Day 5: 22.June
2001
Clear sky,
light haze.
0830hr Break camp.
Sambar footmarks found across river, therefore identifying animal sounds
heard previous night
0835hr Moving uphill
through moist lowland hill forest. Ground bird calling, diphasic, descending
whistle, given habitat, pitta spp suspected. Investigation could be
rewarding
0836hr Large active
deer wallow just below crest of hill - +/-3m in length. Bark of trees
around the wallow show signs of long term abrasion by antlers of deer.
Tree diameter increasing as team climbs up well-used animal trail, signs
of past human rintis. Shorea (banio and meranti merah) and Hopea
spp (meranti putih,meranti gembung) dominant. Ficus intermittent.
Many small canopy species birds heard but no time to observe or identify
0905hr Argus pheasant
calling.
0910hr Fresh prints
of 1+ Malay tapir.
0911hr Two very
large ficus by left-hand side of trail., More ficus observed along the
valley side to west of the trail. First very large Shorea platyclados
(1.25m+ dbh)
0927hr Three+ siamang
observed, including juvenile who inspects the transect team before retreating
to join adults.
0933hr Fruiting
wild citrus. Appears to be different species to the 'jeruk hantu' seen
on Day IV. Sample of fruit and leaf collected. Named by local guides
as 'batang asam lima kapas utan' Golden morph giant squirrel Ratufa
affinis* seen. This is the only squirrel observed in the course of this
transect, probably due to the speed of walking and disturbance caused
by the transect party. Three large ficus spp close to trail, one in
fruit. Mixed feeding flock of smaller canopy birds including Chloropsis
spp feeding on fruiting ficus. The siamang were travelling from
this direction and so had probably been feeding at this tree
1010hr Pondok of
gaharu collectors encountered on trail. Gaharu wood scrapings in pondok.
Mie and jamu packets, empty cigarette packets. Pondok built by four,
possibly five men from Lunang I. Tapir prints, fresh, close by. Buceros
rhinoceros (2) seen overhead. Two spp of barbet calling
1040hr 645m asl.
Immense banio to left of trail. Diameter immediately above buttresses
estimated at not less than 2m and probably more. Scratching in soil
indicates presence of pheasant species.
1130hr Adult Neofelis
nebulosa - clouded leopard/macan dahan seen by forward two members
of the Trial transect team. Animal had been resting on a liana and retreated
down the liana and crossing trail in front of team. This data-deficient
large cat is rarely seen, however this is the second such visual record
for N neofelis in this approximate area (FFI hold a previous record
for central S.Napar) thus suggesting this area may be an important habitat
for this cat
1145hr Team travelling
in a generally northerly direction towards Silaut River in fine hill
forest dominated by very large dipterocarps
1310hr alt. 730m.
Prints of Malay tapir and sambar. Indicators of muntjak presence (bark
of an unknown tree gnawed on by a small deer) White rumped shama/murai
batu heard. Further inscriptions on trees by individuals from Lunang
I and Lunang II Difficult navigation in this area due to many interlinking
ridge trails and presence of many springs.
1330hr Banded leaf
monkey, Presbytis melalophos heard; 1 animal seen briefly.Murai
batu/white-rumped shama heard. B rhinoceros heard. Indicators
of pig feeding (old).
1350hr - 1520hr
Faeces (2+ weeks) of Malay tapir. Many trees marked by antlers of sambar
deer. Scrapes seen attributed, by local guide(s) to Sumatran tiger,
however unclear and tapir and muntjak will also on occasion produce
scrapes similar to tiger. Not recorded as Positive for tiger. Much mature,
commercially valuable Calamus spp rattan however manau now uncommon.
Leg injuries to two members of transect team (MONEV and FFI) force early
Camp V on a small ridge trail by the headwaters of a small stream draining,
north west, to Silaut river
1735hr B.rhinoceros
heard. Stream investigated and in spite of 15m+ waterfall, seluang and
crayfish present.
1815hr Horned frog
Megophrys nasuta calling repeatedly. This frog is said, by legend,
to only call within the ancestral lands of the Minangkabau people.
2105hr
Call of Sumatran tiger* heard from across small stream by camp.
Loud, very deep rumbling growl call, animal possibly disturbed since
camp made on animal trail between stream and hill top ridge trail.
Day 1
- 2 - 3
- 4 - 5
- 6 - 7
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