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Sulawesi
wildlife...
This
large tropical tree covered island situated between Borneo and
the Philippines is full of strange and wonderful animals.
Many species here are endemic to the island and are therefore
vulnerable to extinction with any losses of habitat or human
disturbance.
Travel around the island can be slow, and information can be
hard to get due to the low numbers of English speaking
residents. I was fortunate to have an Indonesian guide
that I met there in 2002, and he in turn knew of another guide
who could point me to many interesting species and
locations. These photos are a tribute to my guides.
Bear
cuscus on the last tree Ailurops ursinus
An
endangered slow moving animal whose close relative is the Koala. Little is known about this animal yet
many are killed for bush meat every year. As the trees
vanish it is forced to come into contact more and more with
humans. Doesn't this one look marooned on the last
tree?
Red
knobbed hornbill Aceros
cassidix
This
bird has to be one of my favourites - full of character,
colourful and exotic. Not easy to find or photograph but a
real joy if you're lucky.
Click
the on the image to see more hornbill photos and other Sulawesi
Birds.
Bird
eating spider or tarantula
Discovered
on a research transect one morning. They live in holes in
trees and may appear if the tree is tapped. Unlike the pet
tarantula, this species is aggressive.
Spectral
tarsier Tarsius
spectrum Cute!
Allegedly
a primate, the smallest in the world. Photographed on
Buton Island.
Click
the on the image to see more tarsier photos.
Sulawesi
macaques Seven
species of macaque inhabit Sulawesi.
Click
the on the image to see some macaque photos.
Anoa
02
Anoa
Bubalus
depressicornis
A
very shy and elusive cow confined to undisturbed areas of
rainforest. This animal took a long time to find!!
Click
the on the image to see more Anoa photos.
Babirusa
Babyrousa
babyrussa
Ugly!
Many
species of wild pig occurs throughout Asia, but perhaps the most
famous is the Babirusa. A stronghold of
these animals is near Gorontalo in northern Sulawesi.
My
guide Freddy - always out in front! The man who started research of the island's
macaques, and the first person to habituate both the Buton and
Crested Macaque so that subsequent scientists could further
their own research.
The
mildly venomous Keelback Snake with conservation
volunteers. The guide spotted this snake, or someone may
have walked into it!
SEE
MORE PHOTOS FROM SULAWESI HERE
back
to Conservation Gallery
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