / Malayan Pangolin

While searching for information about the Pangolin, I came across different published journals, articles on websites and many more. All information mostly talks about the critical issues which are related to the illegal trade of these animals. This is especially with the article on the websites. Here are the lists of the articles that I found on websites that might be helpful to you.  

1. Britannica - pangolin  | pangolin, or scaly anteater, Any of about eight species of armoured placental mammals (genus Manis, order Pholidota) of tropical Asia and Africa. Scales formed of cemented hairs cover the upper body, legs, and tail. Pangolins are 2–6 ft (60–180 cm) long and weigh 10–60 lb (5–27 kg). They have a conical head, no teeth, a long tongue, short legs, and a long prehensile tail. Some are arboreal; terrestrial species live in burrows. Nocturnal animals and pangolins locate prey, mainly termites, by smell and rip open nests with their front claws. When threatened, the pangolin (Malayan for “rolling over”) curls up or emits an odoriferous secretion. See also anteater; echidna.
2. Wiki.nus - Manis javanica - Malayan pangolin | The Malayan Pangolin is a unique animal that instinctively appears to be a reptile due to its conspicuous scales covering most of the animal's body surface. This mammal lives on a diet of ants and termites and rolls into a ball of hard scales when provoked. Sadly, this interesting animal is currently endangered, with hunting for its meat, skin and scales as a driver of its massive population decline. While wild populations of Malayan Pangolins still exist in Singapore's forested areas, their numbers continue to decline due to habitat loss and vehicular accidents.
3. Save Pangolins - What is a pangolin? | Pangolins are uniquely covered in tough, overlapping scales. These mammals eat ants and termites using an extraordinarily long, sticky tongue and can quickly roll themselves up into a tight ball when they feel threatened. Eight different pangolin species can be found across Asia and Africa. Poaching for illegal wildlife trade and habitat loss have made these incredible creatures one of the most threatened groups of mammals in the world. 
4. Ecology Asia - Sunda Pangolin | The Sunda Pangolin, also known as the Malayan or Javan Pangolin, is a curious, unmistakable inhabitant of Southeast Asia's forested habitats (primary, secondary, scrub forest) and plantations (rubber, palm oil).
5. Discover Wildlife - Pangolin guide | In our expert pangolin guide, learn about the world's only scaled mammal, how many species there are, and why they are threatened with extinction.
6. DrawInScience - Pangolin | Pangolins are peculiar and beautiful animals, we could even think they come from an imaginary world, but they are real. They are the only mammals covered by overlapping scales (made from keratin — the same protein that forms human hair and fingernails). They are toothless, have poor vision, and have an acute olfactory system.

This is an interesting piece of information that I think might help your understanding of these heavily trafficked animals. 

Switch Back to Blogger

Photo Credit: Shoutmeloud.com

After a while, I think I prefer to use Blogger over WordPress, and I like how user-friendly and simple it is to post an entry on blogger. Besides, I can switch on my Grammarly when I write here too. Well, I haven't posted anything on WP yet, so I think it should be working there too. 

Maybe I am a Google user, so everything I need is on one domain. It makes my life less complicated than when I am on WP. Therefore, after almost six years of silence, I will start posting here again. 

I have many things to share about my nature's journey and will do so in these few months. While looking at this blog, you can also visit the other blog, where I journal over various topics that exclude nature. I mainly dedicated this blog to wildlife and nature. 

Till next time!