Our Water Our Future - Severn Suzuki

2nd Year Blog Anniversary

Today is my 2nd Year Blog Anniversary. I was on a mission to make my 300th entry today but i can't make it happen. I didn't have enough time but i manage to make my 268th entry today and this is the 268th entry. I am quite happy about it even can't accomplish my mission.

Just a bit of reflections to make for this anniversary. I was started my blog two years ago with my very first entry PART 1: MY CHILDHOOD on 22nd April 2008. Only a little bit introduction about myself. Grow up in a small village somewhere in Dalat. (Ops..sorry, i thought this year is my third year blog anniversary but i was wrong. This blog is just reach the age of 2 today. Sorry for wrong info earlier).

The most entries i make was in month of July 2009 with 28 entries. Tried very hard to update my blog everyday so, i can complete 31 days or 30th days in a month. But never make it happen. Anyway, i am still happy that my blog is not that outdated. At least i make an entry every month. Even though only one entry or two in a month.

Hope i can still survive for another more years with this blog. Thanks for blogging friends especially Ratty and rainfiled61 for your never ending support. Both of you always give me encouraging comments that keep my passion to blog about nature. Our loves on nature brings us together and we share our interest with our blogs. Thanks so much guys.

Not to forget for other friends that support me too especially Bibab, Den and also all followers of my blog. For those who follow me on Networked Blog. I appreciated all of your comments and time visiting my blog.

Will blog more of nature for the coming year. Till then!!

Tiger Trivia

So many facts about tiger right. Let us have a break first. Here is Tiger Trivia also i extracted from WWF. Quite interesting info here.

• Latin name for tiger is Panthera tigris. The word "panthera" is argued from oriental word means "yellow-white" and "tigris" derived from Greek word which means arrow, as the species can move swiftly even through the dense forest.
• Tiger stripes are individually as unique as human finger prints. There are no identical tigers!
• I you shaved tiger fur, you'll still find stripes in its skin.
• Tiger saliva acts as antiseptic that helps clean its wound.
• Unlike Lion, adult wild tiger is solitary territorial animal, marking their territory by urine and scratch marks on tree trunks.
• A male tiger territory never overlaps with other male's territory, thus tiger needs large unfragmented home range for them to survive.
• A female tiger usually roam around her mother' range.
• Unlike domestic cat, tiger loves water and a great swimmer.
• Adult tiger can eat up to 40kg of food at a time. After a big meal, it may not eat again for 1 or 2 weeks. 
• Tiger is a highly adaptable hunter, their habitat varies from taiga in Russia, grassland in India, to tropical mangrove swamp in Southeast Asia. 

For more info visit WWF website.

Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae)

Borneo and Sumatra is not that far, so i will talk about Mr. Sumatran Tiger next. What info did i get? Let us read together and i am pretty sure we will know better about Mr. Sumatran Tiger.

• IUCN status: Critically Endangered; CITES: Appendix 1 (international commercial trading is prohibited)
• In Indonesia, the Sumatran tiger is protected by Act No. 5 of 1990 on Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems. 
• The Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) numbering fewer than 400 individuals in the wild, is found exclusively on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. 
• Is the smallest of all six subspecies, with length of about 2.5m and weight up to 140 kg. 
• The Sumatran tiger has the darkest coat ranging from reddish-yellow to deep orange with black stripes.
• Tiger stripes act as camouflage in the tall weeds and grasses.
• Without natural predators in the wild, human is the foremost threat to tiger existence. Poaching nad habitat fragmentation in Sumatra threatens the endemic Sumatran tiger in its last frontier.
• Human-tiger conflict adds to the problem. As the habitat becomes more fragmented, tiger is forced to go near to human settlement and cause casualities in human and tiger sides alike. 
• Tiger is an umbrella species. The species identified as umbrella species typically have large home range covering multiple habitat types therefore protecting this species indirectly protects the many other species that make up the ecological community of its habitats. 

Okay, this info also i extracted from WWF. This endemic species is critically endangered and its most threats are HUMAN. It will be difficult to find solutions when there is human-tiger conflict occurs. However, experts may have the solutions to make sure win-win situation may apply. Who knows right? More behavioral studies done to get more information about them. Just random ideas from me.

Photo credit to Dave Watts at birdlife.org.

Malayan Tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni)

For the next posts i will share about the six subspecies of tigers that still alive in this world. Since i am from Malaysia, then i will write about Malayan Tiger first.

• IUCN: Endangered, CITES: Appendix 1 (international commercial trading is prohibited)
• The Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni) was only identified as being a separate subspecies from the Indochinese in 2004. (*This subspecies is still new to the science).
• This new subspecies is named after the tiger conservationist Peter Jackson.
• It is estimated that 490 adult individuals exist in the wild.
• Malayan tiger lives in tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests of Southern Thailand and Malaysian Peninsula.
• People in Malaysia have special name for tiger, Pak Belang or Datuk Harimau.
• With round pupil and yellow iris, the night vision of tiger is six times better than normal human. Therefore tiger can easily walk in the density of tropical forest.
• These carnivorous mammals instinctively avoid human beings and will only attack people if they are provoked, injured or unable to hunt for their usual food. 
• Tiger has five times the pulling strength of human athlete. 
• Mating seasons happens throughout the year, although it has been suggested that tiger reproduction, in Peninsular Malaysia might have a seasonal peak around November to March.
• In Malaysia, the main tiger-prey species are wild boar, Sambar deer and medium-sized mammals such as Barking deer (muntjak). (*Opss... i maybe wrong about tiger eating small mammals. Hmm.. seems to be tigers only eat until the size of medium-sized mammals). 

All of these info was extracted from WWF. Thanks for this information and hope this will help more of us to know and understand better of Mr. Malayan Tiger.

Photo credit to The Animal Files.com.

Mr. Tiger & Me

Pity and shame on me. Why? Because, actually i didn't know much about tiger. Just to make a confessions here. Since i am living in Borneo, i am not really aware about status of tigers. I was working on small mammals before and i know one of small mammals predator is tiger. But i didn't search more information about tiger. It's habitat, distribution, population status etc. I am aware about WWF efforts on Tiger Conservation but i just don't bother about it so much. Why? Because we don't have Tigers. See, my mind set is so selfish. Okay, enough talking about how insensitive i am.

However, it was great that i browse through Dr. Bala blog and found out about Tiger BlogFest. Since i was committed to participate in this event then i have to find and know more about Mr. Tiger. Let me share what did i find out about them. As i Google through the net, i find these interesting facts about tiger. This article was from WWF but not sure which web site since this was the pdf file of Tiger Facts and Trivia.  Let me see what can i share here.

Based on this info, Tiger (Panthera tigris) divided into nine subspecies ranged widely across Asia, from Turkey in the west to the eastern coast of Russia and to Indonesia in the South. With three extinct subspecies, only six subspecies left in the world. the only proof of Caspian Tiger (Panthera tigris virgata) existence is preserved specimens in museums. Indonesia has lost both Bali tiger (Panthera tigris balica) and Java tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica) in the last 50 years. last official records for both subspecies in the wild were in 1930s and 1970s, respectively.

Wow! This is really interesting findings for me since i am not really know Mr. Tiger before. It means that this is really serious. The efforts that has been made by NGOs and other agencies for tiger conservation is soooo important. Awareness of this status is really important. I hope by this post there will be more people aware of the status of tiger in the world. Three subspecies already extinct and the recent one is about 40 years ago. I am supporting Tiger Conservation efforts!!

EARTH DAY 2010

It's Earth Day today. I can see lots of my blogger friends blog about Earth Day for today's post. I make a quick surf on the net to find a little info about this movements. Since it is celebrated nationwide so, why not i share a little bit info or history how this movements started.

Earth Day began on April 22, 1970 and was instigated by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson. It was first observed on April 22, 1970 in Wisconsin. An estimated 20 million people nationwide attended the inaugural event.

After the official celebration of the first official Earth Day, Senator Gaylord Nelson said:

"That was the remarkable thing about Earth Day. It organized itself."

Earth Day is now observed in 190 countries, and coordinated by the Earth Day Network, a nonprofit organization founded by the organizers of the first April 22 Earth Day in 1970.

Global Logo for Earth Day Network Project

In many cities, the Earth Day celebrations are extended to Earth Week, an entire week of activities related to the promotion of activities related to the preservation of Earth. The Earth Week usually start on April 16, and end on Earth Day, April 22nd. 

Here's some interesting information that maybe can help us to think more about our responsibility to our Mother EARTH!

This is how long it takes garbage to break down:

• plastics take 500 years

• aluminum cans take 500 years

• organic materials take 6 months

• cotton, rags, and paper take 6 months

So, think before throw our rubbish..... HAPPY EARTH DAY TO ALL!!!!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - FUNGI

Voluntary Works With TIGERs

Way back in 2008, i was doing my voluntarily work at Taman TUMBINA, Bintulu, Sarawak. On my first day, i was asks to work with the TIGERs. Awesome because i like this big cat but they are a bit scary huh! 

There were four tigers in that wildlife park. They are Michail (Male tiger originated from Malacca Zoo), Kimba (female tiger given by London Circus), Pat (Michail daughter) and Manai (Michail daughter). Special names given to four of them. Hehehhe... 

Among all of them Pat is very friendly and easy to play with. However, i still have to be careful because the claws is very sharp. 

It was an interesting and interesting experienced because i was so close to four of them. I even can hold Pat's hand. Another three were a bit scary since they keep on making the roar sounds. 

TIGER VS DOMESTIC CATS

This will be my first post for this BlogFest 2010. I want to share a little bit about my trip to Lok Kawi last year. It was my first time visit that wildlife centre and it was really a great moments since so many interesting animals was there. One of my favorite was Tiger. Let me share two photo of Mr. Tiger with you guys before i continue to talk more about them.

He seems to be playing by himself without noticing that i am eying on him.

How cute! He was enjoying himself.

It is a big cat and they act just like cats that we keep as our pets. Look at this photo below.

Sleeping beauty Mr. Tiger Chum. We name him Tiger Chum.

It is just that Big Cat, Tiger is not tame. They are wild animals. If we think of skinning Tiger to get it's nice and pretty fur, better to think twice. 

In Borneo, we don't have Tiger (Panthera tigris). The biggest wild cat that we have here in Borneo is just Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa). The population of Tiger is in mainland such as Peninsular Malaysia. So, keep this animal where they are and STOP ILLEGAL HUNTING!

Till tomorrow. More to come. :-) 

Environmental Awareness Workshop - Part 2

I did share a little bit about this programme in my previous post : PART 1. Okay, let me share about the activities that they were doing for the four days programme.

Registration on the first day...

On the first day after registration they were introduce to department responsibility towards the communities that the company engaged too, nature club concept on supporting environment and recycle. These three was presented by three different speakers from three different organization.

After lunch they have group discussion on two different topics, nature and wildlife and environmental issues. They really have a great ideas about these two issues based on their group presentation. They are aware of the issues such as global warming, illegal hunting, green house effects etc. However, when asked about what they can do to help or support any environmental efforts, they have no answer for that. This is really shows that they are not expose to any environmental campaign. They didn't know that they can do something to help their environments. Even a small action.

Group presentation on current environmental issues.

Sorry guys, i feel sleepy now. To be continue soon. Night all!

Public Talk on TIGER

I just want to do some promotion for this talk in my blog. Dr. Bala at Planet of the Monyets did mention about public talk on TIGER that will held tomorrow. The info can be found direct to his blog link above. I just put in some info about this talk as well.

Talk : The status of tigers in Malaysia : Problems, issues and conservation efforts
Date : 17th April, 2010 (Saturday)
Time : 11.00 a.m. till 1.00 p.m.
Venue : WWF Malaysia, 49 Jalan SS23/15, 47400 Petaling Jaya
Tel : 03-78033772

Everyone is welcome. Do come as this talk will give you a very good idea about the status of our tigers, the threats the face, the efforts being taken by the NGOs and the governments, the challenges, etc. Plus, you will also get to meet some of the bloggers who are participating in the blogfest. Feel free to bring your friends and family along.

So, for those who are in KL, please attend  and support this effort. Kalau orang Melayu cakap "Tak Kenal Maka Tak Cinta", so if you don't know who is Mr. Tiger and what is exactly happen to their populations now, you will not understand them. If you are not understand them then how to help or support the conservation effort that taken by NGOs and other agencies. This reminds me of what my ex-bos said to me, "Understanding the species (in my case it was small mammals) is the key to conservation". So, that's it, if we don't know about tiger then what can we do?

Just a thoughts from an ex-conservationist which love to be back on the track!

Great Egret

My mum and i was on our way back home (sorry mum, i made you popular again to appear in my blog). We are heading back home using boats. The water level is very low so i can see the river banks clearly at the both sides of the river.

Actually i am the one that drive our boat but since my camera is always in my hand so i tried to captured photo while i was driving (don't imitate this action if you are driving cars, for boats maybe it is okay). There was an egret on the river banks. But she was too far. Even i used my camera zoom also can't get a clear picture of her. She was busy stalking for her food. With her long leg and sharp beak she moves slowly. But after a while, i think she notice i ma taking her photos and she began to move faster.

This is all i can took for that day. Not a great photos and not a good catch. Actually this is a migrant birds that a lots in my village. At dawn, you will see they flew in a group and land on the 'nipah' trees at the river banks. So cool if i can took the photos when they rest on the trees.

Can read more info about this bird at : Great Egret.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - Who to Blame or Who Responsibe For This?

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - Too Much Fire!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - Please Let Me Out From Here!

It's WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

It's the day that i am waiting for. I can posts lots of photos without words or description because today is WORDLESS WEDNESDAY. But to start with it i have to write this post, so pals you will understand why there is so many WORDLESS WEDNESDAY posts. Hehehe...

Need to post more today because time is running and i am way far behind my target. There are about 48 more posts that i need to do. Arghh... i need to do something about this. Huhuhu....

Alright, allow me to do some photo search in my photo folder first. (^_^)

Angry Monster

I saw him crunching on a small flies on the floor. He strikes my attention. While he is enjoying his meal, i am busy captured his moments. Tried a few times but this one is the best one i get while there is still food in his mouth and some on the floor. I can heard the sounds of crunching when i took this photo. So cool!

Now, he almost finish his meal. But i am still trying to get his best shot. But he already done and start to get rid of me. Ok ok...since you are done, let me have one clear look of you pal.

Here you are. The most handsome little critter. (^-^)

My Recent Visit To The Waterfall

The water level is high an the current is very strong. Misty and very humid at the foot of the waterfall. I took all rounded pictures just to shows that the water is everywhere because now is rainy season. Look at these pictures.....

I started took photos from the shelter apposite the plank walks to the centre.

The water flows underneath the plank walk across the shelter.

Looks really cool right?

Instead of the giant waterfall, i captured this small one...

The water is flowing from everywhere. This one is from the right side. There was one small size cave from where the water is came from.

Till then......

Now You See Now You Don't

These few months or i can say almost about a year after i switch my job to social work, i lost my sense of identifying animals or plants. Too much thinking about human with their attitudes and giving so much headache. Yuhoo... I am complaining again. Nope, this is not a good working atmosphere. I need to stop complaining.


Alright, better i talk about something i like and love the most. Here we goes. I met this little critter way back in September last year. This was during my Hari Raya holiday at my village, Igan, Sarawak.


Actually, i was helping my mum with the palm tree (rumbia). Suddenly my eyes caught by this litter critter somewhere on the grass. Let me show some of his pictures first. Here they are. 

He keep on with his position seems to ignoring my presence. 

After a while, he is ready to fly away. You can see his leg is very strong. Ready to jump and took off.

Only about five minutes he left me alone again. Holding my camera still trying to get the best pose from him. By the way, these two photos, he is handsome here. :-)

300th Posts Before 3rd Year Blog Anniversary

Pheww... I was thinking of making this happen before my blog anniversary on 22nd April 2010. However, this is really far to be done. I have only 10 days and i have about 52 posts to do. Owh..still very far to reach. If i want to make this happen at least i have 5 to 6 entries per day. Hahaha.. i need to think creatively what i suppose to write in here to fulfill this target.

I will keep on trying to do so even though this sounds crazy and impossible. For a 3rd year of my blog anniversary i want to make it 300th on the 22nd. Never say i can't before the date is over.

I have decided to participate in Tiger BlogFest by Dr. Bala (Planet of the Monyets), so i think i should take that opportunity to write at least 10 entries about Tiger. Whatever it is i want to support the efforts that he started. As one of the conservationist in this country, this is the chance to make a little thing that may bring big impacts to others outside there. Sounds that i am really into this. I hope i can make it, not just talk but no action.

Okay, i think have to start thinking and plan for my next 51 posts to make my 300th post is possible.

April - It was a silence start!

Wow..i didn't notice that i wasn't write anything for this month yet. Sorry for that friends. I am tied with some tasks for the last two weeks. Lots of things that make me can't think properly and my creativity to jot down something in this blog also disappeared for a while.

Still can't think of something interesting to share yet. But i think i may use the space to share some great photos that i took sometime ago. Let me check my pictures file first.

Perhaps i didn't share the story of my green friend yet with you guys here. Let me tell you a little bit about him. If you walking in Sabah/Sarawak (Borneo) forests you may coincidently met this guy. It is quite easy to find. This one i saw resting on the rocks not far from our field station. Stay there calmly but then when it started to realize my present and i keep moving closer to him to take the best shot of him, he started to be curious. This second picture shows the crested neck because when it feels threaten it will change it's colour to brown or show off this crested neck. Usually the one with crested neck is male.

See. He already show off it's crested neck. Okay. Let me introduce this little friend to you guys.

Family : Agamidae
Species Name : Bronchocela cristatella
English Name : Green Crested Lizard
Size (snout to vent) : 13 cm
Size (total length) : 57 cm
Distribution : Occurs throughout West Malaysia, and on the island of Borneo. In Singapore its range is in decline, possibly due to competition from the Changeable Lizard, Calotes versicolor.

Alright, that is a little bit info about him. He is pretty isn't he? Interesting reptiles. Till then.....