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Education: Curriculum, Activities, and Materials

Tales from Borneo—A Wildlife Scientist’s Field Notes*

ENTRY 1: IN FLIGHT AT NIGHT  

My journey across the world begins late at night during a time I imagine many of the species I hope to encounter are just waking from a sleep-filled day, ready to survive the Borneo nightlife! I am a wildlife researcher traveling to an island in tropical Southeast Asia that is home to the oldest tropical rain forest in the world! It is also home to the fastest disappearing rain forest, partially due to illegal logging! Borneo’s rain forest is dominated by giant 150-foot (45-meter) dipterocarp trees, making it the tallest rain forest in the world!

Dominated by giant trees,
Borneo wildlife is set free.
Gliding high in search of fruits,
Never touching the forest floor roots,
Awake at night when other life cannot see .

ENTRY 2: THE ORANG THAT SANG - BORNEAN ORANGUTAN

(Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus) critically endangered

I woke up early in search of the one they call the “old man of the forest.” Orangutans are known as the largest tree-dwelling primate and are also the most endangered! I hope to hear the call of a male orang that can be heard from miles away. The local people tell me that the only time they see orangutans together is when it is a mother and her baby. Seems like quite a different life from mine, although I suppose many humans also like to live alone. You would think we could see how similar we are and want to save our distant relatives, the orangutans. Instead, thousands of orangutans have been taken from the rain forest for pets and habitat destruction is also driving them to extinction.

A male orang sings,
As it swings.
Living all alone,
His song sounds like a moan.
On the trees he clings.

True size: Male orangutans weigh 110 to 198 pounds (50 to 90 kilograms) and are about 3.5 feet tall (100 centimeters). Female orangutans are half the size of males, weighing 66 to 110 pounds (30 to 50 kilograms) and are about 30 inches (76 centimeters) tall. Even though male orangutans are only about 3.5 feet tall, they have arms twice that length!

Visit orangutans at the San Diego Zoo’s Absolutely Apes exhibit!

ENTRY 3: THE PROUD CLOUD - CLOUDED LEOPARD

(Neofelis nebulosa) critical risk

After an unexpected view of an orangutan's sleeping nest, I cross over a bridge and see a clouded leopard swimming in the river below! I am surprised to see this very mysterious leopard that is usually about at night.

I am painted with clouds,
And steer clear of crowds.
A “tree tiger” with a long tail,
That moves through the trees like a sail.
A good swimmer as well, which makes me quite proud!

True size: Clouded leopards are about 3 feet (1.4 meters) long, with a 3-foot-long tail that helps them to balance. Males weigh 45 to 60 pounds (20 to 27 kilograms), while females weigh 25 to 30 pounds (11 to 14 kilograms).

Visit clouded leopards at the San Diego Zoo’s Monkey Trails and Forest Tales exhibit!

ENTRY 4: SIGHT AT NIGHT - WESTERN TARSIER threatened

(Tarsius bancanus)

It is late evening and I am in search of the many nocturnal or nighttime animals that live within this ancient forest. As I survey the trees with my flashlight, I catch the reflection of a creature with large red eyes, a long and almost hairless tail, and fingers similar to a frog. It is a tarsier! I have never before seen this unusual mammal that leaps from tree to tree in search of insects, many of which are poisonous. I have read that tarsiers are becoming more and more threatened because of the pesticides used by local farms and the destruction of its forest. Its eyes are quite a sight! If the eyes of a human were the same in proportion to our bodies as those of the tarsier, our eyes would be as large as apples. Incredible!

My eyes are quite a sight,
And may cause a fright.
Truth is I am as small as a kitten,
And truly could fit in a mitten.
If you look with a flashlight you may catch me at night.

True size: Tarsiers are the size of a kitten, measuring 4 to 5 inches (10 to 12 centimeters) in size!

ENTRY 5: THE FLICK WITH A TRICK - SUMATRAN PIT VIPER

(Trimeresurus sumatranus)

Today’s quest was not as successful as the previous days in the forest. I have been searching all day for the illusive Sumatran pit viper, one of the most difficult snakes to find in Borneo. It is usually found coiled around a tree branch, blending in with the leaves and colors of the forest. The Sumatran pit viper flicks its tongue to sense it surroundings because it has heat receptors that detect warm-blooded prey. I am sure I passed several on the trail today who remained silent, feeling my presence but never indicating that they were near.

I make no sound,
But beware because I am around.
I live coiled in the trees,
And blend in with the leaves.
Walk with care, because I also strike on the ground!

True size:  A Sumatran pit viper can be up to 3 feet (1 meter) long!

ENTRY 6: FLOWER POWER - RAFFLESIA FLOWER

(Rafflesia keithii)

At 5 a.m. I hear a tap at my tent. A local botanist is going to take me on a hike to see the famous rafflesia flower of the Borneo forest. This flower is the largest in the world and perhaps the stinkiest! That is right—stinkiest. Scientist believe the odor of this flower, described as smelling like a dead animal, is possibly intended to attract flies and other meat-eating insects that help to pollinate the flower. This flower also has no roots, stems, or leaves. It sits at the base of other plants and uses them to get nutrients. Quite a sneaky plant if you ask me.

Far from smelling like a fruit,
I live off other plants' roots!
A flower measuring three feet,
And smelling like dead meat.

True size: A rafflesia flower has a 3-foot (1-meter) diameter.

ENTRY 7: A FROG WITH NO BOG - BORNEAN HORNED FROG

(Megophrys nasuta)

Today I revisited the orangutan nest I saw a few weeks back to see if any changes have occurred to the sleep nest. Each day, hour, and even minute brings something new to explore in the forest. As I shuffled my feet through the leaves on the forest floor, I startled a small frog from its cozy home. After photographing the frog, I realized it was a Bornean horned frog, one of the most difficult animals to find in this forest. Measuring only a few inches in size, this frog makes its home in leaf litter and is usually only found when it makes a high pitched “ping” to call its fellow frogs.

I am a frog,
Whose home is not a bog.
I am camouflaged on the forest floor,
And I watch out for the creatures that soar.
To them I am a tasty snack or maybe even more!

True size: The male bornean horned frog is a little less than 4 inches long (100 millimeters), the female is just a bit larger at almost 5 inches (120 millimeters) long!

ENTRY 8: GIANT ATLAS MOTH

(Attacus atlas)

On my last evening on the island, I had a wonderful encounter with the largest moth in the world! As I began to unpack my headlamp, something brushed my face. It was a careful touch and at first I thought it was a bat. As I turned my headlamp on, careful not to shine it in the flying animal’s eyes, I saw the shadow of the stunning giant atlas moth. With a graceful flapping of its wings, this moth traveled from plant to plant laying its eggs. Amazing that such a large moth does not eat any food as an adult.

I make my silent flight,
During the night.
I do not eat,
And I never take a seat.
I rush to lay my eggs before the daylight.

True size: A giant atlas moth has a 10-inch (25-centimeter) wingspan, making it the largest moth in the world!