Frog Bioacoustics Survey Continues [Maludam National Park]

Photo taken at the Maludam National Park HQ

Our second field survey is at Maludam National Park, one of the state's peatswamp forests. Our first survey was conducted in August at Kubah National Park. See this entry, Studying Frog Calls in Sarawak Totally Protected Areas. This project has five study sites: Kubah National Park, Maludam National Park, Batang Ai National Park, Tun Ahmad Zaidi Nature Reserve, and Pulong Tau National Park. We have three more sites to survey after Kubah NP and Maludam NP.

Hylarana raniceps observed on the pandanus plant.

Peatswamp has the least diversity of frogs. We recorded only two advertisement calls of two frog species, Hylarana raniceps and H. baramica. The total observation results include only four species of frogs, two of which are listed above, and the other two are H. glandulosa and Limnonectes paramacrodon.

On the boat with our field equipment. 

What are my challenges this time? This national park is a PEATSWAMP where saltwater crocodiles live. We conduct our surveys at night, so I feel insecure almost all the time. My flight and fight mode is always ON within those two to three hours of our night survey. Even when I bathe after our night survey at our field station, I still feel like the crocodile is eyeing me. The other challenge is to stay stable on that moving longboat. I require minimal movement and talking from my team members, but it is particularly challenging on the boat. Besides, we can not reach some locations where we hear these frogs making calls or where the frogs are seen deeper inside.

I would like to thank Pak Nan, Ayak Sudin, Sanjay, and Rickey, our boatmen, who make our field trips so much fun. While we have nothing much to do during the day, Pak Nan took over with his jokes and stories. Their exceptional cooking skills and new menu that I hadn’t tasted before. They also advise us on where it is safe and what to do to avoid danger from being attacked by a crocodile. Thank you, Maludam. We will return! 

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!

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

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!

Move to New Platform

I start my blogging since 2008 with a blog title My Life Is My Choice. Then i change it to My CHOICE - Walking Through Nature and this is the blog. This blog was dedicated for my love of nature and i shared most of my experienced exploring the Borneo rainforest. However, there is times that i am very lazy to write and this blog ended been abandoned by me. So, i decided to moved to the new platform and just using my own name as the title of my blog. I will continue to share my thoughts, my adventure and journey exploring Borneo and the outside world. Sharing what i have seen and what inspired me along the way. Do come and drop by whenever you miss me and want to see what's new at Rose Ragai. 

It is just a simple blog and enjoy your time dropping by.

Journey never ends,

Little Rose

Nature Entry Challenge ~ NEC 2014

It has been a while i am keeping myself sleep in a big hole in the jungle which i end up not update my blog.Well, the truth is that i hate my previous layout and after i change to that layout i don't have time to fixed it. Therefore, i procrastinate and end up, no updates at all until today i decided to go back to BASIC layout. Easy solutions and no fancy things on my blog anymore. Just good enough for me to get back writing and shared my amazing adventures exploring the jungle of Borneo.

Wanna see some of my adventures? Well, let start slow. I will dig up piles of my photos and share it one by one. Because each photos have its own story. That is why i came out with this Nature Entry Challenge. Just want to challenge myself from today till end of the year. How many nature related posts that i can put up on my blog for the rest of the days remaining in this year of 2014.

I left this entry with this photo. My friend Mr. Broadbill say hi to all my readers out there!

Cheers! 

Rose

Year 2014 ~ A Good Start!

First of all, apologize for no updates of my blog September 2013. In order to make this blog alive again, i decide to change it's template and layout once again. Well, may the new year brings more adventures and interesting stuff to this blog as well.

I share the above photos taken from my current playing ground. The mangrove forest which i already share in my posts September 2013. Therefore, i will get myself busy in the bush so that i can get more amazing photos to be shared here with you guys.

This year will be my year. Year of adventures with the year of HORSE!! Have a great celebration of Chinese New Year! Till then!

---

Adventure Begins, 

Rose Ragai

Another New Job!

I never satisfied with my job. Why? Because i keep wanted to do more related with NATURE. Is money everything? Well, to keep myself having food to eat and other basic needs, i will said, i need money. But, money is not everything. I still believe doing something that i can put my heart in it and i feel joy inside my heart, then that is what i suppose to do.

This year is a crazy year! Really tough one and lots of decisions that i have to make especially on jobs and what i want to do next? I risk my future many times and some friend says, i don't have focus in my life. It did makes me feel like, "What is wrong with me?"... Oh well! I choose what i can do BEST! God given me this life and must be He give me some gifts and talents to fulfill His will and this is it! NATURE - animals, plants, waters, soils etc .... Must be i am good in doing work related to this huh? Besides, deep in my heart i LOVE doing it!

I will keep exploring the forest and keep sharing my findings with the world. I am lucky because i have this opportunity and some are not. Why keep it for myself because SHARING is better.

Till my next adventure in the MANGROVE! You will love it as much as i am! SMILE because the nature smiles with you. Ha ha ha ha... (Kadang-kadang sya suka juga merapu-rapu)...

Ouch!!! I am really small. *PEACE*

Mr. Crab wanted to say HI....!!!

Photo taken at Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society, Kota Kinabalu

I would like to apologize for being silence for soooooo damn long. I did not meant to but i really did not have sources to be written here for that period of time. I am too much with the community job until i did not have time for my own passion, the nature. So, please forgive me. Therefore, i ask Mr. Crab to wave it's huge left hand to say HI and SORRY for you. I met him at the one and only wetland conservation centre left in the middle of Kota Kinabalu City in Sabah, North Borneo. This was during the environmental education programme for teachers organized by EPD and SEEN members early this month. 

Proudly here to announce to you guys that i am BACK to my PASSION. By Oct 1st, i will officially back to my previous nature of job CONSERVATION. I get back my title as a CONSERVATIONIST. As for now only the title but the knowledge, skills and experience, i need to get them all back as soon as i get back on track. If you ask me if i am happy? Hmmmm.. I am not really sure yet because since 2009 i left this field and i began to love my community work. Will see how i get going and i will share my adventure along my work with the mother nature began October 2012. 

Wish me luck guys! I need your prayer. May God bless me and guide me along this path. Amen.

--

Happy Mode!!!...

Sorry for Hibernating so Long!

Photo taken at Muaya Waterfall, Sipitang

First of all i wanna say sorry for 'hibernating' so long from this blog. It is not that i forgot on update this blog but, i don't know what to write in this blog anymore. Hmmmm.... I don't have stories to share here up till now.  Why? Because i am not quite experiencing anything new on nature so far. Most of the time i am in the office or visiting villages.

Nature, forests, animals, plants? Hmmm... not really focused for the time being. I am moving to a new job middle of December last year, so still in the process of settling down. Lots f things need to be done at the beginning of adapting to a new place, new people and new working environment. Pheww!

So, hope you guys be patient with me because i will keep on eyeing on my adventure with the Mother Nature after this. Will share my story again here too...

Till then!

It's Been A While....

Seems to be i am out of ideas when i log in to this blog now. I can not crack on anything interesting to share with you guys, my fellow nature friends. If i do so, i only recall back all the good memories of working with the animals, plants about three years ago. No fresh new stories to be shared. I am very sorry for that. I did promised to share any of my observations while i am trekking inside the forest or villages but till now, i have none. Yep, i did have a while ago but recently not much of new things. I am out of focus with nature now. I am too much on humans (but still it is a good thing, maybe it can make me more humane..ha ha ha.. just joking!).  

Even so, i still once in a while update this blog if i got anything interesting to share. Most of the time i am writing about my current work and some thoughts in my ^-^TRUE CONFESSIONS^-^ blog. So, if you feel to visit me and still to get connected with me do drop by there.

So, this is it. Till then!