My New Project in 2026: Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Project

I didn't realise it had been a year since my last blog post. In this post, I want to share the project I'm working on now. Two projects were delayed for years, and I had to take them because I had no choice but to say yes. So I will not talk about those two projects, because they feel like a pain in my ass too. I will only talk about one project I love, and I am grateful I had the opportunity to work on it. 

The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Project

This year, I have the opportunity to work on the sun bear project. The sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) is the world's smallest bear species. Look at the photo below to see how the sun bear differs from other bear species in height. In contrast, the polar bear is the tallest among the eight species.

Photo Credit: Wildlife Nomads

Meanwhile, the map below shows the species' distribution across continents. The light green shows the sun bear's geographic range, which includes Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. 

Photo Credit: Bear Species in Asia

Under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2016), the sun bear was categorised as Vulnerable. The last assessment was conducted on 5 February 2016. After 10 years, we are unsure of the sun bear's current status across its range. Over the last ten years, I am sure the sun bear's habitat has changed significantly due to development in each country. Other threats include poaching and illegal trade.

Photo Credit: Wildlife Nomads

This year, the project aims to close some gaps, including the distribution map of sun bears in the state and population estimates. It involves desktop studies and field sampling to collect occurrence data in our national parks and adjacent community forests. Knowing I will not be able to do this work alone, I have been networking and seeking active collaborations. I registered and became a member of the IUCN SSC Bear Specialist Group in April and the International Bear Association (IBA) in May this year. Through these collaborations, I hope to achieve more and secure the support I need to strengthen bear conservation initiatives in Sarawak. 

More updates coming soon! 

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.

Amazed by The Big Trees

As we walk through the dense Borneo tropical rainforest, I was amazed by seeing lots of remaining big trees. In my heart I was praying that, this trees will not be cut down for the next hundred years. Let it stays there until nature itself work out on it. Development must be in a sustainable way and I am pretty sure that Sarawak forests only have a few thousand hectares left for the rest is already develop for agriculture and logged.


Photo taken with Samsung Note 3 Camera

As a conservationist or field biologist myself, I easily get emotional when I see irresponsible development activities that give a very bad impacts to the forest and the living things resides inside it. I still have many things to learn from the forest and yet, too little left. If I myself didn't have a chance to discover and explore this amazing forests we have, what more left for our next generations.

Well, we who are living the moments, must think and act wisely because what we did now will give impacts to our children in future.

---

Amazed by Nature,

Rose Ragai

 



Never Stop Walking in The FOREST

I am back to my own hometown now. Gladly to say that I will share my experienced and knowledge at my new working place. Wondering why I keep moving from one job to one job?! Its like I will never stop searching for an opportunity that I can best serve the mother nature. I am not really serving my salary payer but I am just doing what I think is the right thing to do. My heart breaks every time I see things is done wrongly especially when it is related with our rich tropical forest. But somehow, I have to admit that I am not an experts in any specific field but I have a hearts that know really sure, I am the defender of the forests (fauna & flora).

Here I share two of my photos during my recent trip up until the border of West Kalimantan during our Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus) nests survey in June 2015.

View towards the Betung Kerihun National Park, West Kalimantan, Indonesia.

On the international border with West Kalimantan, Indonesia.



     Till then!

---

Rose Ragai

The Lake & Ruddy Kingfisher

The lake..

The Ruddy Kingfisher..

The Ruddy Kingfisher & me..

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Wordless Tuesday,

Rose Ragai

The Megapodes of Sabah (Revisited)

It was exciting to be able to publish an article in the local or international journal. I was encourage by my ex-superior to write an article about the interesting bird which i first encounter in Bengkoka Peninsular, the Tabon Megapode (Scrubfowl), Megapodius cumingii.

Worldwide c. 22 species, 1 in Borneo. Robust, chicken-like terrestrial birds with strong legs and very large feet. Most incubate eggs using an extraneous source of heat such as thermal energy or rotting vegetation; many species build mound of vegetation. Males construct the mound in which the females lay large batches of eggs. The chicks receive no parental care and are totally independent upon hatching. - excerpt from A Field Guide to The Birds of Borneo by Susan Myers.

This bird is amazingly have a very strong feet that can built a very huge mounds. I myself surprised to see it with my own eyes. As far i work with birds i never seen a nest like this before. It was amazing!

I was a co-author for this journal together with my ex-superior, Mr. Rob Stuebing and ex-CEO of my present employer, Mr. Johari Ho. Our article was published in Sabah Society Journal, Vol. 30 (2013).

The article is about our encounter on the distribution of its nesting sites within the Bengkoka Peninsular, Pitas, Sabah. When i recall back our field trip searching for the nest is quite fun and what an adventure! We drove on a muddy road to get to the nesting sites and even ride on a boat on coastal lines because no road access to the sites. The most extreme is when the rain is heavy and we are on the boat in the sea. Shivering cold because of the wind in the boat. But, it is worth to do so when we found the super huge mound.

So, if you interested to read our article, please don't hesistate to contact me via my email add: rose.ragai@gmail.com.

Cheers!
Rose Ragai

#2 ~ What is MANGROVE FOREST?

I know mangrove is a tree that people use for charcoal and also construction. In my previous entry I already mention that I did not know so much about mangrove. So, mangrove for me is only a tree. At this new place, the operational site has lots of mangroves. This makes me realize that I have to polish my knowledge and get the answer “What is MANGROVE?”.

I Google it up and found many interesting articles and information about mangroves. When I was asked by my friend to produce one poster on conservation, straight away I told her, “I want to make a poster about Mangrove Conservation”. So, this is the poster. I am quite happy with this poster because it provides information about mangroves, what we do and what we have inside this forest besides the mangrove tree species.

The Poster!

Let’s me extract some of the information from this poster.

What is Mangrove Forests? 
● Mangrove forests consist of diverse, salt-tolerant tree and other plant species, ranging from small shrubs to tall trees tens of meters high.
● Mangrove trees have various adaptations that allow them to live in saline, tidal areas. Their dense root systems give support in the soft, water-logged sediment. In most species, the roots protrude above the soil to absorb oxygen from the air, as the sediment is oxygen-poor.
● The most extensive area of mangroves is found in Asia, followed by Africa and South America. According to the FAO, the total mangrove area is around 150,000 km2. In Malaysia, mangrove vegetation covers an area of about 577,500 ha, with Sabah having the most extensive coverage of mangroves, accounting for 59% or 341,000 ha of the country’s total whereas, Sarawak has 132,000 ha (23%) and Peninsular Malaysia 104,200 ha (18%). Sabah’s mangrove forests occur largely along the east coast, facing the Sulu and Sulawesi seas.

The Importance of Mangrove Ecosystem: 

● Mangroves are valued for the protection they provide against coastal erosion, flood control, water purification, habitat for all sorts of marine life and also for their biodiversity conservation function. 

● It is considered the most biologically diverse of all ecosystems, serving as home to a wide range of plant and animal life. 

● The important habitat for wildlife such as mammals (primates), birds (kingfishers, herons), insects (firefly), crustaceans (crabs, shrimps) and reptiles (crocodiles, lizards). 

● The mangrove forests provide natural resources in term of income generation for the fisherman community.

The local fisherman collecting mud crabs.

As a conclusion, before I start to do something I must understand them first. To get the understanding I need to put a big effort in it. This is my 3rd month and I don’t think I know that much yet. There are lots more to be done in order to make a huge impact in conserving this type of ecosystem and realizing that the local communities also play a major role, they are inside the circle as well.

The question now is, HOW? WHO? and WHEN?

Till then! Cheers!

Reference: 
Ng, P. K. L & Sivasothi, N. 2001. A Guide to Mangroves of Singapore. Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, The National University of Singapore & The Singapore Science Centre. http://mangrove.nus.edu.sg 
Sabah Forestry Department. 2008. Mangrove Forest Management and Restoration, In Annual Report 2008. http://www.forest.sabah.gov.my

#1 ~ The Mangrove Adventure Begins

I came from a village that river is the main transportation. It is located along the Igan River. I put quite a few entries about my village when i start this blog and you can find it by click to this link:

Part 1: My Childhood (mind my grammar in that entry because the main reason creating this blog during that time was "to improve my poor English")

Frustration on Rajang River Disaster (you will find a few links in this entry and i am sure this entry will remind you of the 2010 tragedy in Rajang River). 

So, what i want to share is that, there is a mangroves in my village. This including a few species of mangrove trees such as Nypa fruticans, Bruguiera sp and also Sonneratia sp in my village. Then, when i get an offer from this new company that i am working now, i was excited when i was told to be working in the mangrove. Even though i will be far away from home, miles away, but i will feel like i am at HOME. Why? Because i will be in the mangroves. Sounds crazy to you? Maybe i am am.

So, my first visit to this mangrove forest was way back on 10th of July 2013. We went there through the sea and i found it, this mangrove is SPECIAL and INTERESTING to be explored. To be honest, i don't have any clue of the mangrove species and what else inside there. This become more exciting when i know that i will learn something new here and new findings not like up on the MOUNTAIN. (^___^). Well, it's very warm here compare to the mountain. 

This entry is only my introduction. I will share more after this. It's good to make you wonder, what i found right? I leave you with these photos, till then!

The river mouth, into the mangrove area from sea.

The Rhizhopora forest. Observed the roots!!! AMAZING right?!!

Ignore my chubbiness, just look at what i have in my hands. Its Horseshoe crab, Tachypleus tridentatus.!!! 

 Till then guys! Enjoy!

#3 ~ Conquered the Mountain

Well, it has been a while. You wanna be mad? Be mad at me. I am very lazy to write. Lazy to think and lazy of everything about blogging these past few months. Why? Because i am just being LAZY. Lol. Okay. I think this is just the old entry that i suppose to finish it up a few months back. Anyway, let me get it straight to the end of the story and skip the middle part. There is three most exciting experienced when i was up on this mountain and joining this project.

1. Being able to learn from the experts while make a good friend with them. Well, they are nice people to be friend to. Different culture and background doesn't really matters when we have the same passion. NICE!
2. Enjoying the amazing and superb scenery of the mountain, from different angle and view its always majestic. Animals and plants also makes me feel this is the real wonders of God creation! 
3. Meet new friends and making many many friends during the hikes and stay up on the mountain. Its is valuable experienced because Sabahan people is soooo nice and friendly until i made many friends there. I miss them! But the not so good one, i forgot to take photo with them so i can show it to you here.

Okay. That is the conclusion of this trip on conquering the mountain. On the 17th of March, we made it to the top of the mountain before we return to the Kinabalu Park HQ. It is just one of my wish to climb up once again after my first time in September 2000. So, i made it! Enjoy my photos going up to the mountain and some works that we have done up there. Enjoy!!!!

Getting ready to climb up. I am proud that i can bring up
my own backpack. Whoa... it's heavy!

During our stay at Km 4 or Layang-Layang Hut, we met researcher from Japan, Ms. Ayako and her supervisor. She is "Kawaiii"... (^___^)

One of the wild berry that we used to eat after taking our meal.. Its sour but yet delicious.

Myself and our catch at KM2. Sunny but yet still feel the cold!

The mountain guide aka porter to carry our heavy equipment, 120kg up to KM6 or Laban Rata. 

The mesmerizing sunrise up on the Low's Peak. 17th March morning, we made it!

Missy and I up on the top of the Mount Kinabalu!!!!.... 

With Richell, the ranger of Mount Kinabalu. We collecting rubbish on our way down.
To all Climbers, this is an important announcement! PLEASE DON'T THROW RUBBISH WHILE YOU CLIMB UP MOUNT KINABALU. LET'S KEEP THE BEAUTY OF THIS MAJESTIC MOUNTAIN TOGETHER! IT'S OUR DUTY NOT JUST THE KINABALU PARK STAFF! THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION! (^__^) 

Hoooray!!!!! We made it! With the South Peak as our background!

Contractors, Apis & Guntur. Friends that i made during our stay at KM6 at Maragang Hut. 

Before i end this entry. Enjoy the bonsai like tree on the way to Mountain Torq trail. 

 Till then!!! I have more adventures to share! just be patient and keep visiting me here. Cheers!!!!!!!..... 

#2 ~ The Research Project

What is actually bringing me up on this mountain? Well, allow me to introduce you to a special person that asking me to join her trip. I get to know a very nice lady and she is a great person, Missy Roberts. She is doing her PhD on genetic study with small mammals as her target species mainly treeshrews and squirrels. To be more specific, she is studying the altitudinal difference within a species on Mount Kinabalu and Mount Tambuyukon, Sabah. I met her for the first time during her first visit to Sabah with her supervisor Dr. Jenn during my tenure at Forest Solutions Malaysia S/B (FSM) at Kota Marudu. Getting to know people with same interest and same passion is a blessing to me. Why? Because I can talk anything and share everything about what we think and what we do in the forest.

After quit my job at FSM, I take a break for about two weeks before I join in her research project. Missy and her friend Miguel arrived in Sabah on 19th Feb and stay at Kota Kinabalu for two days before head off to Kinabalu Park at Kundasang on 21st Feb. Missy and I will set a traps at Mount Kinabalu, meanwhile her friend, Miguel with his technician will set up a traps at Mount Tambuyukon at Monggis, another 3 hours drive from Kundasang.

The Tomahawk & Sherman Traps that we use.

This is how we place the traps; under fallen log, on fallen log, beside streams etc etc. 

We will use two different types of traps known as Tomahawk (60 units) and Sherman trap (20 units), so total traps are 80 traps. Since this is the altitudinal study, we will set traps at different altitude across the height of this mountain. 1st altitude at 1,700m a.s.l at Kinabalu Park (KP) headquarters, 2,200m a.s.l at KM2, 2,700m a.s.l at KM4 and 3,200m a.s.l at KM6.

So this is a little bit info about the research which I may not share the details here. I will tell you more stories about my experience when I am up on the mountain in my next post. Stay Tune! Till then!

#1 – Conquering Mount Kinabalu the Series

It has been a while I am not writing anything in this blog. I traveled a lot these past few months and doing so many interesting adventures with nature. I love what I am doing even though it’s did not give me a good return in term of salary but the exposure and learning experience is priceless.

Photo taken in front of the Kinabalu Park Office

Mount Kinabalu…. Did you ever heard about it yet? If not, then allow me to bring you walking through my journey up on the mountain started from 21st February until 19th March 2013.

Let’s talk about the mountain first because I really want you guys out there to be familiar with this mountain before I continue with my whole journey.

Mount Kinabalu located on the Borneo Island, the third largest island in the world. The Borneo Island comprise of three different countries, Indonesia (Kalimantan), Brunei and Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak). On which land of these three countries is this mountain located? Well, it’s located in Sabah, Malaysia which is also known as the Land Below the Wind. There is 13 peaks of this mountain (which I already forget the names most of it and I apologize for that) with the Low’s Peak is the highest peak with 4, 095 m above sea level. So with this height, it makes the Mount Kinabalu is the highest peak in South East Asia (I am proud of it, I am telling you, very very much proud!) Locals that lives in this land believes this mountain have its own story (like a myth stories, a legend). The local community resides around this mountain is the Dusun people. So, who took care of this mountain? The entity that becomes the guardian of this mountain is the Sabah Parks. Almost all the staff that working with Sabah Parks is the Dusun people, one of the indigenous people of Sabah.

The Mount Kinabalu is one of the famous attractions for the mountain climbers, naturalist, researchers and photographers. Just to let you know, Sabah is very famous with the nature attraction for tourist. If you want to see nature, you must put Sabah in your list and of course Mount Kinabalu (ehem… am I doing my job as Malaysian by promoting this Mountain? I think so!). Wanna know more about Mount Kinbalu? Just Google it and you will find thousands of people taking about it and to let you know too, there is about 70,000 climbers climb this mountain annually. Therefore, I am sure a lot of people write a story about it with astounding photographs.

I think this is the beginning story of my journey. Keep an eye for my new posts about this marvelous journey on this mountain. I have lots of stories to share. Till then!!!...

The Juvenile White-Crowned Hornbill Again!

Did i promise in my previous post that i will share my findings about this juv hornbill when i get back from my trip? Yep, i did promise but my apology for not update as soon as i get back. Okay, here is the video i compile based on my last visit on 13th April 2012. The hornbill still depend on people to give food. Hmmm... anyway, we still need to teach it to find its own food. To let it survive in the wild.

But, i am sorry for the very blurry video because i only have digital Sony camera. Uhuks... Anyway, i still get the best of this lil' hornbill. The flight feather is changing into the new feather but the tail is still no new feathers.

 

Till Then!

With the Juvenile White-crowned Hornbill

So long after my last update on our trip to the forest last month. Here is some story to share. This is an amazing bird. I never had a chance to be so close with hornbill (except in the cage of zoo) before. So, this experienced is kinda amazing and precious one for me.

This young hornbilll was found by one of our staff in the rocky stream not far from our field station (camp). It failed on (not sure how many tries) it's trial to fly. Fall into the stream and our boys caught it. While the mother up on the tree making sounds alarming the young one. But they get it and brought it back to our camp.

Referring to our staff, it was really scared and tried to flew away at the beginning but after they feed it with some bananas, it start to calm down and stay quietly at our canteen.

At the same day we have visitors (researchers) from Smithsonian Institution, and we refer to the Birds of Borneo Field Guide Book, trying to id it and get more info about its distribution, behaviour etc, we find out it eat fruits and some insects as well as frogs.

So, on the 2nd day, it start to feed on some beetle that we get from the mist nest (which we carried out some birds and bats mist netting as well). It start to do some stretch and cleaning the young furs. The little one seems to comfortable and at the same time prepare itself to flew away.

On the 3rd day, when i already left the camp, i get information from our staff it flew away. But only for a while. it came back a day later and asking for food! It perch on the high tree near the camp making sounds and our staff call it and it replies them. However, only one of our staff can get it on her arm and feed it. It will ignores others. So, they feed it frogs as well as insects and banana. Up till today, it keep coming over to the camp area asking for food. I am not feeling good about this because i really wanted it to be get back to the wild and survive there. Looking for its own food. The mother seems to be around but not close to the camp area.

Tomorrow, i will go to the camp and check on this lil fella. I already gave some advice to our staff to trained the bird to get it's own food. Here is my photo with this little fella which they name it ROMEO. (^__^)

---

Till then!

Rose Ragai

Amazing Findings

Black and Crimson Pitta
Pitta ussheri

White - Crowned Hornbill
Aceros comatus

White - Necked Babbler
Stachyris leucotis

Nature Activity - Observation

From 28th Feb until 1st March, i was away to our camp @ conservation area. I was so excited bringing along all my field guide books and binocular with high expectation on a lot of findings. It is not bad to put high hope but when things ended not the way i hope, i am a bit disappointed with myself.

I only observed and identified these five species of birds and squirrels. A lot of bird species was unidentified. Two years is a big gap and i really need to get back my memories and practice more of my observation skills. Here is my observation during this visit:
a)      Exilisciurus exilis (Plain Pygmy Squirrel)
b)      Glyphotes simus (Red-bellied Sculptor Squirrel)
c)      Hemiprocne comata (Whiskered Tree-swift)
d)     Orthotomus ruficeps (Ashy Tailorbird)
e)      Stachyris erythroptera (Chestnut-winged Babbler) 


I cant get any good photos of them so here is some of the photos i get from Google search. By the way, i was enjoy observing the squirrels because they are so cute and yet very aggressive on marking their territory. 

Whiskered Treeswift
Photo Credit to Birdwatch.ph

Ashy Tailorbird
Photo credit to Google Image

Chestnut-winged Babbler
Photo Credit to Google Image

Quite an interesting one and still i am not really satisfied with this. hmmmph.... 


Till then!

Mapping A Bornean Soundscape Project

Where to start? I am trying my BEST to use any of my social networking to promote this research project and hope to get some feedback from my fellow friends and also my Blogger Buddies here. Okay, how to start this post? Let's start with who is Dr. Alison Styring?

Alison Styring is a field biologist with a focus in conservation and ecology. Her area of expertise is Southeast Asian birds. She has studied birds in rainforests and human-modified habitats in West Malaysia and Borneo (East Malaysia and Brunei) since 1998. She has published numerous papers on the ecology and conservation of Southeast Asian birds. Alison works with an incredible team of birders, biologists, tree climbers, and conservationists from the US and Malaysia. -- I quote this info from Kickstarter site and you can click on her name above where i have linked it to the Evergreen State College. 

How i get to know her? It was back in 2006, when i was working with Grand Perfect S/B. It was a very great opportunities to experienced bird's study with her and Dr. Fred Sheldon. I love birds but not as much as after i involved in her research. The first study was on the diversity of birds in tree plantation and habitat surveys. It was really interesting because we went to a different sites in the Planted Forest Zone, Bintulu. That is the first time i learn how to use Binocular correctly (don't laugh at me, coz its true..he he he). I don't know any scientific names for birds and i don't know how to identify birds (so la teruk). She is very generous in knowledge and her expertise, along the trip i learn so much from her. I get excited and excited everyday.

In 2007, i was ask to choose between bird's study and small mammal's study. I am in a big dilemma coz i really want to join bird's field work but it was because i am doing my small mammals project so i've decided to let go the birds study. Sad.

In 2008, i was lucky coz another field trip was organized and this time we will doing dawn chorus, bird's banding and observing bird's behavior. I am back on track with the birds study and this was my last trip because i was decided to left the company end of that year.

So, that is how i get to know Dr. Alison. Here is our random photos that i have from these two trips.

So, now let's talk about the Mapping A Bornean Soundscape Project. This is her latest project and she need fund to make it happen. What is this project about?

Bornean rainforests: an incredibly diverse and poorly understood treasure.  The rainforests of Borneo are among the most species-rich habitats in the world.  Listening to the sounds of these forests is an incredible and overwhelming experience as gibbons, hornbills, tree frogs, cicadas, and hundreds of other species advertise their presence. Our mission is to record and map these sounds while we still can.

The forests of Borneo are under incredible human pressure.  The giant dipterocarp trees that form much of the canopy are extremely valuable timber for furniture and other uses worldwide, and logged-over native forests are increasingly being converted to tree plantation and oil palm as the world demand for pulp wood and palm oil increases. -- Read more at Kickstarter. 

If you are interested to DONATE and SUPPORT this project and you are BIRD'S LOVERS, What you can DO is visit KICKSTARTER website (just click at the link) and read through the site. You will get more information there. There is only 19 DAYS to go and the project only get $1, 235.00 back up, up to today. There were another $18, 765.00 more to go. 

Do Support this Project! Thank you for your generosity. Till then!

Cheers!
Rose Ragai

Memories

Just to reflects all the good memories i had with my colleagues back in Bintulu a few years back. There is quite an interesting experienced with them. I may say the hard work we had to understand and learn about science. Our superior always told us our work is not Animal Planet shows, it is the real science. So, i believe that and for so long i believe our work will mean something for the sake of science. New discoveries makes us feel excited and worth of doing this tough work.

As i came across my old photo folder i saw some of our field trip photos. Maybe i did post it in my previous posts but i will share it again here. Just a little reminder for myself of what we have been gone through all those years working with wildlife.

Sometimes, the road is very bad and we stuck in the middle of nowhere. 

Sometimes we have to climb up and down the hill just to make sure our work is done.

Sometimes when we are very tired, we take a nap and rest under the acacia trees.

Sometimes when we get back to our camp we are already starving and we need to cook fast.

However, still we enjoy the surroundings of our great camp when doing our work. 

Tadaaaa..... We are SuperMan & SuperWoman!!!

Till then!

Cheers!
Rose Ragai

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - Rufous-sided Sticky Frog

Kalophrynus pleurostigma (Rufous-sided Sticky Frog)

Taken at Kg. Munchu, Ulu Merapok, Lawas.

Birding With My Friend

It was quite a while (almost three years actually), i did not really went for birding. Last weekend my friend asks me to join her doing some field work at Lawas, Sarawak. I was so excited but i am already feel exhausted because that Saturday i was working half day too. However, she success in convincing me to join her for that field work.

We stayed at Murut village, Kg. Munchu, Ulu Merapok. On Sunday, we walk through the village road until we reach the last village named Kg. Jelatung, Ulu Merapok. This village is located only five minutes walk to reach Sipitang - Tenom main road. We have a short conversation with three villagers (one man, two women) in the village. We ask them where we can find Magpie Robin and White-Rumped Shama. These two birds is the bird species that we hunt for. My friend is doing her PhD on this two birds species. So, we need to find information from the villagers (hey! they are more expert than us in term of cathing this birds you know!)...

Along the walk, we did some observation but not so many species. Maybe because most of the area is rubber and palm oil plantation own by the people of these two villages.

Here is my observation list (birds, small mammal and frog):

1. Merops viridis (Blue Throated Bee Eater)
2. Arachnothere longirostra (Little Sipder Hunter)
3. Pycnonotus goiavier (Yellow Vented Bulbul)
4. Copsychus saularis (Marpie Robin)
5. Callosciurus notatus (Plantain Squirrel)
6. Kalophrynus pleurostigma (Rufous-sided Sticky Frog)

That is all i can lists here. Till then!

#5 - Walking Through Nature/ Villages

My walk continues to another village called Meligan. This village is about two hours drive from Sipitang. It is almost in the middle of Sipitang and Long Pasia. These village populated by about 1000 people. Quite a big numbers but yes it is. This village have their own primary school, health clinic, pre-school, public hall and also SIB church. The main ethnic in this village is Murut Tagal. I impress with this village because it is very clean. As we walk through the village, there were no rubbish along the road. It was totally clean. Thumbs up to the leader of the community in this village. That is why we plan to have this village as a host for the up coming ****, okay i almost reveal it here but i need to keep it secret though. I will share after the event happen.

My friend and i continues with our interviews from door to door. As long as there is people and the house is open, we tried to have conversation with them. It is really not an easy task to be done because both of us were new to the people in this village. We just approach them and if we have luck then maybe they will agree to be interviewed. We did not get many people but enough with the data. But then, we were attracted by the movements of the blue bird flying in the air and then perch on the fruit tree nearby one of the house. The bird keep on doing it for at least twice. As we get closer to it, it was a flycatcher but not sure what is the species. As we get closer, i can get about five shots and this is two of it. 

Just stand still for about a minute while my friend and i captured his/her
photos. I am not sure if this is male or female. I don't have my birds field
guide book. Yai! I wish i have one. I only have the pocket guide book. 

When he/she notice of our movements, the he/she flew away but still
i can capture him/her. After this he/she flew away till we can not him/her
anymore. Anyway, it was great to captured his/her photos that day. 

Here is an info about this species that i get from Global Species website:

The Verditer Flycatcher (Eumyias thalassina) is an Old World flycatcher found in the Indian subcontinent, especially in the Lower Himalaya. It is named after its distinctive shade of copper-sulphate blue and has a dark patch between the eyes and above the bill base. The adult males are intense blue on all areas of the body, except for the black eye-patch and grey vent. Adult females and sub-adults are lighter blue. In Sundaland, it can be found in Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. 

So, that is about our little friend that we discover that day. Quite an interesting discoveries even though that is not the main purpose of our visit. But still, the love of the NATURE will always keep us alert and aware of anything related to our MOTHER NATURE. So, before i end this post, let's share two of my favorite view in this village. Of course the hanging bridge and the peaceful river. Till then!

Every time i visit this village, i will always wanted to let
my feet step on this hanging bridge.  

The river is so nice to see. The view is outstanding. It was so clean okay.
I hope the villagers will keep it clean since they will launch a Tagal System
for this river somewhere in June.