Murung Raya Expedition Leaders Report

MURUNG RAYA EXPEDITION

L E A D E R S R E P O R T

A MULTIDISCIPLINARY, INTERACTIVE EXPEDITION

TO STUDY A REMOTE AREA OF RAINFOREST

IN THE HEART OF BORNEO

BUKIT BATIKAP PROTECTION FOREST

CENTRAL KALIMANTAN, INDONESIA

2010-11

MARTIN C. HOLLAND

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© 2012 Heart of Borneo Project

Heart of Borneo Project

A charity registered in England and Wales No. 1138860.

28a High St, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 9BL

www.heartofborneo.org

[email protected] [email protected]

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 7

A Note of Apology 8

Expedition Leader’s Executive Summary 12

Lead Scientists Executive Summary 13

Team Members 14

Introduction 15

Expedition Aims & Objectives 16

Discover: Research Aims & Objectives 17

Educate: Expeditions as a Tool for Outreach 20

Inspire: Motivating Positive Action 23

Background to the Expedition 24

The Heart of Borneo 27

Tumbang Tohan 28

Mohot River and Camp Foyle 31

Expedition Team 34

Logistics and Brief Log 37

London to Jakarta 38

Equipment and Supplies, Immigration and Freight 38

Barito River to the Joloi River 40

Final Leg: The Joloi to the Mohot via Tumbang Naan and Tumban Tohan 42

Camp Foyle: Determination and Construction 46

Preparing the Transects 48

Beginning the Research 49

Camera Traps: Terrestrial Vertebrates 50

Mammal Transects and Observations 53

Small Mammals 54

Hybrid Gibbons 55

Avifauna 59

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Herpetofauna 60

Canopy Herpetofauna 64

Epiphytes 68

Invertebrates 69

General Discussion on Research 70

Interactive Media 72

Capacity Building 73

Life at Camp Foyle 76

Food and Cooking 77

Powering Camp 80

Communications 80

Filming and Other Media 81

Arrivals and Departures 82

Medical Issues 83

Breaking Camp and Extraction 86

Conclusion 88

Appendix 1: Strategy & Planning 92

Appendix 2: Team Selection and Training 93

Appendix 3: Permissions and Permits 95

Appendix 4: Managing Finances 96

Appendix 5: Insurance and Emergency Evacuation 97

Appendix 6: Travel, Transport and Freighting 98

Appendix 7: Food, Water & Htgiene 100

Appendix 8: Breakdown of Income 101

Appendix 9: Breakdown of Expenditure 102

Appendix 10: Mammal Species Lists 103

Appendix 11 Birds Species Lists 104

Appendix 12: Amphibians Species Lists 108

Appendix 13: Reptiles Species Lists 109

Appendix 14: Trees Species Lists 110

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Map 1: Map of study area © Tim van Berkel

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Acknowledgements

We would never have been able to experience such a remote part of the world, working in a

virtually undisturbed and beautiful rainforest and witnessing the intimate knowledge of the forest

the local people possess without the help, advice and contribution of many. The foundation of the

expedition’s success is based on their unconditional support and faith in a group of young and

ambitious scientists and explorers. Without this we would never have been able to prepare and

achieve such a successful expedition. Many thanks for the support of the following people and

organisations (in no particular order):

Les and Claire Halpin, Rupert Ridgeway, Shane Winser, Neville Shulman, Christopher and Catherine

Foyle, Robin Hanbury-Tenison, Jamie Buchanon-Dunlop, Dr David Chivers, Dr George McGavin,

Steve Oliver, Tristan and Sonja Wood, David Morgan, Lindsey Leyden, Steven Trotter, Godwin

Limberg, Suzanne Bull, Chris Greenwood, Pak Yunting, Sophie Persey, Brendan Godley, Nigel

Winser, Cathy Hookey, Dr Peter Smithers, Alasdair McMillan, Natalie Gibb, Graham Stokes, Emily

Wilson, Melati Gray, Catherine Wolfgang, Paul Inman, Paul Beerling, Simon Thompson, Tim

Turnbull, Sam Burrows, Charlotte Coales, Tony Scorah, Stuart Hughes, Kirsten Mack, Robert Knott,

Matthew Oates, Noel Rowe, Nick Vansittart, Michelle Desilets, Adam Vaughan, and all of the

students and volunteers who helped us plan, prepare, and fundraise. Thank you.

Our special thanks to the people of Tumbang Naan and Tumbang Tohan, and of course our invaluable field assistants, Pak Wik, Pak Bobo, Pak Parman, Pak Lundun, Pak Muji and, above all Pak Aspor, and to our cooks, Ibu Dewi and Ibu Wi. We are especially grateful for the support of the Research Centre for Biology - Indonesian Institute of Sciences; Pusat Penelitian Biologi – Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia (LIPI) and the University of Palangka Raya (UNPAR). Institutional Support, Trusts and Grants Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI), Universitas Palangkaraya, the Royal Geographical Society with IBG, Project Barito Ulu, University of Exeter (in particular the Department of Alumni Relations) University College Falmouth, the Gilchrist Educational Trust, the Orangutan Land Trust, World Wildlife Fund, Heart of Borneo Initiative, Natural History Museum in London, Primate Conservation Inc., Mission Aviation Fellowship Palangkaraya, the Zoological Society of London, the Rainforest Club, Ministry of Science and Technology, the Indonesian Department of Forestry, Royal Botanical Gardens Kew, the Explorers Club, the Foyle Foundation, the Adrian Ashby Smith Memorial Trust, the Falmouth and Exeter Students Union, Fauna and Flora International, Skinners Brewery, Our Media Sponsors and Partners UCF Media Dept, Panasonic Toughbook, Livewire Digital, Lightfoot Solutions, AST-Systems, Digital Explorer, Guardian Online Our Kit Sponsors Treeworker, Teufelberger, Doro, Craghoppers, Marlow, AST, Lightfoot Solutions, WorkWare, Nikwax, Digital Explorer, DD Hammocks, Paramo Directional Clothing, Aquapac, Tupperware, AECOM

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A Note of Apology This report and the accompanying Science Report is published 18 months after the completion of

the Murung Raya Expedition. We acknowledge that this is later than normally expected, and indeed

later than many of the grants we received stipulated in their conditions of approval. For this we

apologise sincerely.

This was the first expedition that that I had ever organised or led, and for many of the participants

it was the first expedition they had ever participated in, and first research projects independently

planned and executed outside of a university setting. Yet it was also very ambitious in its scope.

We were, I believe, well prepared for the work involved in the planning stages, which took 18

months and thousands of man hours. We were, as a result, well prepared also for the challenges

we would face in the field, as I hope this report and the results detailed in the Science Report will

demonstrate. However, we were not well enough prepared for the post expedition phase, and this

includes the writing of these reports.

There is much we could have prepared in advance, and I would encourage any future expedition

leaders reading this report to learn from our mistakes. We should have begun preparing our

reports well before our departure, and the whole team, especially the research team, should have

been involved in that process. I think this knowledge of exactly how our findings would be reported

would also have helped us in the field.

As it was, upon completing the expedition, the team naturally dispersed to recuperate both their

energies and their finances, and once that had happened it proved difficult to gather the various

elements of the report and collate them, delaying both reports.

We were further challenged by our desire to maintain the momentum created during the run up

and execution of the expedition. We had founded the Heart of Borneo Project as a charity, and

quickly learned how daunting the task of defining, funding, and growing this new organisation

would be. Pursuing various new projects with little funding and a skeleton team has been by no

means easy.

Lastly, apart from managing this process better, I must take personal responsibility for paying

particular attention to presentation. I believe that our reports will be more widely read and used

for longer as a result, but it has inevitably slowed the process.

Apart from being better prepared, and having the report templates ready and being added to on an

ongoing basis, I make some further suggestions to future expedition teams toward the end of this

report that I hope will prove valuable.

We are extremely grateful for the patience of all those who have been waiting expectantly for this

report, and hope that its contents are worth the extra wait.

Martin Holland

Expedition Leader

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Aerial view of Bukit Batikap Protection Forest and the Muller Range ©Martin Holland

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Expedition Leader’s Executive Summary

From December 2010 to February 2011 a young, international and multidisciplinary team of researchers and creatives explored an as yet unstudied area of extremely remote but threatened primary rainforest in the centre of the island of Borneo. The Murung Raya Expedition team spent 8 weeks at their base camp site in the Bukit Batikap Protection Forest, Central Kalimantan, combining science and the media to discover, educate and inspire. The expedition was created as an open and inclusive platform for the professional development of students at the Combined Universities Cornwall Tremough Campus. Over 400 people registered an interest with over 40 playing an active role in the expedition from conception to execution. The research team conducted an interdisciplinary biodiversity survey of the area, making many important discoveries that lead to the conclusion that the area is of high conservation value, while the notably higher levels of biodiversity recorded in northern Borneo are likely a result of a survey bias weighted in favour of Sabah and Sarawak, indicating that Kalimantan more widely harbours far greater biodiversity than is currently represented in the literature (see next page for research summary and MRE Science Report for full details). Meanwhile a media team produced professional quality film, photography and articles to document the various elements of the expedition activities and results. Over 45 films, 50 blogs, and 20 photo galleries were produced, written and edited on location, and the latest satellite communications technology was used to broadcast these resources online almost daily to create an interactive expedition that would engage and inspire an international audience In addition, two live video links between the team at the expedition base camp and family audiences in the Attenborough Studio of the Natural History Museum, London, were successfully conducted, along with two live online web chats hosted on the Guardian website. Bukit Batikap Protection Forest is now being used as a release site for orang-utans by the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, thanks in part to the expedition research results, while the regional government has written its strong support for plans to begin a permanent, participatory research program in the area. This ongoing attention should act as a deterrent to further illegal logging activity that has been present in the area. The Murung Raya Expedition received wide support and sponsorship, notably from the RGS Neville Shulman Challenge Award, University of Exeter, and ZSL Darwin Erasmus Award. Originally called ‘fx-pedition 2010’ (for Falmouth and Exeter universities), it eventually operated under the banner of the Heart of Borneo Project: a charity founded by the Expedition Leader and Lead Scientist to continue the work begun by the expedition. The expedition was awarded an inaugural University of Exeter Impact Award, and was named Expedition of the Year by Explorer Magazine. The FXU Exploration Society founded by the expedition team at Tremough Campus is a legacy that will continue to encourage ambitious, creative, interdisciplinary expeditions among the student population. The Heart of Borneo Project continues to explore interesting and threatened areas on the island, as well as pioneering approaches to participatory and interactive research projects.

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Lead Scientist’s Executive Summary By Tim van Berkel (from the MRE 2010-11 Science Report)

As part of the Heart of Borneo Project’s Murung Raya Expedition a preliminary biodiversity survey

was carried out in and around Bukit Batikap Protection Forest from December 2010 to February

2011 to study the flora and fauna. A team of researchers of British, Indonesian and Dutch

nationalities conducted surveys on mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and epiphytes, providing

the first evidence of the species inhabiting this previously unstudied and remote rainforest in

Central Kalimantan.

Mammal diversity was studied by camera trapping and line transect surveys. Avifauna was

recorded using line transects and point counts, while terrestrial birds were also recorded using

camera traps. Reptiles and amphibians were recorded using diurnal and nocturnal line transects,

pitfall traps and basking surveys. Canopy access techniques allowed the study of epiphytes in the

higher canopy, which further aided placement of canopy camera traps and the study of arboreal

herpetofauna.

Additionally, a short expedition was undertaken in search for the western distribution boundary of

the threatened hybrid gibbon (Hylobates albibarbis x H. muelleri), employing an auditory sampling

technique along the Mohot and Joloi Rivers.

A total of 47 terrestrial mammal and three bat species were recorded. Most notable mammal

records are the Sunda otter-civet (Cynogale bennettii), proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus), white-

fronted langur (Presbytis frontata) and Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi). The most notable

absence was that of the orang-utan (Pongo pygmaeus).

The hybrid gibbon, previously believed to range no further than the Busang River, was located in

the upper reaches of the Joloi River. This finding extends its distribution to a minimum estimated

total of 3,300km2.

A total 152 bird species were documented. Observations of importance include: Fairy pitta (Pitta

nympha) which is the second ever record for Indonesia; Bornean peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron

schleiermacheri); Bornean ground-cuckoo (Carpococcyx radiatus); blue-wattled bulbul (Pycnonotus

nieuwenhuisii) and black partridge (Melanoperdix niger). We also list an extension of the breeding

season of the rufous-crowned babbler (Malacopteron magnum).

We documented 45 reptile species; 21 snakes, 22 lizards and 2 turtles. Here we provide the first

record of the reed snake Pseudorabdion saravacense for Indonesia and the first Kalimantan record

of the blue-throated skink (Sphenomorphus cyanolaemus). Since insufficient distribution data

about the vast majority of reptiles exists, these observations constitute valuable records.

Thirty-six amphibian species, including one caecilian were observed. Of the 35 anuran species, 25

represent significant range extensions. Most of these have only been recorded from the Northern

parts of Borneo.

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EXPEDITION TEAM

MAIN TEAM

Martin Holland (UK) – Expedition Leader and Production Manager

Tim van Berkel (Netherlands) – Chief Scientist, Terrestrial Vertebrates, Small Mammals, Birds

Lara Rogers (UK) – Assistant Chief Scientist, Terrestrial Mammals, Primates

Russell Goodchild (UK) - Invertebrates

Misbahul Munir (Indonesia) - Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians

Holli Kilburn (UK) – Canopy, Amphibians, Epiphytes

Dale Mortiboys (UK) - Reptiles, Amphibians

Ismail Agung (Indonesia) – Primates

Ian Blessley (UK) – Base Camp Manager, Medic, Birds

James Harwood (UK) – Photographer

Dan Sargison (UK) - Technician, Power & Communications

GUEST RESEARCHERS RESEARCH ASSISTANTS AND GUIDES

Jan Beck (Germany) - Moths

Bapak Aspor (Head Guide)

Bapak Parman

Carsten Bruhl (Germany) - Ants

Bapak Wik

Bapak Lundung

Bapak Bobo Ibu Wi (Chef)

Bapak Muji Ibu Dewi (Chef)

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INTRODUCTION

The Murung Raya Expedition 2010-11 was a large and highly ambitious multi-disciplinary expedition

into one of the most remote areas of primary rainforest left standing on the island of Borneo. The

aim was to contribute to the conservation of the Heart of Borneo rainforest through discovery,

education, and inspiration, using a combination of scientific research, capacity building, and

interactive multimedia.

The rainforests of Borneo have been decimated over the past few decades, first through timber

extraction and later through mining and land conversion for agriculture, especially oil palm. Today

less than half of the original forest cover is left standing, while much of that is degraded and

fragmented. The Heart of Borneo is a solid band of rainforest found in the centre of the island,

straddling the mountains of the interior. The three governments of Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia

and Brunei, have pledged to sustainably manage this 220,000km2 area, but what that means in

reality remains to be seen after 5 years of the agreement being in place.

The expedition aimed to record the biodiversity in an as yet unstudied and threatened area of

lowland dipterocarp rainforest in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, providing a first line of defence by

demonstrating its high conservation value to local people, regional and national government and

businesses alike.

The expedition was broadcast in real-time from the base camp on the river Mohot, sending high

quality videos, photography and blogs to our website and other media outlets via satellite, as well

as speaking live to ‘real’ and online audiences via video link and web based chats—a truly

pioneering effort from such a remote rainforest location. The purpose was to raise awareness of

the unique and globally important rainforests of Borneo, and increase understanding of the issues

threatening their future survival, along with the many thousands of species and people who rely on

them for their survival.

It was the first expedition that any of the participants had been involved in organising for

themselves. It was conceived and initiated at Tremough campus in Cornwall, which is shared by the

University of Exeter and University College Falmouth, with both institutions offering their support.

A new Exploration Society was established by the expedition team, and continues to thrive. Over

400 students applied to join the expedition, which was designed to act as a platform for

professional development for students from any and all disciplines.

A philosophy of inclusiveness was central to the planning process, intended to share all of the

learning to be gained from the experience of planning and preparing the expedition as widely as

possible. Indeed, not even the location of the expedition was decided before the team was formed.

Multidisciplinary expeditions create fertile environments for study, and the multimedia element

encourages scientists to focus on the significance of their work, learning how to make their

sometimes abstract research not just accessible, but relevant to a lay audience. We took particular

inspiration from the 1979 Mulu Expedition to northern Borneo, and the Catlin Arctic Survey, in

designing the expedition.

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EXPEDITION AIMS

Disover:

To explore and document an as yet unstudied area of primary rainforest in the Murung Raya district of Central Kalimantan, Borneo. To create a representative picture of the biodiversity in the area through surveys on mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, epiphytes and forest structure. To extend these surveys to the rainforest canopy via rope access. To establish and map the range of a hybrid gibbon species thought to present in the region.

Educate:

To raise awareness of the Heart of Borneo Rainforest and conservation/sustainability issues more widely. To create and share educational resources online before, during and after the expe-dition. To create and share multimedia during the expedition that provides insights into expeditions, research methodologies, species, ecosystems and wider issues, in an interesting and exciting way. To build capacity among Indonesian researchers and the remote communities in our research area.

Inspire:

To reach and engage with an international audience by creating an interactive expe-dition through the use of satellite technology and the internet, uploading videos, blogs and pictures near-daily from Camp Foyle. To use the expedition as a learning platform for students from all disciplines at the universities of Exeter and Falmouth to gain professional experience. To inspire future conservationists, researchers and explorers. To engage with live audiences through live video links and online web chats to create a more personal empathy with this environment and its threats.

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DISCOVER: Research Aims & Objectives By Tim van Berkel

Effective conservation management is not possible without knowledge of the species in the area. It

is the knowledge of species occurrences and distribution patterns that form the basis for

prioritisation of conservation areas.

Obtaining species inventories is particularly important to identify high conservation value (HCV)

areas; which require conservation priority over areas containing less biodiversity, those containing

fewer endemic or threatened species or species that are not sufficiently covered in protected areas

such as national parks and nature reserves.

Very little is known about the biodiversity in Kalimantan, less even in the central parts of Borneo

where considerable logistical effort is needed in order to be able to conduct research. It is however

these parts of the island where most of the remaining forests are located and biodiversity can be

expected to be high.

We aim to further the conservation of the Bornean rainforests by obtaining the first biodiversity

data for mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and epiphytes in Bukit Batikap

Protection Forest (BBPF) in Central Kalimantan.

Below: One of our guides, Pak Wik, trying out a pair of binoculars ©Misbahul Munir

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The objectives of this expedition were to collect biodiversity data in the threatened and unstudied,

primary lowland rainforests of Bukit Batikap Protection Forest (BBPF), located in the district of

Murung Raya, Central Kalimantan. Research on the status of the biodiversity in this area is virtually

absent, (McConkey & Chivers, 2004) and only one previous published account of the biodiversity in

BBPF exist (Partomiharjo, 2005).

To date, the vast majority of ecological research has been conducted in the northern parts of

Borneo; Sabah and Sarawak, as well as the island’s more accessible coastal regions. In contrast,

relatively little is known from the Indonesian interior of the island (Holmes & Burton, 1987; Kueh et

al., 2004; McLeod, 2010; Beck et al., 2011), and where research in the Heart of Borneo is being

conducted, new species continue to be discovered (WWF, 2010).

So little is known about the interior forests of Kalimantan, it is argued that part of the considered

higher animal biodiversity of the well-studied Northern parts of Borneo is in fact a result to larger

sampling effort rather than a representation of actual biodiversity patterns (Gaston et al., 1995;

Meijaard & Nijman, 2003; Slik et al., 2003; Kueh et al., 2004; Beck et al., 2010; McLeod, 2010).

Exploring and documenting the unstudied and threatened areas in Kalimantan is important as it

will undoubtedly provide additional species records which form the basis for augmented

conservation effort and attention.

Early in the planning process we established contact with Dr David Chivers and Rupert Ridgeway.

Dr David Chivers is scientific director of Project Barito Ulu (PBU) and is based at the University of

Cambridge, while Rupert Ridgeway is the Project Manager. PBU was established in 1985 and is the

only research centre in the centre of Borneo. It combines studies on natural forest regeneration

and the ecology of forest dynamics and is located approximately 60 km from this expedition’s base

camp, Camp Foyle. David Chivers identified the need to locate the western boundary of the hybrid

gibbon Hylobates albibarbis x H. muelleri, which is known to occur in the area.

The Joloi headwaters were investigated for suitability during a five week recce trip by Martin

Holland, Tim van Berkel and Rupert Ridgeway in February and March 2010. During the trip contact

was established with various partners, such as the University of Palangka Raya and the Bornean

Orang-utan Survival Foundation (BOS) as well as with the villages of Tumbang Tohan (also known as

Taja Bankang) and Tumbang Naan.

The forests here are still relatively untouched, with only local disturbances occurring along the river

edges in the form of regenerating cultivation sites, locally known as ladang. Although the area

enjoys Hutan Lindung (Protection Forest) status, until now this has not guaranteed total protection.

Illegal logging has occurred in BBPF and additional logging and mining concessions have been

granted in BBPF and other Protection Forests in Central Kalimantan (MoFor, 2008), making the

presence of conservation organisations and baseline biodiversity data in the area all the more

important.

(Opposite) A logging road snakes through dense rainforest close to BBPF ©Martin Holland

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EDUCATE: Expeditions as an Outreach Tool

People are fascinated by expeditions and exploration generally, and this fascination presents an

excellent opportunity to educate people about the places, peoples, topics and issues that

expedition teams are concerned with. Of course this is not a new concept. Articles, books, films,

lectures, schools visits and exhibitions are all common ways that expedition teams share their

stories and findings. Increasingly, websites and new media are the primary method of reaching out

to people, and with satellite communications technology becoming more affordable and portable,

the ability to report from the field via blogs and videos is being utilized more and more often.

Awareness of tropical rainforest deforestation generally is probably at an all-time high, and this

topic is usually covered in school curriculums in the UK. However awareness does not necessarily

equal understanding, and we believe that understanding is the crucial link to empathy which in

turn is necessary for action. Many people will have learned how to solve complex mathematical

problems at school without ever understanding why it was at all important. In the same way, many

people are aware of the deforestation issue, and of links with climate change, but are perhaps

unaware of the scale or importance of this global crisis, or of the many interconnected systems

(including humanity in all its social forms) that are and will continue to be negatively affected.

Moreover, Borneo barely features in the public’s imagination of these issues. The Amazon

rainforest, for example, has rightly achieved international attention as an area of huge global

environmental import, and probably due in part to this public opinion, deforestation rates have

reduced dramatically in the region.

Schoolchildren of Tumbang Tohan during Recce ©Rupert Ridgeway

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We intended to put the rainforests of Borneo on the map, particularly the Heart of Borneo

rainforest which we believe should be receiving the same level of attention as the Amazon

rainforest, Great Barrier Reef, and other natural wonders that have achieved similar celebrity.

We also wanted to demonstrate the methodologies of scientific research to the lay person, to give

an insight into how studies are carried out and, crucially, why. It’s not apparent to most people why

knowing what species are present in an area is important to conservation. We hoped to produce

resources which would provide an insight into these questions.

Videos are excellent resources and so we planned many on a variety of subjects. We also collected

existing rainforest related lesson plans and shared them on our website, hoping that schools would

use our expeditions as a platform to discuss these topics while we were in the field, making use of

the opportunity to really engage the students in the subject matter by following our progress live,

and by asking us questions and perhaps taking part in live links into their classrooms.

We also planned to visit schools and work with local cub groups, creating our own badge that cubs

could earn by spending a weekend learning about and practicing various expedition and research

related tasks.

(Above) Munir with Wallace’s flying frog (Rhacophorus nigropalmatus)

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INSPIRE: Motivating Positive Action

Inspiration is a powerful force. I have always been interested in travelling and exploring, but I can

pinpoint the inspiration to actually design and lead an expedition to just two or three individuals

and a handful of well-timed comments. So much of my life will be different because of those

moments, and perhaps the same is true for the other expedition team members and those

involved in the project more widely.

From the beginning the expedition was designed to maximise the potential opportunity for this

kind of inspiration. Being at a university campus during the conception and planning stages, the

expedition was opened up as a platform to individuals from all subjects and backgrounds to

contribute to, whether they were joining us in the field or not. The whole pre-expedition phase,

right from deciding where and what to study, would be inclusive, meaning that everybody would

contribute to and learn from the different elements of the planning and preparation, from

budgeting to marketing, fundraising to logistics, research design to camp design.

In all we had over 40 students very engaged with the project. We called it a platform for

professional learning, partly motivated by my own frustrations of a university experience that

simply does not prepare young people for the exciting but challenging reality of the modern world,

nor taps into the potential for interdisciplinary study. I wanted to demonstrate what young people

were capable of and hopefully create a legacy of similar activities once I had left.

Beyond the expedition team and volunteers, we intended the expedition to inspire a broad

international audience. Our message was constantly positive, focusing on the fact that so much

rainforest is still left, that it isn’t too late to protect it, that doing so really is worthwhile and, more

importantly, really is achievable. We would incorporate personality and adventure into our blogs

and videos, but hopefully not so much that the focus drifted away from our core messages.

We also hoped to inspire young people around the world, and especially in Indonesia, to make a

career in conservation or its related fields, by demonstrating how incredibly exciting and diverse

the opportunities are if you are willing to put the work in.

Lastly, we hoped to inspire others to follow in our footsteps by designing their expeditions and

research activities to maximise the potential opportunities as we had tried to do, by incorporating

creative people and interdisciplinary approaches, and by letting others contribute to and benefit

from the learning involved in the many and varied obstacles and challenges to be overcome in

order to realise such an expedition.

(Opposite) Rainforest vegetation close to Camp Foyle ©Martin Holland

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BACKGROUND TO THE EXPEDITION The Murung Raya Expedition was the result of seed of an idea that became lodged in my mind

in Spring of 2009. The concept then was to recruit a team of people from different scientific

disciplines and multimedia backgrounds to plan, organise and execute an expedition. The

expedition team members and those involved in supporting the expedition on the ground

would benefit from the learning involved in such an operation.

This was organised under the name of ‘fx-pedition2010’, with the intention of running the

expedition in the summer of 2010, and won the support of the University of Exeter and

University College Falmouth – the two institutions which share Tremough Campus in Cornwall

where the idea was first born.

The criteria for the expedition were to go somewhere remote, threatened and unstudied; to

contribute to scientific knowledge and conservation through research; and to combine science

and multimedia to raise awareness and inspire others. With these and a number of other

factors in mind such as security, seasonality and cost, the team decided on an area of Central

Kalimantan, Borneo as their chosen area of interest.

This decision was in part due to the presence of a research station called Project Barito Ulu

(PBU), run by Rupert Ridgeway for the past 26 years, and introduced to us by Shane Winser of

the Royal Geographical Society (RGS). Rupert Ridgeway proved to be such an invaluable

resource of local knowledge and tireless enthusiasm that much of the scale of the expedition

can be attributed to his support.

The precise location of the expedition, the primary rainforest of the upper Joloi headwaters

nestled against the dramatic escarpment of the east side of Muller or Batikap Mountains was

chosen for the lack of research so far undertaken in the region (due probably to its remoteness

and difficulty of access); the presence of two remote villages, Tumbang Tohan and Tumbang

Naan; the very present threat of mining and logging concessions moving ever deeper into the

region; and the theory put forward by Dr David Chivers of Cambridge University and PBU that

the Mohot River, a tributary of the Joloi, may mark the boundary of a little-studies hybrid

species of gibbon .

Along with the Royal Geographical Society, we received enormous support throughout our

planning from the University of Exeter (especially from Steve Trotter and Catherine Wolfgang

of the university’s Department for Alumni Relations, DARO). We were also especially grateful to

the enthusiasm and advice of Robin Hanbury-Tenison, who led the RGS Mulu Expedition in

1979. Les and Claire Halpin were very important to our success, as were Christopher and

Catherine Foyle of Foyle’s Bookshops.

We were also supported by a small army of volunteers students from Tremough campus who

responded with great energy to the opportunities we offered. The role of the expedition as a

vehicle for personal and professional development was mutually beneficial to our goals and

those of the students, with PR, fundraising, art and design work, media projects, and support

with designing the research all contributed to by an inter-university, multidisciplinary team.

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The number and capacity of people interested allowed the ambition of the expedition to grow, and

with this ambition many sponsors were attracted allowing us to attempt some new and interesting

techniques in remote interactive media. Key to this was the use of satellite technology to create an

interactive website allowing schools, youth groups and people from around the world to follow our

progress in real time through videos, galleries and blogs which were created in the field and

uploaded onto our website. We also aimed to take part in the first live video link of its kind with

audiences in the Natural History Museums new Attenborough Studio, and live Q&A sessions on the

Guardian newspapers website.

The planned dates for the expedition were July to September 2010, but issues with our research

visa application meant that the expedition was postponed, with revised dates of November 2010

to February 2011 being agreed with the team and sponsors.

We used this delay to become the Murung Raya Expedition, and to register a charity - the Heart of

Borneo Project (HoBP) - to act as the vehicle for a long term presence in the area which was central

to our original philosophy. For fear of legal/insurance complications, the expedition was

considered to be independent of the newly formed Heart of Boneo Project, meaning for example

that the income and accounts for the expedition are separate to and different than those of the

charity, although for all intents and purposes the Murung Raya Expedition was a Heart of Borneo

Project expedition.

The final plan for the expedition was to spend 9 weeks in the field conducting research and

creating multimedia for online broadcast, with 2 weeks either side for entry to and extraction from

the field site. Despite many setbacks detailed in this report, we successfully managed 8 weeks of

research time in the field, completing all of our objectives and exceeding even our own high

expectations of success.

The original ‘fx-pedition 2010’ team at the Tremough Freshers Fayre in 2009 ©Graham Stokes

26

Red Square shows area detailed on

Map 1 (p6-7)

27

Research in the Heart of Borneo

For centuries, the extensive forests of Borneo have captured the imagination of explorers and

scientists alike. Today however, over half of the island’s forest cover has disappeared and

deforestation continues to be amongst the highest in the world (Jukka et al., 2011). It has been

projected that if business (in the form of timber extraction, oil palm plantation and coal and

mineral extraction) continues at the current level less than a third of Borneo’s forest will remain by

2020 (WWF, 2005).

The lowland dipterocarp forests (Holmes & Burton, 1987), in which it is estimated that more than

60% of Borneo’s rainforest species reside, face the greatest threats. They are the most

commercially attractive and most heavily exploited habitats and are disappearing at alarming rate.

Even Kalimantan’s protected areas do not provide the shelter one might expect. From 1985 to

2001 over 56% of the lowland forest situated in legally protected areas was logged or converted

(Curran et al., 2004). With the rate of deforestation at an all-time high, the implementation of

more effective conservation measurements is thus of utmost importance.

Despite the continuing extensive forest conversion, Borneo’s central areas still harbour one of the

largest continuous stretches of primary rainforest in Southeast Asia. To conserve the biodiversity in

this vast region, the governments of Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei signed a declaration in 2007:

“To cooperate in ensuring the effective management of forest

resources and conservation of a network of protected areas,

productive forests and other sustainable land-uses within an area

which the three respective countries will designate as the “Heart of

Borneo (HoB)”

Although this is considered to be a historical agreement on a political level, looking at what is

actually being implemented on the ground, the reality paints a less optimistic picture:

implementation of regulations is slow, illegal logging and corruption are still serious issues, and the

establishment of new conservation areas is falling behind, despite Indonesia’s goodwill.

The research carried out during the Heart of Borneo Project’s Murung Raya Expedition took place

within the gazetted boundaries of the Heart of Borneo, in a remote primary lowland rainforest of

Central Kalimantan. The study area is part of Bukit Batikap Protection Forest (Map 1, page 6-7). It is

located in the north-west of the Indonesian province of Central Kalimantan; sub-district

(kecamatan) Seribu Riam of the Murung Raya district. Camp Foyle (expedition basecamp) was

constructed on the northern bank of the Mohot River (Figure 1.2) at latitude -0.0922 ̊, longitude

113.4875 ̊.

Some further information on the area follows, but full details of the topography, vegetation,

climate, and other relevant information can be found in the Science Report.

28

Tumbang Tohan Two villages are located 15 and 30km downstream along the Joloi. Tumbang Tohan, the village

nearest to our research site (with which we had more contact) was originally located north of the

Mohot, at the mouth of Sungai Tohan, but a cholera outbreak c.35 years ago killed a large

proportion of the inhabitants, forcing the remaining population to move away. One of the village

elders, Bapak Ajung, informed us that only ten of the original inhabitants still live in the newly built

village, although we don’t know the percentage of the population who are descendants of the

original inhabitants. Many of the current population are migrants, the majority from West

Kalimantan who have walked across the mountains in search of work and new beginnings. The

word Tohan actually translates to transit, which is very apt for this frontier town.

Tumbang Tohan is still very isolated: since a logging road was left to abandon by the operating

company, the only means of transport is by boat which, due to price of fuel which has to be

transported far upriver from Puruk Cahu, remains prohibitively expensive (Rp.25,000/litre instead

of the government regulated price of Rp4,500/litre, and the actual price in Puruk Cahu of Rp.8,500/

litre).

The villages are financially very poor, and the economic situation very difficult. Over 90% rely on

subsistence farming (rice and some vegetables such as cassava and water spinach) using swidden

techniques. The average family farms an area of around 1ha, opening up a new area every 1-2

years, and leaving land fallow for 10-15 years. The clearing and burning of land and the sowing of

the rice are communal activities: 30 people at a time work on one family’s farm in rotating shifts.

Rice and the occasional vegetables are supplemented with fish and meat. Large fish have not been

present in the river close to the village for some time now, and so fresh fish has risen to a cost of

around Rp.30,000 (£2) per kilo, because of the cost of fuel to reach places upstream where larger

fish are still abundant. While in the forest collecting gaharu or birds nests the men will hunt to

support themselves, but from conversation it seems that the younger men in the village are less

inclined to go hunting to bring meat to the family meals. That said, there is still plenty of hunting

activity in the area, with bearded pigs and the various deer species the main targets. Traps are set

and these are apparently very successful, while rifles, hunting dogs, and spears are also used. A

very small number of families are practicing pig and fish husbandry.

The two major economic activities and additional sources of income are from the collection of

gaharu, a valuable incense collected from the trees infected by a fungus, and the harvest of edible

bird nests from caves. Both of these activities commonly involve spells of 1-2 months in the forest

at a time, leaving the women to care for the children, and both women and children to care for the

farms. This impacts on the schooling of the children who are often either too busy to attend or too

tired to concentrate.

Some people have begun planting rubber, while illegal gold mining of the river bed has taken off in

recent years. Occasional manual labour can be found with the logging and mining companies that

operate in the area. The villagers complain that this is only short-term contract work, given out by

the companies until migrant workers can be employed, who are given long-term contracts.

29

Children of the rainforest, Tumbang Tohan ©Martin Holland

30

31

Mohot River & Camp Foyle Camp Foyle was constructed at the site of an old hunting camp on the north bank of the Mohot

river, after consultation with the people from Tumbang Tohan. The Mohot River flows north and

then east from the Muller, or Batikap mountains to the west, joining the Joloi upstream from

Tumbang Tohan. The river is used as an entry point by local people going into deeper rainforest

where gaharau is collected, and also into the mountains either to cross into West Kalimantan or to

harvest edible swiftlets nests from the caves.

Freshly cleared as well as old lading sites in various stages of forest regeneration line the banks

close to the mouth of the river, but this human disturbance gives way to primary rainforest once

beyond the tributary Bulu river. At the time of the expedition no gold mining activity was taking

place along the river.

As well as this localised and small scale agricultural activity, selective logging activity can be seen

from the river in the form of collapsed bridges made from logs, built by the logging company that

holds a concession in the area. Accurate and consistent information on the land use status in

Central Kalimantan is almost impossible to obtain, but it is clear that illegal logging activity has

been systematically pursued by the company. Satellite images and even Google Earth clearly detail

the network of logging roads spreading like tendrils up to and across the river Bulu, well within the

Protection Forest area.

The presence of the collapsed bridges betrays the pursuit of illegal timber on the north bank of the

Mohot by this same company, and roads can be seen heading north alongside the west bank of the

Joloi. This illegal activity has been reported to the authorities by members of the village but no

action has been taken. This logging activity is ongoing, and currently approaches to within 7km of

Camp Foyle to the east and 9km to the south. Across the mountains to the west, the closest logging

activity observable by satellite is 13km.

The forest canopy bridges the river at several locations, including at Camp Foyle, and long-tailed

macaques were frequently seen using these natural causeways. The forest found beyond the

reaches of the logging activity described above is pristine, with many emergent canopy trees with

enormous buttress roots found throughout the area we studied.

The terrain is undulating with 40m hills cut with streams and rivers. Our transects could not

navigate the easiest route through the forest, and so the research teams had to follow straight

lines up and down these hills, crossing the water courses and their steep banks and many bogs.

Being so close to the mountains and collecting all the rainfall from this large watershed area, the

Mohot could rise by 5m in the space of a few hours, carrying enormous logs and breakneck speed

and making river tral dangerous to impossible. Of course, the smaller streams and rivers would also

flash flood, potentially stranding research teams during heavy weather, and making proper safety

precautions all the more crucial.

(Left: Map 3, showing rivers in blue and logging roads partially coloured in yellow, with illegal

logging roads visible but not coloured)

(Opposite) Map 3: Google Earth image of BBPF with rivers and logging roads marked

32

The Mohot River in flood ©Martin Holland

33

34

Martin Holland – Expedition Leader and Production Manager

A double graduate from Exeter and Falmouth Universities, Martin brought a

broad range of skills and experience to the team. He attempted his first expe-

dition at 18 with a solo effort to overland from the UK to Australia. Since then

he has worked and travelled in over 30 countries in Africa, Asia, South Ameri-

ca, Australasia, and Europe through his work with charitable organisations,

including as an aid worker for international disaster relief charity Shelterbox.

He is a photojournalist and filmmaker, and wrote his first book, ‘Rodrigues:

Paradise Lost?’ in 2009.

Tim van Berkel – Lead Researcher - Mammalogy

Tim started his degree in Natural-Environmental Sciences in 2001 at Utrecht,

where he developed his interests in the living natural world. Tim put effort

into finding research abroad for his thesis, and subsequently found himself

doing research on lions in Cameroon at Leiden University. Due to this re-

search his interest in the conservation of endangered mammals and especial-

ly the human-wildlife conflict further increased. Tim graduated from the Uni-

versity of Exeter with an MSc in Conservation and Biodiversity in 2009.

EXPEDITION TEAM

35

Lara Rogers – Assistant Lead Researcher - Primatology, Nocturnal Mammals

Lara grew up in Hong Kong, although a concrete jungle she managed to find

wildlife where ever she went. Lara worked at the Gibbon Rehabilitation Cen-

tre in Thailand and then went on to train and work as a Safari guide in South

Africa. Lara has recently completed an MSc in Primate Conservation at Oxford

Brookes University studying the Bengal slow loris in the Cardamom Moun-

tains, Cambodia.

Ian Blessley – Base Camp Manager, Medical Officer, Research Assistant

After commissioning from the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst in 2002 Ian

joined the 1st Battalion, The Green Howards. Since leaving school in 1998 Ian

has been on expeditions to Pakistan, Nepal, Kenya, Tanzania, Belize

and Guatamala, and has driven from the UK to Gambia across the Sahara ian

has successfully summited a 7000m and 600m peak in Pakistan and three

6000m Peaks, in Nepal and a 5000m Peak Tanzania. Ian also graduated from

the University of Exeter with an MSc in Conservation and Biodiversity in 2009.

Russell Goodchild – Researcher – Entomology

Russell has spent as much time as possible outdoors on various adventures up

mountains, in woods and on water. Graduating in 2008 with a BSc from Plym-

outh university in Environmental science; Biodiversity and Conservation, he

has spent time living in Italy, teaching in a school, volunteering with the RSPB

and catching reptiles and amphibians for a consultancy, although his first love

is spiders and insects.

Holli Kilburn – Researcher – Canopy

Holli had spent the previous ten years working around the world as a carpen-

ter and after a winter of discontent living in France she decided to throw her-

self into her true life’s passion – Conservation. She completed a Conservation

Biology degree in 2008, gaining a 1st with honors and went on to study re-

search techniques in the rainforest of Honduras. After a course in scientific

tree-climbing in Panama, Holli hopes to pursue a career in canopy research.

Dale Mortiboys – Research Assistant – Herpetology

Dale's youth was spent chasing all manner of reptile across the New Forest

whilst developing a strong love for nature. With his camera and notebook at

the ready he has documented bats and herpetofauna on his travels across

India, Fiji and Europe. Having graduated from Plymouth University in Environ-

mental Science, Dale made his hobbies full time employment as an Ecological

consultant specialising in bats and herpetofauna.

36

Misbahul Munir – Research Assistant - Ornothology

Munir was studying Biological Sciences at the University of Negeri Semarang

when he developed his devotion to the conservation of birds and amphibians.

Since then he enrolled in and started numerous studies and initiatives as-

sessing bird distributions and amphibian diversity in Java. Studying the biodi-

versity of the Borneo rainforests was a dream come true. Munir also set up

the Green Community, an organisation that studies and aims to protect the

habitat and wildlife of Mount Unguran, for which he received the Conserva-

tion Leadership Programme Future Conservationists Award.

Ismael Agung (Ung) – Research Assistant – Primatology

Ung was a recent graduate from the University of Padjadjaran, Bandung. He

has a keen interest in primates and his experience is varied, including re-

search on surili, Javan slow loris and Javan gibbon. His research focused on

behaviour, population distribution, anthropological impacts and DNA analysis.

He was also one of the participants on the Biology Expedition to Kuta Tradi-

tional Village Sacred Forest to stud the distribution and population of the eb-

ony leaf monkey and butterfly diversity.

Dan Sargison – Base Camp Technician

Dan had been working professionally within IT for the previous 9 years, and

has experience in web design, problem solving, IT training, server manage-

ment and teaching. Always up for a challenge, Dan likes to push himself and

try new things which in the last few years have included getting into new

sports like spearfishing, skydiving, bodyboarding, and climbing mountains for

charity.

James Harwood –Photographer

After working as a mechanic for 15 years something had to give! James ap-

plied to the University College Falmouth to study Marine and Natural History

Photography in 2008, finally following his dreams and ambitions of becoming

a successful wildlife photographer. The Degree gave him the chance to pur-

sue his two main passions, the natural world and photography.

Carsten Breuhl and Jan Beck – Guest Researchers

Carsten and Jan are specialist entomologists, focusing on ants and moths.

They are linked to the Universities of Landau (Germany) and Basel

(Switzerland, and have years of experience working in the Malaysian and Bru-

nei parts of Borneo.

37

LOGISTICS AND BRIEF LOG The Mohot River is a tributary of the Joloi River located in the undeveloped centre of Borneo, the

third largest island on earth, some 380km as the crow flies from the town of Banjarmasin on the

south coast. It is extremely remote, and access difficult by definition.

Map 4, showing Central Kalimantan with our access routes to amp Foyle

38

London to Jakarta The team flew in two groups from London to Jakarta, the first team comprised Tim van Berkel and

myself leaving on the 15th November directly after the Explore weekend at the Royal Geographical

Society where I had been invited to give a talk on fundraising, and Tim had sat on the rainforest

panel. The rest of the UK team landed in Jakarta on Friday 19th November, and were met by

Misbahul Munir and Ismael Agung from Java. Tim I spent the preceding days making transport

arrangements, meeting with officials from LIPI and ZSL Indonesia, and preparing for the complex

immigration process with the help of Steve Oliver.

Equipment, Supplies, Immigration, & Freight Ian Blessley, Dan Sargison and James Harwood were left in Jakarta with Rupert Ridgeway to buy

some communications supplies and to expedite the release of our freighted goods from customs,

and to retrieve the necessary documentation to move through the secondary immigration process

in Palangkarya, the administrative capital of Central Kalimantan.

The rest of the team flew to Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, where we would buy the majority of

our food and equipment. The hope was to move all of our team and supplies up the Barito river in

one unit, aboard a public Bis-Air (water bus) or a chartered vessel, as far as Puruk Cahu, Muara

Teweh, or Batu Ampar depending on the river condition.

Specimen from the LIPI collection ©Martin Holland

39

The team were joined by Ian and Rupert, and

were helped enormously by a fixer called

Hendrik. Food was bought from supermarkets

and local markets, while equipment was sourced

from the innumerable tiny stores found

crammed inside the many dark and enigmatic

indoor markets that run like rabbit warrens

along the river banks.

Ian Blessley led the Banjarmasin team while Tim,

Agung and I travelled to Palangkaraya to begin

the immigration process in Palangkaraya. While

here, Tim and I met with officials from the local

counterpart, UNPAR, to discuss the project.

Some confusion at the immigration office over

who our sponsor was caused delays.

Immigration officials in Palangkaraya are used to

dealing with researchers coming under

sponsorship of CIMTROP, which is connected to

UNPAR.

Our official sponsor was RISTEK, but we were unable to convince the immigration office of this, and

so had to duplicate all of the paperwork already created in Jakarta with RISTEK, with UNPAR now as

our sponsor.

Dan and James also encountered problems at customs in Jakarta which caused further delays, but

managed to successfully negotiate the release of our freighted goods, albeit at substantial extra

cost. DHL were hired to courier the freighted goods to Banjarmasin, but proved singularly

inefficient and troublesome, causing still further delays.

Around this activity, team members were moving between Palangkaraya and Banjarmasin to

engage in the immigration process when required, and assist with the procurement of supplies

where possible. Lastly, the bis-air we had wanted to hire was under repair, so a major task was to

find a cargo vessel travelling upriver which would take our supplies and at least some of the team

on the 3 day journey.

This was certainly the most frustrating part of the expedition, and required some fancy footwork to

make sure we were moving forward as quickly as possible within the confines of the various

problems we were facing. The spirit of the team members throughout this period was inspiring, as

was their acceptance of almost daily changes to itinerary as events occurred.

Because of that resilience, this leg was navigated as fast as was as physically possible, and the team

were able to leave Palangkaraya and Banjarmasin with all necessary documentation and equipment

on Friday 3rd December.

Ian Blessley shopping in the Banjarmasin markets

©James Harwood

40

Barito River to the Joloi River

Dan, James and Munir travelled with the majority of our supplies aboard a cargo ship bound

for Muara Teweh. The rest of the team travelled by minibus overnight from Palangkaraya to

Puruk Cahu where they would buy more supplies, and join the cargo boat for its final day

upriver. Puruk Cahu is also where we met our Head Guide, Aspor, for the first time.

The cargo boat arrived in PCHU on the morning of Sunday 5th December. The captain advised

us that the journey to Muara Teweh could take 5 more days, so we charted two smaller boats

who could do the journey in a day. Negotiations take time in Indonesia, and so we were late

away and spent that night in a hut on the bank of the Barito River.

We arrived at the logging camp, Batu Ampar, the following morning, and chartered 6 jeeps to

take us along the logging road to a secondary logging camp, Camp Bravo, located on the bank

of the Joloi river. This route was necessary given 4 large sets of rapids close to where the Joloi

joins the Barito River which make river access between the two impossible.

The Expedition Team with supplies at Batu Ampar ©James Harwood

41

Logging road from Batu Ampar to Camp Bravo ©Martin Holland

42

Final Leg – From the Joloi to the Mohot via

Tumbang Naan and Tumbang Tohan

We had sent a request for boats through the Mission Aviation Fellowship which flies a small float

plane into Tumbang Naan twice a week. In their absence, I chartered a boat locally and travelled

upriver with Agung, only to breakdown and be forced to return, whereupon the small camp was

descended upon by the boats we had requested from upriver. The loading of these small wooden

boats would become a theme of the next week of travel.

Agung and I again attempted to reach Tumbang Naan to announce our arrival and meet with the

village headmen and elders. Half of the equipment arrived that night and was unloaded into a room

on a floating landing where we slept. We were well received in the village, and advised that we

would need to use boats from Naan for the next leg of the journey to Tumbang Tohan, but would

then have to change again.

In the morning, the rest of the team and equipment arrived from Camp Bravo. Everything was im-

mediately unloaded onto the landing and then reloaded onto boats hired from the village. We now

43

left as one group on a flotilla of a dozen of these small wooden crafts travelling up to the last hu-

man settlement in the area

En route, one of the boatmen crashed into the bank while trying to refuel, spilling its cargo into the

river. Aspor famously saved most of the equipment from being lost, but it delayed our progress

slightly. The bulk of the team remained in their boat with the stranded vessel while I went ahead,

accompanied by Munir and Rusty, to prepare the village for our arrival and send a rescue boat for

the stricken vessel.

Negotiations in Tumbang Tohan were more difficult than in Naan, and we decided to stay an extra

day in the village to allow for the whole team to meet the villagers during an open discussion in the

school building. After this we were able to hire more guides, transect cutters and boatmen for the

move to Camp Foyle.

(Opposite) Villagers look on as the team begin to arrive in Tumbang Tohan ©James Harwood

(Above) One of many meetings with village members to discuss fees and wages ©James Harwood

44

Men from Tumbang Tohan work on a new boat while a wife and child look on ©Martin Holland

45

46

Camp Foyle, named after one of our major

benefactors Christopher Foyle, was founded on

Friday 10th December, located on the north bank of

the Mohot River roughly 30km upstream from its

mouth into the Joloi. The team moved to the camp in

stages from the village of Tumbang Tohan to allow for

the camp area to be cleared and structures to

accommodate team members and supplies to be

built. The construction was led by Ian Blessley and

was competed to a ‘fit for purpose’ level hosting 24

people within 3 days – a fantastic achievement.

The research area was chosen with the advice of our

Head Guide, Aspor, based on the quality of the forest,

the relative abundance of wildlife, while the specific

location of Camp Foyle was determined by an

advance party consisting of Ian Blessley, Tim van

Berkel, James Harwood, Dan Sargison, Aspor, and

some further guides. The site of an old hunting camp

was chosen for its safe access from the river,

provided by a picturesque sandy beach which would

double as a washing area, and elevation above the

river to provide safety from flooding during heavy

rains. Part of the site had already been cleared for its

purpose as a hunting camp, so we were also reducing

our impact on the area by setting our camp here.

The camp consisted of 4 main structures built from

wood with tarpaulins for roofing: a mess tent,

sleeping quarters, store room and science/

multimedia tent. As the finishing touches were put to

the camp, 12km of transects were cut into the

surrounding forest for the purposes of the research.

CAMP FOYLE

Determination and Construction

Small boats called cis provide the only means of transport in this area ©James Harwood

(Opposite) Tim van Berkel and Ian Blessley hunting for a suitable site for Camp Foyle ©James Harwood

47

48

Preparing the Transects The research program centred around a network of transects spreading out from Camp Foyle. In

order to make the research possible these transects had to be clear and well marked—a process

which took considerable effort and man hours. The terrain in this area is extremely tough, with the

dense vegetation covering steep hills cut by streams and rivers, the banks of which were often

vertical and 10ft or more in height: an indication of the rise in river levels during heavy rains.

A network of five transects each 2km in length was cut over a period of one week. The transects

branched out from a central path running north from Camp Foyle. This 10km network was

significantly shorter in total length than our original hopes, and we found ourselves limited to the

north bank of the Mohot. In essence, we severely underestimated the difficulty of the terrain when

planning our transects from the comfort the UK. However, it proved more than enough, and

seriously tested our team’s endurance.

These transects were named after some of our donors, and thus became the Hay, Tenison, Barnes,

Butler, and Cody Transects, while the central path connecting them was named the Ridgeway

Trail—an apt name given the many ridges one had to climb to walk it!

Ung and our guides as we begin to create the Ridgeway Trail to access the surrounding forest

©Martin Holland

49

Beginning the Research

After 18 months of planning, fundraising, organising,

and training, and a another four weeks of travelling,

buying, packing, negotiating, cutting, building, lifting

and carrying, we were finally ready to begin the

reason behind it all.

A full account of the research with methodologies,

results and discussions can be found in the

expedition Science Report. I will briefly outline the

activities here in order to give a sense of the activity

that took place at Camp Foyle for the next 8 weeks,

and to share a sense of how the field research that

underpins our understanding of the natural world is

conducted in a rainforest environment.

Our science team set out to discover as much as they

could about the species that were present in this as

yet unstudied area of rainforest, looking specifically

at mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects and

epiphytes, as well as conducting vegetation surveys

and attempting to find a hybrid gibbon species. Their

exhausting work would take them high into the

canopy and down into the soil substrate, walking the

tough network of transects both at day and at night

on a gruelling schedule designed to make as most of

the time here as possible. Survey techniques included

camera trapping, using humane mammal traps,

climbing into the canopy with rope access

techniques, diurnal and nocturnal surveys, pit fall

traps, listening posts and incidental observations.

The scientists worked in teams of four for safety:

usually the lead researcher accompanied by guides

and an assistant researcher or photographer/

cameraman. Although each had their area of

expertise, all the team members were keen to join in

all of the other research activities, in keeping with

our interdisciplinary approach.

The curiosity and wonder that naturalists have about

our world is pure joy to witness and experience, and

is perhaps our greatest hope of saving what remains

of our natural world before it is too late. Inspiring

this joy in others was a core element of the

expedition, through engaging documentation and

interaction with the rest of the world .

A long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) that adopted us as his troop during

©James Harwood

50

Camera traps: terrestrial vertebrates Principal Investigator—Tim van Berkel “Camera trapping is now widely used as a non-invasive method to study terrestrial vertebrates. It

has the advantage of being able to detect elusive species such as felids and nocturnal animals which

are difficult to observe with the more traditional techniques, such as transects. This study aimed to

create an inventory and obtain abundances and activity patterns of the terrestrial mammal and bird

community. Furthermore, the efficiency of two of the three camera trap types used was evaluated

during the survey.” (Murung Raya Expedition 2010-11 Science Report p.13)

Camera trapping is a superficially simple and easy way of studying the more elusive creatures that

roam the rainforest. They are essentially burglar alarms that are triggered by movement, but in-

stead of warning a property owner, they silently snap a photo or video of whatever it was that hap-

pened to pass by. In the day a full colour picture emerges, while at night a flash of either incandes-

cent or infrared light is triggered. So there you go, simply set your traps, wait a couple of weeks,

and put your feet up. Not so.

Firstly, placing the traps is a delicate art—it’s no good putting them places where no animals are

likely to pass by, so using the knowledge of our guides was a crucial part of determining the most

frequently used trails. Of course, you don’t find out how good your aim was until you back to col-

lect the traps (which, by the way, are scattered around an area roughly 8km2). Then there are the

vagrancies of the traps themselves, which sometimes don’t trigger, and sometimes flash too easily

filling your SD card with nothing but leaves in slightly different positions.

51

Tim van Berkel checking camera traps live in the field using a Panasonic Toughbook

©Martin Holland

52

I had the pleasure of following Tim around for a day with a camera as he checked his camera

traps, taking photos and filming for one of our educational videos. The 10 minute film caught the

reality of field research perhaps better than any of the others we made: the terrain was tough but

invigorating, nearly all of the traps had failed to capture anything either because of technical errors

or the learning curve involved in setting the traps well. But finally, at the very end of the transect

not only did Tim realise he has captured an argus pheasant on camera, but seconds later he caught

the team’s first and only sighting of a proboscis monkey , all in the shade of a magnificent strangler

fig, towering up into the canopy like some giant, twisted, fairy tale Eiffel tower.

Tim’s traps captured a total of 24 mammal and five terrestrial bird species, including 20 of the 31

known medium and large terrestrial

mammals potentially present in the area

(IUCN 2011). Recordings of particular note

include an adult and juvenile Sunda otter

civet (Cynogale bennettii) and two Malayan

sun bears (Helarctos malayanus—above)

recorded in separate locations.

Much more research time is required to

capture evidence of the more elusive species,

although a leopard cat (Prionailurus

bengalensis) was photographed (left).

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Mammal Transects & Observations Principal Investigator—Lara Rogers “Line transect surveys were carried out alongside camera and small mammal trapping to provide a

list of occurrence and estimate the relative mammal density within the research site. In addition to

furnishing a species list, these line transect surveys are intended to provide baseline data for future

research in the area.” (Rogers, R. Murung Raya Expedition 2010-11 Science Report, p.21)

Line transects are essentially straight paths cut through the forest to allow the easy and quiet

progress of research teams through a standardised cross section of the study area. When

successful, this method allows the researchers to build a picture of not just what species are

present, but in what abundance or density. This is obviously far more informative and useful than a

simple species list, but takes more time and resources to estimate accurately.

Transects are walked slowly and quietly, during the day (between 6am and 2pm) and at night

(between 6pm and 3am). This schedule requires a well planned schedule to ensure researchers and

guides are not overworked. The research team stops frequently to scan the forest for animals, and

records a standard list of observations detailing things like groups size, animal height from the

ground, and behaviour.

As noted above, the 10km network of transects was less than originally hoped for, and this fact

combined with the designated minimum size of our research teams (3 during the day and 4 at

night, discussed further later), and use of the transects by other research teams, led Lara to

determine that the disturbance level along the transects was too high. In addition, the terrain in

this area was very tough, and as a result of these factors, along with the increased rainfall of this

time of year, the detection rate of this method was considered to be reduced, perhaps significantly.

In short, many more species were likely present, and in higher numbers, than were observed.

In spite of these factors, a total of 21 mammal species were observed during these surveys, with

some very interesting results discussed in full in the Science Report. Some observations of

particular interest include the binturong (Arctictis bintorung), Malayan sun bear (Herlactos

malayanus), the Sunda pangolin (Manis javinica), and the moonrat (Echinosorex gymnura).

The moonrat is almost entirely white, which makes it very conspicuous in the rainforest

environment, and unique among tropical mammals. The pangolin is also a most unusual mammal,

being covered in scales and having no teeth. It wraps its tail around itself when threatened, in

order to protect its softer underside, and uses its strong claws to open up termites nests, licking the

insects up with its long sticky tongue.

Binturong and sun bears are both important seed dispersers, meaning they play an important role

in maintaining healthy forest ecosystems. Sun bear populations are thought to be declining

significantly in Borneo as a result of habitat loss, which can lead to increased human-animal conflict

and hunting pressure. Bintorungs, meanwhile, are considered rare in Borneo, though widely

distributed. Three individuals were spotted, including one with unusual white facial markings

forming a halo around the animals muzzle. This was my sole contribution to the research side, and

was incredibly lucky sighting along the last 100m of the final nocturnal survey of the expedition.

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Small Mammals Principal Investigator—Tim van Berkel “The aim of this study was to obtain an indication of the small mammal community assemblage

(<500g) and how this would differ for various habitats. Due to the small capture effort it was not

possible to estimate density and habitat associations and relative abundance was calculated

instead. A second aim was to determine the effectiveness of the two trap types employed. ” (van

Berkel T. Murung Raya Expedition 2010-11 Science Report p.30)

The method chosen to study the smaller

mammals of the forest, such as rats and

mice, and squirrels, was to use humane traps.

These are baited and left on the forest floor

or in trees or walkways onto trees. Upon

entering the animal triggers the trap and the

door closes. The animal is not meant to be

harmed, either by the trap mechanism or the

environment during its time inside the trap.

Traps are therefore checked twice daily, in

the morning and before night, to ensure that

no animal spends too long exposed to the

elements while inside the trap.

These smaller mammals are not what people think of when they consider the rainforest, preferring

instead to imagine the more enigmatic mammals, birds and butterflies, along perhaps with snakes,

spiders and other creepy crawlies. However, they play an important role in the ecosystem both as

predators and prey, as well as dispersing seeds throughout the forest.

The traps were baited with either durian (a pungent local fruit that has the ‘Marmite’ effect of

causing delight or revulsion according to your taste) or peanut butter, and the bait was replenished

with each visit if it had been devoured by insects or other fauna.

This study is a demonstration of the challenges of research in such environments, and the need to

be responsive and flexible, as it had to be abandoned after just 8 days of the intended 28 despite

the considerable effort that had gone in to buying, transporting, placing and checking the traps up

to that point. The main reason for this decision was the death of two of the captured animals,

caused by ants presumably attracted by the bait. Termite nests were also found in almost every

trap and proved too difficult an obstacle to overcome, despite their diminutive size

Of the 22 individuals caught, five different species were represented, all rats and mice. Tim

presented another excellent video on the techniques and rationale behind small mammal trapping,

to an audience who would probably wonder why on earth it is at all important to capture and

record rats and mice.

(Above) Brown spiny rat (Maxomys rajah)

(Opposite) Lara Rogers resting before beginning a nocturnal survey ©Martin Holland

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Hybrid Gibbons Principal Investigator—Lara Rogers “Two gibbon species (Hylobates muelleri and H. albibarbis), endemic to the island of Borneo, are

both in danger of extinction due to trade and habitat loss from illegal, as well as legalised, selective

logging, clearance of forest for oil-palm plantations and slash-and-burn practices from small

villages… There exists a natural hybrid zone between H. albibarbis and H. muelleri in Central

Kalimantan. The hybrid, H. albibarbis x H. muelleri, has yet to be recognised by the IUCN and,

therefore, forgoes the protection associated with an Endangered classification. Documenting the

occurrence and distribution of the threatened hybrid gibbon population that occurs in the Joloi

watershed assumes critical importance in view of the rapid clearing of forests in Borneo.” (Rogers, L.

Murung Raya Expedition 2010-11 Science Report p.33)

The attempt to discover populations of hybrid gibbon in the research area, and thus significantly

extend their known range, was both one of the most engaging studies of the expedition, and

perhaps that with clearest goals in terms of outcomes. It concerned a single species, as yet

unprotected although threatened with extinction along with the other gibbon species in Borneo.

The research itself was also immensely enjoyable to participate in. Rising well before dawn and

travelling in the dark along the river to the listening posts of the days designated research site, 3

teams would sit quietly, 300m apart from each on either side of the river of the day, and wait

patiently. The cool morning light would slowly penetrate the canopy, and if lucky, the gibbons

would start to call.

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Most mornings at Camp Foyle we would be serenaded by these wonderful creatures singing to

each other, marking out the territory of their groups. Indeed it is one of the things I miss most

about life in the rainforest. Waiting at a listening post (not a physical post, merely a location) gave

the opportunity to hear the calls from as near as 50m away. The three teams allowed for accurate

triangulation, meaning the number of groups calling in the area could be determined with

confidence.

Each gibbon species has a slightly different great call, which is the call made by mated females of

the group. Interestingly, the great call of the hybrid gibbon does indeed sound something like a

hybridisation of the great calls of its two parent species, although the analysis of the call is much

more complicated, involving plenty of maths and algorithms. Proof of a hybrid population in the

area would come in the form of this analysis of a recording of the great call of the species.

No hybrids were recorded along the Mohot, so an away team travelled North up the Joloi, spending

10 days searching in this area in the same manner. Our sat hones allowed for daily updates via text

message, and each day the result came back negative. The team arrived back at Camp Foyle,

somewhat jubilant, with news that on the last morning of research they had indeed recorded the

great call of the hybrid, on the eastern side of the Joloi river.

The habitat was also assessed around the area of the listening posts, with a total of 20 vegetation

plots of 20x20m. Within these plots all tall trees with a diameter greater than 10cm at breast

height were measured and recorded, along with other date concerning the canopy cover, tree

density, tree families, and trees important to the gibbons diet. 92 different species of tree were

recorded, and in this area specifically our local guides were invaluable, recognising 83% of trees to

at least genus level despite having no formal training at all. While this is not enough information to

perform some of the more detailed statistical analysis of species richness, it does demonstrate both

the value of not simply hiring local guides, but providing opportunities to demonstrate and employ

their knowledge, and also the potential of local people to be leaders in the research and

conservation of their own environment, if provided the proper training and support.

Lara concludes that, while this study has already greatly extended the known range of the hybrid

gibbon (to 3,300km2) the actual range is still far from clear. The great rivers have been presumed to

act as natural barriers and boundaries, however this view may well be challenged by further

research in and around this area. It does indeed seem unlikely that the Joloi represents a western

boundary in this area, given its small size and the many areas where canopy extends completely

across the river. If this is the case, and the hybrid zone extends across the Mullers range into West

Kalimantan, the range could well reach or even exceed 10,000km2.

On the day of filming we were incredibly lucky to be surrounded by a number of singing groups,

some very close indeed. Lara not only presented a very clear understanding of the methods

involved in the research, and the importance of the findings for the future survival of the species,

but did so with the kind of wonder and excitement so badly needed to inspire the public not only to

care, but to want to understand.

Opposite: Our camp boat, names the Halpin Flyer, moored next to our beach

©James Harwood

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58

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Avifauna Principal Investigator—Misbahul Munir “Birds are among the most studied animal taxa in Indonesia and much is known about their

behaviour, distribution and ecology although the geographical interior of Borneo remains, from an

ornithological perspective, largely unexplored terrain.

The aim of this study was to compile an inventory of the bird population in BBPF to give an

indication of the quality and the importance of the forest for the Borneo avifauna. The observation

of some lesser known species will further shed more light on their distribution patterns and

status.” (Munir, M. Murung Raya Expedition 2010-11 Science Report p.42)

A startling 152 bird species were recorded in the relatively short time of the expedition. The

majority of the species (132) were recorded around Camp Foyle, but additional species were

recorded along the Joloi river from Camp Bravo north, along the Mohot river, and in both villages,

Tumbang Naan and Tumbang Tohan. The methods included walking line transects at dawn and

dusk, camera trapping, and incidental observations around camp, the villages, and during transit.

Of the 152 species, 7 species are endemic, and 50 are threatened according to the IUCN Red List.

New species were being recorded up until we left, indicating the many species eluded our

researchers. Munir notes that with more experience, a better knowledge of bird calls, and the use

of mist nets, the species list presented herein would be greatly expanded.

Of the many records worthy of note, a few expanded upon here are the Bornean ground-cuckoo

(Carpococcyx radiates) fairy pitta (Pitta nympha), straw-headed bulbul (Pyconontus zeylanicus), and

rufous-crowned babbler (Malacopteron magnum).

The Bornean ground-cuckoo is endemic to Borneo, and is highly elusive. Only 4 previous recordings

in indicated its presence Central Kalimantan. The fairy pitta is only the second reported record for

Indonesian Borneo. It is an uncommon migrant in northern Borneo, though little is known about its

wintering habitats. Given that the species is declining across its range, this record could prove

significant if more individuals are found in the area.

The straw-headed bulbul is collected for its song, and its numbers are in serious decline for this

reason. The only records of this species from Murung Raya are in the remote regions of the upper

Barito, demonstrating the need for strict conservation of these areas.

A single rufous-crowned babbler was recorded nesting on two cream coloured and brown blotched

eggs. Munir described the nest as “a small cup made of intertwined rootlets and creepers

approximately 1.5 m from the ground in a small tree on the banks of a small stream” (Murung Raya

Expedition 2010-11 Science Report p.47). The record extends the known breeding season, and is

possibly the first description of the nest and brood.

(Left) Rufous-crowned babbler (Malacopteron magnum) ©Misbahul Munir

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Herpetofauna Principal Investigator— Dale Mortiboys, Holli Kilburn “Reptiles and amphibians comprise the least studied vertebrate groups in Borneo. Given that new

species are continually being discovered, the current known species account does not make up the

full diversity likely to occur on Borneo. In fact, even the major distribution and general aspects of

ecology of most of the Bornean herpetofauna are largely unknown, mainly because many areas

remain highly under sampled or have never been studied (Inger & Stuebing, 2005; Das, 2011). For

instance, virtually no herpetological sampling has been carried out in the interior forests of

Kalimantan and any species accounts obtained from these parts are likely to include significant

extensions of the known range of some species.” (Mortiboys, D. & Kilburn, H. Murung Raya

Expedition 2010-11 Science Report p.48)

Of all the groups present in the rainforest, the frog has become perhaps the most widely used to

symbolise and represent these habitats around the world. Their variety of often beautiful and

striking colours and patterns, and patient manner in front of a camera, make them ideal candidates

for this sort of celebrity. Amphibians include more than just frogs of course, and the exciting field of

herpetofauna also stretches to reptiles, which of course includes snakes.

To my mind, hunting around at night for these often bizarre creatures is the method of study that

comes closest to how most of us imagine tropical research to be conducted. Decidedly less slow or

formulaic than almost all methods, and much more fun. The field also appears to attract the more

colourful members of the scientific community. For the variety, the intrigue, the fun, and the

potential for new discovery, I would encourage anyone as yet undecided to seriously consider

herpetofauna as their area of expertise.

The scurrying around at night I describe is of course the Visual Encounter Survey technique, which

is a highly stylised way of saying walking along transects and trying to catch, photograph and

measure everything that hops or crawls. These VES surveys were conducted both during the day

and at night, and seemed to be particularly enjoyed by the guides as well as myself. One of our

guides proved quite adept at sniffing out frogs hiding behind trees. Perhaps a simple party trick, but

impressive nonetheless.

A second technique, the pitfall trap, was also employed by the team. This involves digging a smooth

sided trap, such as a bucket, into the ground, and creating obstructions - or drift-fences - designed

to ferry the animals that encounter them toward the buckets, where they will hopefully fall in.

Unable to climb or jump out, the researchers can collect them, study them, and release them

unharmed.

Many surprising results were recorded by this team. Of the amphibian species, 5 of the 36 species

encountered are endemic to Borneo, 11 are considered near threatened, and an incredible 25 were

not previously known to exist in this area of Borneo. Another 45 reptile species were recorded,

including 22 lizard, 21 snake, and 2 turtle species.

The Bornean horned frog was a favourite of the team, with its incredibly effective leaf-litter

camouflage, but by far the highlight of this element of the research was the discovery by Aspor, our

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Head Guide, of a reticulated python (Python reticulatus) and king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)

battling in a stream just 5 minutes from Camp Foyle. This proved to be the most intense and

memorable experience of the expedition for those members lucky enough to witness it.

Aspor originally alerted the canopy access team who were nearby. After much persuasion they

descended and were astonished by the find, quickly travelling back to camp, attempting to radio

the news through as they went. At Camp, all we heard was the word snake in a tone clearly

attempting to hide emotion. We feared the worse and began preparing the medical kit for our

nightmare scenario. Rusty and Holli arrived a few minutes later and told us the real story.

Within seconds the rest of us were booted up and heading off with camera equipment and the med

kit (just in case) to try to record the event. There, in the stream, was the length of a king cobra

shimmering as the water lapped over its body, its head trapped underwater in the coils of the

python, in turn wrapped around a large log. There was little movement, and we presumed the

python would eventually succeed in drowning the cobra. Perhaps, if we were lucky, we would

witness the python attempt to eat its meal.

Things did not go as we expected however. After half an hour the pythons behaviour began to

change, its eyes lost their lustre, and it began to move around, lethargically but clearly agitated, as

though looking for shelter. From then on everything happened very quickly. The cobra clearly

sensed the weakening strength of its captor and gave a few violent twists of its body. The python

manoeuvred itself into an escape position before releasing its grip on the cobras head and darting

upriver and around the log.

Reticulated python (Python reticulatus) and king cobra in battle (Ophiophagus hannah) ©Martin Holland

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The cobra, having bided its time and wrestled its way free, rose its head a clear foot out of the

water in victory, displaying the yellow underside of its throat, before turning and speeding off

downriver and up the bank.

Dale went on to catch the python after a few minutes, to discover that the cobra had lethally

injected the python prior to being trapped in its coils, and was simply waiting for the venom to

kick in. The python died within minutes of the battle ending.

We managed to film the entire sequence, and with the technology at camp we edited and

uploaded the film to our website within ours of the event actually happening. A great success,

and a demonstration of the power of modern communications technology to help scientists

bring the world with them as they explore the natural wonders of the planet.

We filmed a number of videos with Dale, each fascinating in their own right, if not as exciting

as the Cobra vs Python movie. The highly evolved hunting prowess of a juvenile pit viper was

examined in detail, and a small, leaf-nosed lizard was described and successfully hypnotised on

camera by gently stroking the animals underbelly, before being woken up and released.

(Opposite) Marquis Doria’s angle-headed lizard (Gonocephalus doriae) ©Martin Holland

(Below) Dark-eared tree frog (Polypedatis macrotis) ©Misbahul Munir

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Canopy Herpetofauna Principal Investigator— Holli Kilburn “Very little high arboreal survey work has been conducted in Kalimantan Borneo. Reptiles and

amphibians are exceedingly adaptable animals with frogs especially occupying a very wide range of

ecological niches from below ground to high canopy and within a large variety of habitats. In order

to gain a more complete insight into the full range of species found in the area it was important to

try and expand the research to encompass as much varied habitat as possible. The purpose of the

high arboreal work was to give a more three dimensional insight into the ecology of the area,

observe as wide a range of ecological niches as possible and also to potentially expand the

knowledge of individual species ecological niches.” (Kilburn, H. Murung Raya Expedition 2010-11

Science Report p.58)

Despite tropical rainforests receiving significant attention from researchers around the world, the

rainforest canopy remains one of the true frontiers both in terms of physical exploration and,

accordingly, scientific study. Perhaps because there is so much happening on the ground, as in our

cities, not enough people have looked up during their activities, and wondered. Or perhaps the lack

of research in the canopy is simply down to the difficulty of access. We were assisted in the latter

enormously by Robert Knott of Treeworker, who succeeded in securing equipment sponsorship

from some of the larger rope access suppliers.

The method employed to explore the canopy is very demanding, taking strength, skill, tenacity, and

patience. First, a suitable tree must be identified and assessed for its physical health and and other

potential hazards in the surrounding area. Then, a catapult is used to fire a weight bag from a 3m

pole up and over a suitable branch. The weight bag carries with it a thin line, and presuming the

bag successfully clears the branch and returns to earth without becoming snagged in vegetation on

the way down, a static rope can be hauled up and over the same branch. This rope is then used to

climb up and into the canopy.

It can take a day or more of repeated attempts to successfully get a line up a tree, but once in place

it can be used repeatedly. The technique of climbing up a rope suspended from a branch is no less

difficult. Using special harnesses and hardware, the climber shimmies up about a foot at a time,

carrying with them whatever equipment they need for their aerial adventure. In the case of

carrying camera and filming equipment, this can be extremely exhausting.

Once in the canopy, a technique called double rope technique is used to move between branches.

Once mastered, this is a very satisfying way of moving around quite freely and safely. All of the

team members were given the opportunity to experience this environment, and learn the

techniques. Something for which Holli should be very proud.

The canopy research was intended to add an extra dimension to the herpetofauna surveys. Just

three individuals were recorded, all from the same tree, and all of the same species, brown tree

frog (Rhacophorus harrissoni). This species was not observed on the ground, and may be the first

published record of this species in the upper canopy.

The most significant output from this research is the demonstration of the need for further

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development of herpetological canopy research techniques in order to improve the effort/return

ratio. In the Science Report, Holli makes particular note of the need for techniques to be developed

to assist in the study of mid-level canopy populations (that is from around 3m to the base of the

crowns of the emergent canopy trees, or around 45m above ground level). Recording of calls is

suggested in the report as the most practical way of quickly extending the reach and success rate of

this area of study.

Holli’s video demonstrating the rope access techniques used and describing the need for this

research made for wonderful viewing. The shots of Holli emerging through the epiphytes into the

crown, and the views of the rainforest canopy and the mountains in the distance from the

emergent tree chosen for the film, were truly inspiring.

(Below) Brown tree frog (Rhacophorus harrissoni) ©James Harwood

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View from the canopy at dawn ©James Harwood

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Epiphytes Principal Investigator— Holli Kilburn “Epiphytic plants are an important part of the structure in a rainforest and give it its typical

appearance. This study involved the use of canopy rope access techniques to obtain preliminary

data on the epiphyte diversity and community structure in the study area which could act as a

precursor to more in-depth study.” (Kilburn, H. Murung Raya Expedition 2010-11 Science Report

p.62)

Epiphytes are plants that grow on trees themselves, often rooting in the nooks and crannies

created where branches join the trunk. These plants create microclimates and can support whole

ecosystems. They commonly exist in symbiotic relationships with the host tress themselves, and

can grow to enormous size.

Some thirty five species were recorded, using the same canopy access techniques described above,

while more than that number were not able to be identified despite extensive photographic

records being taken both in the canopy and back at camp which were subsequently scrutinised by

experts from the Royal Botanical Gardens Kew. The need for specimens to be collected is thereby

clearly demonstrated.

(Below) Holli Kilburn during an ascent into the canopy ©James Harwood

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Invertebrates Principal Investigator— Russell Goodchild “The aims of the invertebrate sampling were to obtain general knowledge of the invertebrate species present in the study area and to record any undescribed species. Knowing in advance there would be significant quantities of invertebrate organisms only certain groups were being surveyed. In cooperation with Dr Merlijn Jocke from the Belgian Natural History Museum, the arachnid orders thelyphonida and amblypygi, the arachnid sub-order cyphophthalmi from the order opiliones, and the insect families cerambycidae and elateridae were included. These groups will further be referred to as the BINCO 5. Based on my own knowledge and expertise aranae (spiders) were also included. Dr Carsten Bruhl and Dr Jan Back investigated how different species diversity and community composition are compared to northern Borneo sites, with a focus on nocturnal lepidoptera and leaf litter ants. This will be particularly important to judge the value of these regions for biodiversity conservation, e.g. in the context of the proposed and ratified, trinational Heart of Borneo conservation area.“ (Goodchild, R. Murung Raya Expedition 2010-11 Science Report Appendix 4) Insects make up the vast majority faunal biodiversity in rainforests, in terms of numbers of

individuals, species types, and overall mass. Their importance to the ecosystems is only barely

understood, and they are often forgotten or neglected in studies, except perhaps for moths and

butterflies.

So from a research perspective I was glad to have Rusty on the team, and also to be joined by our

two guest researchers, Carsten Bruhl and Jan Beck. It was, however, the videos that were

presented by these three enigmatic and inspiring people that made me really pleased they had

joined the expedition.

Rusty’s ‘Bug Diaries’ series was fascinating and highly informative, and his natural passion for his

speciality species pours out of the screen. In particular, the description of a spider attempting to

wrap and bite a queen ant who had stumbled into its web, filmed by Munir, was enthralling. I for

one had no idea that spiders could detect the size and even species of their prey through the

vibrations on its web, and would adapt its technique accordingly. The spider won, by the way.

Carsten presented an excellent piece on his research into ants, providing a fascinating perspective

on ant colonies as super-organisms that can really be viewed as one individual, with a body weight

and territory not dissimilar to a large mammal.

Jan took us back up into the canopy, at night and in the rain, to demonstrate the techniques used

to collect and study moth species, and their importance as indicators of the health and biodiversity

of forest ecosystems.

Together, Jan and Carsten also presented a short video on how a species of spider mimics an ant,

both through the evolution of its body shape and behaviour. This spider had a wasp shaped waist

like an ant, and, amazingly, waved its two front legs around in the air to resemble antennae.

Coming from different classes, it was compared to a reptile mimicking a human!

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General Discussion of Research Tim van Berkel: Murung Raya Expedition 2010-11 Science Report During the expedition some truly interesting species records were obtained. 50 mammals, 152 birds, 36

amphibians and 45 reptiles were recorded. The most significant records are: the Bornean endemic reed

snake Pseudorabdion saravacense, which has not yet been reported from Kalimantan; the Fairy Pitta, for

which we provide the second record for Kalimantan; the blue-throated skink, for which we provide the first

record for Kalimantan; the Sunda otter-civet, which is highly elusive and has not officially been recorded in

Borneo; 25 frog distribution extensions, some of which are new for Kalimantan.

Borneo harbours a rich biodiversity, but its flora and fauna are being destroyed at a phenomenal and

increasing rate. It is the lowland forests, such as our survey sites in Bukit Batikap Protection Forest, which are

under most threat of disappearance. Expansion of agricultural land for oil palm plantations, increased activity

of logging companies and human settlements into areas made accessible by logging roads are the main

direct forces behind deforestation.

Forests are being cleared while we are barely starting to realise how much more these intricate ecosystems

are worth left standing than cut down, and do we not yet fully know the diversity of species in many parts of

the forests, particularly those still remaining in the central parts of Borneo which still harbour some of the

richest forest on the island.

The biodiversity inventories carried out during this expedition underline and partly fill the gaps still present in

our knowledge of biodiversity distribution patterns in Borneo. Especially the bird, reptile and amphibian

records with some significant distribution extensions demonstrate the importance of surveys in the central

parts of Borneo. It is likely that many understudied areas in the Heart of Borneo harbour greater biodiversity

than assumed, either as derived from distribution models, or from direct observations.

We suggest that the fauna and possibly also the flora of this part of the island is richer than previously

assumed. The presence of Pseudorabdion saravacense, Sphenomorphus cyanolaemus, and 25 amphibian

species which were previously not recorded in the area, plus the presence of the nomadic fairy pitta both

provide evidence to support this belief.

These findings also support the hypothesis that the higher biodiversity observed in Malaysian Borneo could

party be explained by a disproportionally larger research effort and thus not merely attributed to

geographical differences. This study offers a strong argument for more intense studies into zoogeographic

and biodiversity patterns and increased conservation efforts in the inlands of Kalimantan.

The large number of forest indicator bird species (including the recording of all eight hornbill species) and

high mammal prevalence (including the presence of proboscis monkey, Sunda pangolin, Malayan sun bear

and Sunda otter-civet) indicate the lowland forests in BBPF to be of remarkable quality and of high zoological

importance. We argue that this area should be considered a conservation priority and hope it to receive

appropriate attention from the relevant conservation authorities to sustain its existence for the future.

With the large scale clearance and degradation of most of the forests in Sabah and Sarawak, now is the time

for conservation and biodiversity research organisations to focus their attention on those parts of Borneo

that still contain large stretches of intact and highly biodiverse rainforest. Without further protection the

continued existence of these forests is uncertain, and with their destruction we would lose a treasure of

which we haven’t discovered its full value yet.

We hope to be able to continue our species inventories in the future and expand on the knowledge of the

ecological requirements of especially threatened species to learn more about the magnificent, species rich

and diverse place that is the Heart of Borneo.

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Nettle caterpillar of (Limacodidae moth family) ©Misbahul Munir

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INTERACTIVE MULTIMEDIA After some initial problems with workflow which meant that videos took some time to edit and get

online, we settled into a good routine and managed to document and share a large amount of the

expedition in the form of videos, blogs, and photo galleries. We tried to document as many aspects

of the expedition as possible, including research activities and discoveries and day to day life at

camp. We were aiming to strike a balance between the adventure and science to both educate and

inspire our audience, and made use of the personalities of the team members to achieve this.

Nearly every member of the team proved to be a natural on camera, and our kit held up well

enough under the testing conditions. The satellite communications hardware and software

provided by Livewire Digital was the star performing element of kit we had in the field, providing us

with better internet speeds than we could find even in Jakarta! It was extremely easy, reliable and

efficient to use, and the Newscaster software was particularly impressive, crunching Gigabyte

videos down to a few megabytes for transfer before unpacking for HD broadcast online.

The two live video links with the Natural History Museum went ahead flawlessly to audiences of

around 100 members of the public, who were able to ask us questions with only a very minor lag.

We were also able to engage with the public in two live Q&A sessions on the Guardian newspaper

website, at the beginning and the end of our time in the field, and these proved very popular,

increasing traffic to our website by a thousand fold.

We did not have the uptake of schools we had hoped for, but we did receive questions from some

schools from children working on related topics which we were able to answer. We have learned a

lot to make us better prepared for next time and have a large amount of materials which we will

look to use to produce educational resources in collaboration with other parties, including within

Indonesia to make our resources accessible to those who live in the host country.

(Opposite) Postcard created by artist Cathy Hookey and sent to sponsors from the rainforest

(Below) Live audience at the Natural History Museum interacting with the team via satellite link

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CAPACITY BUILDING

Exeter and Falmouth Students Key to the philosophy of the expedition was to provide a platform for professional and personal

development for students of the University of Exeter and University College Falmouth reading at

Tremough Campus in Cornwall. Students could engage in any aspect of the expedition, and the

uptake of this opportunity was overwhelming. Students from many different disciplines

volunteered their time to help plan, organise, fundraise and promote the expedition, as well as

using the skills they were developing through their courses to create multimedia in the form of

artwork, promotional materials, graphics, videos, photography, and educational resources. Without

the support of so many people not given the opportunity to join us in the field, the expedition

would have been greatly restricted in its scope and ambition.

It was hoped that the expedition would encourage the development of the Exploration Society

which we founded into a flourishing and active group with members undertaking their own

independent expeditions each year. Initial activity suggest this was a success, and it is the intention

of those members of the expedition connected to the campus to stay involved with that society

with a view to encouraging and supporting future expeditions.

We believe and hope that the Heart of Borneo Project can continue to provide an interdisciplinary

platform for the professional and personal development of students, either as an extracurricular

activity or as an integrated aspect of modular coursework. This is model we would like to explore

and envisage being taken up by other institutions in the future.

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Indonesian Counterparts

Our two fully funded young Indonesian researchers, Misbahul Munir and Ismael Agung, were

central to the success of the expedition. By being exposed to and highly involved in the logistics,

management and administration of the expedition, as well as by working alongside the European

scientists on team and gaining hands on experience of the research methodologies employed,

Munir and Agung went through an incredibly steep learning curve.

Their already very good English improved dramatically and their feedback at the end of the

expedition was very satisfying. Both Munir and Agung are committed to working in conservation in

the future, and both have already gone on to achieve even greater things.

Local Guides The local knowledge and field skills of our guides were invaluable, and in return for their effort we

tried to go beyond financial remuneration for their services by training them in the research

methodologies we were engaged in, as well as the good practice we and future researchers would

expect from professional guides. It is our hope that this knowledge will be retained and can be built

on during our future activities in the area.

At the end of the expedition we talked with both villages about formalising this training on a

rotating basis to train future researchers and field guides who could go on to look for employment

in research activities beyond our own project.

Local Villages Both villages expressed a strong need for income diversification, and the skills and training that are

required to make that a reality. The idea of a ‘school for fieldworkers’ described above is one way

in which we can contribute, but we also discussed English teaching and other possibilities which

have been put forward by the villagers.

Both villages are keen to protect their forest, and understand that that not only means protection

from external influences such as the nearby logging and mining activity (both legal and illegal), but

better understanding of the impact of their own activities. We offered our intention to support

these goals through the Heart of Borneo Projects goals of establishing more permanenet research

activity in the area.

Other topics considered were participatory land use mapping, waste management, alternative

sustainable farming techniques, and studying the impact of swidden agriculture, hunting and the

gaharu industry.

We believe the future of conservation efforts lies not just in working with local people, but on their

behalf, with the ultimate goal of passing on the skills, techniques and resources that have proven to

be successful in conservation and environmental management in other areas.

(Opposite) The picturesque village of Tumbang Naan ©Martin Holland

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76

LIFE AT CAMP FOYLE We lived outdoors, in the elements, 24hrs a day. We slept in hammocks under mosquito nets and

woke in the cool early hours, either to the sound of the morning rainfall battering on our tarps, the

calls of the gibbons, or with slightly less romance, the camp rooster or the generator being fired up

to charge our batteries and power the demands of our media team. Except, that is, for those who

had spent the previous night conducting a nocturnal survey, in which case sleep would continue

for a little longer.

We had a small sandy beach on the river at our camp where we washed ourselves and our clothes,

the cool water a welcome break from the constant heat and humidity. The mess tent was the most

communal place, with chats over breakfast lunch and dinner often continuing long after the meal

of rice, noodles and tinned fish was finished.

During the day teams of scientists and guides would come and go on their various surveys into the

rainforest. Our five transects spreading out into the surrounding rainforest were walked regularly.

Tim van Berkel spent his time checking his mammal traps and camera traps for specimens and

sightings while Dale Mortiboys and Russel ‘Rusty’ Goodchild worked closely together, often at

night, searching for frogs, reptiles and spiders.

Holli Kilburn and James Harwood spent nearly all of their time getting up into the canopy of the

rainforest to extend our research into the third dimension, where many of the species found here

live exclusively. Meanwhile, Lara Rogers was regularly getting up at 3am to lead gibbon survey

Half of the team slept in these very comfortable DD Hammocks ©James Harwood

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teams downriver, or getting home at 3am after searching for the reflection of the eyes of nocturnal

primates peering down from the canopy.

I split my time between managing the day to day problems of camp life – the arrival and departure

of guests, managing our guides and relationship with the nearby villages, issues with the food and,

for a while, acting as medical officer – with handling the production of our media. Filming and

editing our videos and preparing the blogs and galleries to be sent back onto our website was my

main daily activity—not something I imagined when planning a two month stay in the rainforest!

Food and Cooking Our staple diet was rice, noodles, and tinned fish and meat. We supplemented this with some fresh

vegetables we bought in Puruk Cahu such as onions, garlic, pumpkins, potatoes, and cabbages.

Most of the vegetables lasted the duration of our time at camp, except the cabbages which rotted

within days, and some green beans which we lost on our way in. The pumpkins and potatoes were

particularly resilient to the conditions.

Food was prepared in the mess tent on wooden fires (something I would like to address in future

expeditions to reduce our environmental impact) by one of our guides to begin with. Food

preparation was perhaps the most problematic element of camp life, made difficult by tasking this

role to an inexperienced person from Tumbang Naan. Team members often ended up doing the

cooking until we hired two women from Tumbang Tohan to handle this. This was one of the biggest

areas for learning from a camp management perspective encountered during the expedition.

(Below) Christmas Dinner at Camp Foyle ©James Harwood

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79

Camp Foyle from above, showing three of the four tents ©Martin Holland

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Powering Camp Dan Sargison was in charge of keeping the camp powered, and controlling power usage, which he

did with great skill and dedication despite the high demands. Power was needed to charge

batteries for torches, GPS units, radios, sat phones and cameras, as well as laptops which were

used extensively for media editing, blogging, inputting data, and emailing. Email use was not

something I had considered before the expedition and turned out to be a major drain on power. I

also began to feel that such constant connection with life back home was also an emotional drain

on the team. For both reasons it is something I would look to limit in future.

Power was generated mostly from a diesel generator using fuel purchased in Puruk Cahu. This was

topped up with solar energy from two 40watt solar panels. In future it is deemed feasible to power

a camp with energy demands as high as ours entirely with solar energy. This may be more

expensive in the short term, and certainly transporting these fragile units is an issue to consider,

but in the long term solar power is sustainable, cheap, and noise free. A back-up generator would

be sensible if this option was chosen.

Communications We used walkie talkies supplied by Doro as our initial form of communication between field teams

and Camp Foyle. However these were limited to a maximum range of 500m. These did prove very

useful for canopy access teams to communicate, and allowing smaller teams to work within radio

comms closer to base camp. Field teams also carried an Isatphone Pro which could be used to call

or text Camp Foyle. Neither method was superb, but texts would get through eventually if canopy

cover prevented teams from making a call, and proved effective at facilitating the recovery of a

canopy access team caught in a sudden and heavy downpour some 3km from camp.

Dan Sargison sending updates using the BGAN sponsored by Livewire Digital

©Martin Holland

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At Camp Foyle, the clearing made satellite communications easy and reliable. Without such a

clearing the sat phones were not reliable. Texting was used to update the UK support team and our

Twitter account. Our satellite terminal, a Thrane&Thrane Explorer 700 BGAN supplied by Livewire

Digital Ltd gave us extremely reliable high speed internet access at Camp. This made email our

most effective and cheapest form of communication. In this way we were able to handle day to day

admin and situations that would have otherwise posed potentially serious problems. We were also

able to send back images, blogs and videos, the latter with the help of excellent compression

software, Newscaster, again supplied by Livewire.

Filming and Other Media The media element of the expedition was extremely ambitious, and is not something any of the

team had attempted before, nor am I aware of a similar attempt to produce high quality video

almost daily from such a remote and hostile environment. We tried to go beyond the type of

‘talking head shots’ that are quick and cheap to film and easy to edit, and produce high quality

shorts that would not be out of place on television. We were shooting on high quality video and

stills cameras sponsored by University College Falmouth.

After losing the original expedition photographer, James Harwood was assigned photography as

well as filming responsibilities, and I would support the filming. In the field this proved problematic.

On the route to base camp James and I almost always found ourselves in separate locations, with

camera equipment dispersed between us. As Expedition Leader it proved very difficult to film

during this stage with any continuity, not least because of the challenge of coordinating this

complicated stage of the expedition, but also because, by default, I was directly involved in the very

things which ought to have been filmed, in situations where self-filming was not practical.

Further problems were encountered when we began trying to edit and send back videos. Due to

the nature of finding sponsorship, we were only able to secure our media equipment at a very late

stage meaning that there was no time for testing before we left the UK. We quickly realised there

were compatibility issues which created a huge backlog of work. In the end, a solution was found in

the form of my old personal laptop (christened Die Hard) and the decision was made to jump

straight into editing videos shot in the field, discarding any hope of getting footage from the

journey online.

In the field, James gravitated toward his preferred medium of photography, and found himself

working closely with Holli Kilburn in the canopy, and so I took on the filming. Filming and editing is

very time-consuming, and certainly impacted on my ability to perform my other duties.

Through a fairly diligent routine, however, we were able to produce a large amount of high quality

media, and to share this as we had intended, once we had established a good workflow. We were

also able to successfully take part in two very well received live video links with the Natural History

Museum in London – the first of their kind in the museum. We also took part in two very popular

live web chats on the Guardian website, which generated a lot of interest. This was a challenging,

but highly rewarding and very worthwhile element of the expedition.

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Ian Blessley left Camp Foyle on 2nd January to return

to the UK to attend interviews for medical school.

With his departure, Lara Rogers was made Medical

Officer and I took on much of Ian’s duties around

Camp. Ian has since started a course at

Nottingham University.

Two guest researchers from Germany, Jan beck

and Carsten Breuhl arrived at Camp on Saturday

15th January and spent 14 days with us, leaving

on 28th January. The travelled on the MAF float

plane between Palangkaraya and Naan, and by

cis from Naan to Camp Foyle.

Rupert Ridgeway (PBU) and his wife Diana joined

us toward the end of the expedition, on Monday

31st January. It was a pleasure to host Rupert and

Diana who have two decades experience of

managing a nearby project, and have given so

much to the expedition over the past two years.

They travelled in on the MAF plane, and stayed

while we broke camp and began the return

journey home.

Arrivals and Departures

Ian Blessley at Christmas ©James Harwood

The Mission Aviation Fellowship float plane landing at Tumbang Naan ©Martin Holland

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Medical Issues We were fortunate not to have any serious

medical issues during the expedition, though

we were fairly prepared. Four of the original

team were trained in Advance Medicine for

Remote Foreign Travel, while most of the

other team members had taken two-day first

aid courses. We had an extensive medical kit

(advised and supplied primarily by Wilderness

Medical Training and Nomad), comprehensive

insurance (with ihi Bupa), and a membership

policy and rescue plan with emergency

response provider International SOS (or SOS

Medika as they are known in-country).

Issues of note were stomach problems at the

beginning of the expedition as a result of

drinking untreated water in Tumbang Tohan,

by mistake, which affected three of the team.

Bites and stings were a constant irritation,

and some of the team developed foot rot

which incapacitated them for a few days

while it was treated. Almost all of the team

was infected by subcutaneous worms which

were treated by medication brought in by

request by Jan and Carsten.

We had one malaria scare after news that a

villager in Tumbang Tohan was infected, and

one of our guides began displaying all of the

symptoms. We began treating him and sent

him back to his village (where there is a

trained nurse and health clinic) with a full

course of medication, both for his comfort

and the safety of those remaining at camp. He

returned ten days later fully recovered.

Whether or not it was a bout of recurrent

malaria is unclear.

Cuts, skin rashes, twisted ankles, swellings

from stings, fatigue, dehydration, and

stomach problems were expected and

common ailments. Good care to avoid such

issues and swift treatment and management

once diagnosed kept the team healthy for the

duration of the expedition. I recommend

planning and enforcement of rest days for

both health and morale boosts in future.

A nasty blister on Dale Mortiboy’s right foot ©Misbahul Munir

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Huge boulders on the Mohot river, upstream from Camp Foyle ©Martin Holland

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Breaking Camp and Extraction

The last day of research was Tuesday 1st February, and on the 2nd Feb Camp Foyle started coming

down systematically, planned to extract the team in the most efficient way possible so as to

maximize the time for research. This phase of the expedition ran very smoothly.

The majority of the team left Camp Foyle on Thursday with a large amount of the equipment,

spending the night in Tumbang Tohan. On Friday 4th Dan Sargison, James Harwood and Misbahul

Munir left to retrace the overland route to Palangkaraya, while Lara Rogers, Holli Kilburn and

Ismael Agung travelled to Naan and flew to Palangkaraya with MAF. Through careful coordination

the overland team made it to Palangkaraya in 2 days from Tumbang Tohan: very encouraging for

future expeditions to the region.

Tim and I stayed at Camp Foyle with our guides and Rupert and Diana until Friday 4th, when we

travelled to Tumbang Tohan to join Rusty and Dale. We took part in meetings with the village to

share our findings and discuss future activities, and agreed to leave much of our kit in secure

storage with one of the village elders.

We travelled to Tumbang Naan on Sunday 6th and again met with village elders here to discuss the

expedition and the future. On Monday 7th Rusty and Dale flew with MAF to Naan and Tim and I

began the overland journey, taking the same route as James and Dan. We stopped in Puruk Cahu

to meet with Godwin Limberg from Flora and Fauna International to talk through future initiatives

in the area.

Martin Holland steadying the boat during a refuel ©Rupert Ridgeway

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Ismael Agung at the Camp Foyle sign ©Misbahul Munir

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CONCLUSION The research results and their significance to the understanding of species distributions across

Borneo; their demonstration of the “remarkable quality” of the forest in our study area of Bukit

Batikap Protection Forest; and the additional weight they throw onto the calls for a step-change in

the conservation effort on the island are discussed in detail on p.70, so I will not attempt to

duplicate that discussion.

Rather, the main conclusions discussed here are to be drawn from an assessment of the efficacy

and value of the approach of this expedition, which was positive, youthful, multidisciplinary,

inclusive, and interactive.

The scientific results alone are a towering testament to the approach. That such a relatively

inexperienced team could gather so much new knowledge and information in 8 short weeks,

despite testing environmental conditions, is a powerful statement the special potential for young

people to make important and meaningful contributions to conservation through their still vibrant

creativity and positive energy.

The same can be said for the expedition as a whole, which, despite its ambition and the many

challenges and obstacles faced, was conceived, designed, organised and led entirely by its young

members and volunteers. Indeed, through personal communication I am aware that the teams

audacity in attempting and eventually executing something so large and multifaceted has energised

and inspired many of the veteran researchers and explorers who have been involved as advisors, or

who have watched on as interested spectators.

That the expedition excelled in its aim to inspire is borne out further by the now thriving

Exploration Society at Tremough campus in Cornwall, and the innumerable comments and emails

we continue to receive from people of all ages, backgrounds and interests who have come into

contact with the website, or the team members at talks and other events. It has also inspired in

many of the team members themselves a belief in their own potential.

The multidisciplinary approach during the research inspired new interests and insights between the

team, while the inclusion of a media team brought elements out of the researchers that otherwise

would never have surfaced. The assumption of a common knowledge and understanding stifles

conversations, both between people and internally in ones own mind. Being forced to confront

what one takes for granted during filmmaking is not only a necessary part of the scripting and

production process, but actually opens vaults that might have been closed for some time, allowing

a now more developed mind to consider these assumptions for the first time, and perhaps making

new connections and creating fresh insights.

Sharing these videos and our other resources in real time, thus becoming interactive from the field,

was expensive in terms of time and resources. A large part of the budget was allocated here, and a

large amount of my time, therefore reducing my attention on other areas. However it was integral

to the energy and excitement that we had managed to build up around the expedition, and so was

absolutely worth the cost in both areas.

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The area we struggled to meet our ambitions was in the educational areas. While we produced a

number of very interesting educational videos, and have reached many thousands of people who

would not previously know about the deforestation issue in Borneo, we did not manage to

penetrate far beyond the lay individual (important though she is).

The educational ambitions of the expedition were not well enough defined from the beginning,

lacking in focus and detail, and should have had more expert involvement. In the event, our

approach was altogether too far and too wide. That is not to say that incorporating educational

programs into expeditions is a waste of energy, simply that to do it right requires a clear target

audience, and for the goals to be understood by the team members involved.

The aim to be inclusive and open throughout the preparation stages was in many respects the most

challenging area of the expedition, since it creates an entirely new level of extra work and

administration in the tasking and management of this extended team. Inevitably, the most time

consuming of your volunteers will produce the least reward for your effort, and It can be easy to

wonder what the value in this approach is. Firstly, if it is primarily for the volunteers benefit, that

you open yourselves up as a platform then this issue becomes less frustrating, although no less

time consuming. Secondly , perhaps 1 in 10 of the volunteers will be an absolute super star who

you will quickly come to wonder how you ever coped without!

The contribution to in-country capacity building could have been significantly increased through

the inclusion in the team of some experienced community development workers. Conducting

participatory land use mapping alongside the other activities would have been of great benefit to

both the communities and the other expedition activities, adding greater depth to the research and

the outreach work. We should also have had more Indonesian team members, although this was

not through a lack of effort, simply effort expended in the wrong directions.

As a final concluding comment, the world needs inspired, motivated, creative, and positive people

to come together to lead projects like this, and to inspire and motivate creativity and positivity in

others, more than anytime in the history of humanity. The challenges we face today and tomorrow

are enormous, global, and connected by common threads.

The island of Borneo is an excellent case in point, and it was right to conduct this expedition to the

island, and to continue the work we have started there. There exists a window of opportunity to

turn the tide of destruction, to begin once again to value our natural resources and wild spaces for

everything they afford us as a species, and to expect and demand that they be protected for the

common wealth, not destroyed for the enrichment of a few.

This won’t happen without the greatest of efforts from a few to mobilise and capture the support

of the many. Having worked on this project for the past three years, I firmly believe that

multidisciplinary projects that emphasise the positive and bring science and the arts together with

communities can play an important role.

I hope that our experiences and the lessons from them, shared in this report and happily shared in

more detail though personal communication, can help others to go beyond what we have

attempted, and to keep going beyond until that tide is firmly turned.

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The Murung Raya Expedition team on the last day at Camp Foyle. This felled log was crossed daily to reach

the transects that spread out from the Ridgeway Trail ©Rupert Ridgeway

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APPENDIX 1: STRATEGY AND PLANNING

The Royal Geographical Society

The Royal Geographical Society, and in particular Shane Winser who heads the Geography Outdoors team,

was an important source of inspiration for this expedition, and the most important body with regard to

almost all areas of our planning and preparation. If you are starting from scratch, go to the annual Explore

weekend, soak up the atmosphere and network your heart out, and then speak to Shane and the team about

where to start. It’s what we did and it’s what I would do again.

Work With the End in Mind

We identified the aims our expedition, broadly, as to Discover, Educate, and Inspire. Within these categories

we identified specific goals and then created action plans to achieve them. The RGS Expedition Handbook has

an example 12 month countdown which is an excellent place to start preparing your own wider plan. We

adapted it working backwards from our departure date and according to our specific needs, editing it as we

went.

A Business Plan

We very deliberately approached what we were planning in the same manner as a start-up company, partly

to learn and share new skills in these areas. We considered branding and marketing strategy very early on,

for example, and identified our fundraising strategy according to a growing sense of credibility after we had

secured some key sponsorship (in our case from the RGS).

Network, Network, Network

The RGS will be able to help you find contacts in-country, but don’t stop there. Think about every one you

know and what they do, consider the companies you have worked for, the institutions such as universities

that you have connections with, local papers and magazines, old schools. Identify how you can make use of

all of these contacts for planning, promotion, fundraising, logistical support - everything that was in our

budget or our activity schedule was considered a potential area of support or advice.

But don’t stop at your contacts: get your team to go through the same process, and also work at your

contacts’ contacts, which is often the most fruitful area.

Credible, Capable, Committed

I was asked to speak at RGS Explore the weekend before our team departed for Jakarta, on the subject of

fundraising. We had raised a lot of money despite having no experience or background in expeditions. I

considered that the places we raised our funds from were based on our particular skills (writing grant

applications, for example), whereas for other teams, fundraising events may well be more suitable.

I decided that what had made the difference was our focus on not only being, but appearing to be highly

credible, capable, and committed. We spent a lot of time preparing our brochure before we sent it to

anyone, much to the dismay of many of my team who were clamouring for it to be ready sooner. We

identified a PR opportunity in having our own beer named after us by a local brewery, not because it would

raise a lot of funds, but because it would look fantastic to have it served at the RGS in the days before our

departure. We used students to get high quality logos, photography, and videos made of our team and

preparations. This wasn’t just PR fluff, it was demonstrating that were indeed credible, capable, and

committed, as clearly and loudly as we could in order to attract support.

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APPENDIX 2: TEAM SELECTION & TRAINING

Posters, Lecturers and Interviews

Over 400 people applied to join the expedition team, from a campus of about 4,000, all from a

handful of posters and posts on relevant online forums. To narrow this down I held lectures to

explain the plan and attempt to put as many people off as possible. Then I ran group interviews to

identify the most promising candidates and, again, tried to put them off. I picked a small core team

and then took around 20 remaining candidates to Dartmoor for a winter weekend of small tortures

and good fun.

My primary concerns were focused on the actual expedition. I was looking at skill (research, media,

logistics, medical, management, etc), safety (personal conduct, hygiene and self-discipline, fitness

and field skills), and psychology (emotional strength, personal character, team dynamics, ability to

deal with stress and uncertainty). The team was selected, but did change as the expedition dates

were altered. In future I would add a focus on pre-expedition skills (such as fundraising), and in-

country administration so that tasks such as financial management can be spread between a few

people.

We struggled to find Indonesian team members, however in hindsight we relayed too heavily on

one university for this. I would advise making good use of in country-networks and also utilising

twitter and other social media.

Medical Training

An original requirement for joining the expedition team was to go through an advanced first aid

course so that in the event of an incident, everyone on the team would be able to carry out the

most basic and potentially life-saving techniques in the absence of a team member with more

training.

Four of the expedition members making up the leader group (Martin, Tim, Lara and Ian) went

through a 4-day training course called Advanced Medicine for Remote Foreign Travel run by

Wilderness Medical Training. This course was well tailored to our needs, very organised, engaging

and hands on. We highly recommend other expedition teams consider this as their first option for

advanced medical training. The ability to order drugs and hardware after completion of this course

is equally important.

Field Training Weekends

We organised several camping weekends to serve as team building and basic skills training for less

experienced team members. We covered topics such as navigation, communications, safety, and

personal conduct. These weekends were fun and informal, and we invited other student members

of the Exploration Society at Exeter and Falmouth to take part.

While the weekends could only give a flavour of what to expect in the tropics, they were important

as bonding exercises and as an opportunity to raise and deal with any issues or questions such as

what equipment to take, as well as getting the team members used to the cameras.

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Satellite Communications

Livewire Digital very kindly spent a lot of time with those members of the team who needed to be

familiar with the workflows involved in sending videos back to the UK via satellite. This was crucial

as it turned out that certain software limitations were in fact causing significant issues and new

workflows had to be developed. In the field, once we had our laptops working properly, this

training proved invaluable and the workflow was very smooth indeed.

A trial run between our team, Livewire Digital and the Natural History Museum also gave us the

opportunity to tweak certain aspects in preparation for the live video links, improving sound quality

and lag time. When it came to doing the live links for real in the field we were able to set up and

execute the process with little fuss and excellent results.

Equipment Testing

Do to last minute sponsorship we were unable to properly test our video editing workflows before

going into the field, and this caused significant problems in the field. The laptops were not powerful

enough to efficiently handle the editing software for video or photography. We were filming partly

on Canon 5DMkII DSLR which produces Apple Quicktime Movie files. These were almost impossible

to edit with in Adobe Premier Pro CS4, and it turned out that we were missing some drivers and

codecs.

This caused much delay and frustration in the move to Camp Foyle, and some conflict in the first

week at camp. Some of the problems were identified en route to our research site, meaning drivers

and codecs could be downloaded. Eventually we found ways to work with the software, quickly

realising that we would have to drastically increase the amount of time spent editing the videos,

which also meant increasing power consumption.

The selection weekend on Dartmoor after a long and cold night ©Martin Holland

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APPENDIX 3: PERMISSIONS AND PERMITS

Research Permits are difficult to obtain in Indonesia. The process is administered by RISTEK (Office

for Research and Technology, based in Jakarta) and requires a lot of preparation which should

begin will in advance of the application. RISTEK now meets to discuss applications twice monthly,

and submissions should ideally be made 3 months before your departure date. This means that

delays, postponements, and requests for further information can be dealt with.

You will inevitably face a high level of uncertainty at this important stage. There are only really two

options: book your tickets and hold your breath, planning fully for your departure date, with

contingency plans in the back of your mind; or wait until you have the green-light from RISTEK

before committing financially (this needs to come at least 2 weeks prior to your departure in order

to give your local embassy the time to receive handle the request).

After further experience of this, I think it is easier on everyone to take the first option, providing

you can change or cancel your flights without too much expense. Our first application was

delivered by hand during the recce. Our stack of paperwork was over a foot high. We used the

University of Palangkaraya (UNPAR) as our scientific counterpart, but after months of back and

forth with little advice from RISTEK, our application was declined. It turned out that the major

reason for this was that we had applied for research permits for members of our team who would

not be involved in the actual research. We could have rectified this had we been informed.

We quickly hired Steven Oliver (now running these services through his Indonesian company,

Lahuka) as a handler for our application, and contacted the Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI) as

our scientific counterpart, retaining UNPAR as our local counterpart. Steven proved fantastic and

our application was approved for our new dates. Steven also handled the ‘RISTEK run’ through

Jakarta, which involves visiting various offices to collect stamps in the appropriate order.

Things became more difficult in Palangkaraya, the administrative capital of Central Kalimantan. We

used this office to provide our research permits because we were operating in their province. This

caused heavy delays, as the official refused to accept LIPI as our scientific counterpart, declaring

that this was in fact UNPAR. No amount of producing instructions from RISTEK to the contrary

would sway him in his conviction. This meant replicating a lot of paperwork we had already

produced, and waiting for paperwork to be delivered from Jakarta (phone calls to the relevant

offices or faxes would not be considered).

We applied for Social Cultural Permits for those members of the team not coming out as

researchers. This is a much more simple process, but also proved problematic. Social visa stays are

limited to 60 days, which was less than our total stay in country. Extensions can be granted but one

must present their passport to the immigration office with proper paperwork for this to happen.

This meant some of our team leaving camp and travelling back to Palangkaraya to extend their

visas before returning to camp. The application can only be made within 14 days of the expiry of

the visa.

We agreed with the official in Palangkaraya that UNPAR staff could bring copies of the team

members’ passports to the office to be stamped, pending the return of the team whereupon actual

passport could be stamped. When our team members arrived at the office at the end of the

96

expedition to finalise this process, they were politely ‘quarantined’ and told they faced fines for

overstaying their visas. The copies of the passports had proved insufficient, and we had not

received information on this from UNPAR at the time. Again, no amount of campaigning to the

office, supported by a signed letter from the original official declaring that copies would be

sufficient, made any difference. We were duly fined our team members were released from

quarantine after 3 days.

The upside is that we learned that if passports are left with the local counterpart, instead of copies,

this process can be used to have team members on social cultural permits work in country for over

60 days without having to leave their research site mid-expedition.

APPENDIX 4: MANAGING FINANCES By establishing a university society we were able to use the Student Union to manage our initial

income, but we quickly set up a community bank account to have greater control and flexibility.

The University of Exeter collected funds on our behalf allowing us to claim gift aid on donations

before we established the Heart of Borneo Project as a charity.

We changed some funds in Indonesia which allowed for a much better exchange rate, however we

did also use money changers in the UK before realising the significance of the hidden costs in the

exchange rates. To those with little experience, I highly recommend looking at the option of taking

sterling into the country with you and changing it into local currency there.

With so much cash we used a locked peli case chained to a large log supporting our main table in

the Science/Media tent, which was the most occupied area of camp. It would have been impossible

to take this case without force, which was of course a possibility all the same. During transit the

cash was split between a small number of team members in order to reduce the impact of loss or

theft.

Cash advances were signed out to team members from the main float and accounted for with

receipts for expenses. Guides were paid periodically, although most preferred to be paid at the end

of the expedition. I recommend the Expedition Leader assign separate responsible person to act as

treasurer.

97

APPENDIX 5: INSURANCE & EMERGENCY EVACUATION International Members – ihi Bupa (Denmark) BUPA provided a very good policy covering our international team members for every eventuality,

including evacuation by air. The cost was reasonable and the policy all-encompassing. We would

recommend, although we had no experience of making a claim or dealing with an emergency

situation with this provider.

Indonesian Members – Chartis Insuring local researchers and guides can be difficult, especially given that knowing the names of

your guides and their details can be impossible (as was the case on our expedition). Chartis

Insurance provided us with a policy covering 5 unnamed Indonesian employees for a period of 12

months. This was affordable and comprehensive, however helicopter evacuation was not covered.

Equipment Insurance – Campbell Irvine Insuring equipment was necessary but problematic, for the reason that the kit was loaned by

sponsors. In future we would try at all stages to have equipment loaned to us covered under the

insurance policy of the sponsor, perhaps with an agreement that we would pay for any excess

charges in the event of a claim being made. We hired Campbell and Irvine insurance brokers to find

us a suitable policy, and used an office insurance policy to cover our equipment. This was expensive

but necessary given the cost of some of the hardware we were using, but again, we would

recommend Campbell Irvine for brokerage.

Emergency Response - SOS Medika Our international team members were put onto a membership policy of SOS Medika, (aka

International SOS), Jakarta, to expedite emergency evacuation and medical arrangements in the

event of a serious incident. Membership is expensive, but was considered important due to the

remote nature of our site. In an incident we wanted to be confident that we could leave the

coordination of logistics, including helicopter evacuation, in the hands of experienced

professionals, instead of trying to coordinate this ourselves from the rainforest, or relying on an

non-recommended provider. Rupert Ridgeway highly recommended SOS Medika.

If we were insured by Bupa UK, all evacuation and medical costs involved in an evacuation

organised by SOS Medika would have been approved without question, reducing potential delays

as insurance providers question the need for such expense.

Our experience would make us think twice about using their services again, and we will certainly

look for alternatives before doing so. It is not only the cost that leads us to this conclusion, but also

our experience of commissioning an Emergency Response Plan. The delays in the provision of this

important and expensive document meant that it was not ready until the end of the expedition

(some 3 months late), while the level of incorrect and inaccurate information in the report was

astounding. We were labelled as being in East Kalimantan not Central Kalimantan; the float plane

run by Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) that serves the village of Tumbang Naan was not

included in their evacuation plan; and much of the most crucial information was in fact prepared

and supplied by our team. We received a 50% discount as a goodwill gesture after a lengthy

meeting with their senior staff, but even this was hard won.

98

APPENDIX 6: TRAVEL, TRANSPORT AND FREIGHTING

Flights International flights into Jakarta were booked with Emirates who were cheap and afforded 30kg of

luggage in the hold, allowing us to transport much of our equipment as luggage. There were no

problems on the way in, but Tim’s bag was left in Dubai on the return leg.

Medical supplies were kept with one person who carried a letter from a doctor stating that she had

permission to transport these substances, and detailing what she was carrying and why.

The team flew from Jakarta to Banjarmasin and Palangkaraya with Batavia who are cheapest.

Luggage limits are low but the cost of additional luggage is also low. It is recommended to arrive

early to ensure you fly with your luggage if you are over the weight limit, and also to expect delays

of a few hours.

Freighting Freighting was as difficult, costly and frustrating as immigration. We had a ton of equipment

freighted to Jakarta as personal effects. Customs maintained they were not personal effects and we

would have to pay an import tax. James and Dan worked with Steven Oliver to get these goods

cleared so they could fly with them Banjarmasin. A better understanding of this process would have

been helpful.

Equally difficult was the delivery of 25 camera traps from the USA. A huge import tax was levied

which we were forced to pay, despite every effort by out team, our freight company, and Steve

Oliver. DHL proved singularly inefficient in moving these goods from Jakarta to Banjarmasin once

they had been cleared. We also needed an address and registration number of a business to deliver

the goods to. Fortunately we were able to use the tourism company owned by the proprietor of

the guest house we used to accommodate our team in Banjarmasin for this purpose.

Ian Blessley packing the medical supplies in the UK ©Lara Rogers

99

Cargo Boats and Bis-Air Cargo boats service the Barito River from the coastal town of Banjarmasin as far as Batu Ampar. It

is possible to find cargo ships with space for your stores and some of your team to travel with

them, or to commission a water bus (bis-air) for your entire team and cargo. A bis-air was not

available for us so we used a cargo ship which was affordable and left and arrived on time. Be

aware that the captain should be consulted before unloading your supplies. We unloaded at Puruk

Cahu and moved onto two smaller, faster boats to reach Batu Ampar.

Road Transport Public minibuses are frequent between Banjarmasin and Palangkaraya, and between Palangkaraya

and Puruk Cahu. These can be hired and prices negotiated. The driver will usually take a colleague,

especially if driving at night. Drivers in our experience either need to be told to slow down or to

speed up, depending on their temperament, but be prepared to allow the driver to have his music

blaring on overnight journeys to help him stay awake.

Jeeps along the logging road from Batu Ampar to Camp Bravo were readily available. We required 6

jeeps for the 2 hours journey. The road is navigable by night, but again, prepare for delays in the

event of breakdowns (either yours or the lorries using the road).

Small River Transport – Klotoks and Cis Once we were on the Joloi River we moved on small wooden boats with inboard motors. The larger

boats are called klotoks, and can carry a c. 1 ton of equipment. Smaller boats are called cis, and in

their smallest form carry around 3 people and their personal bags, plus the driver. None of the

boats have any shade.

View along the logging road between the Barito and the Joloi rivers ©Martin Holland

100

APPENDIX 7: FOOD, WATER & HYGIENE The vast majority of this was bought in the supermarkets and local markets of Banjarmasin, and delivered to

and stored in the guest house which had lots of room downstairs for this purpose. Bulk items were bought in

supermarkets. We attempted to pre-order this (organised during our recce) but failed because our order

coincided with the closing of one supermarket while another was in the middle of restocking, and promptly

sold everything we had ordered.

Fresh and dried produce was bought in the markets, Pasar Lima being the most useful. Produce likely to

perish more quickly was bought in Puruk Cahu. Potatoes, onions, garlic and pumpkins lasted the duration of

the expedition, while cabbages and beans perished very quickly. We supplemented this with fruit bought

from Tumbang Tohan (bananas, mangoes, and jackfruit) and foraged greens such as bracken.

Each vegetable should be inspected closely for imperfections. Pumpkins should be stored on shelves out of

the shade and not touching one another. Potatoes should also be stored in the shade and inspected and

aired regularly. Once one vegetable rots the others in contact with it will quickly follow, so take care to

remove and, if possible eat, vegetables reaching that point.

Flat bread was made almost daily and was enjoyed with either jam or chocolate spread. On occasion we

baked real bread using flour and oats, baked in our wok with a little water and covered using another pan.

We had chickens at camp who laid a few eggs. They were quite a nuisance but were also entertaining, and

could be found nesting in the oddest places (up trees, on people’s beds, and in a box of noodles in the

kitchen). The chickens were attacked once by a civet, but otherwise did not appear to attract wildlife. We ate

most of the chickens by the end of the expedition which was always a treat. The first chickens were cooked in

a hangey, or earth, oven on Christmas Day.

The stores were overseen by assigned members of the team. The next days rations were brought to the

kitchen the night before to ensure we were not going through our stores too quickly, and a schedule used to

inform the chefs how many people who would be eating and how many packed lunches were needed.

The food was generally good and varied enough, and was occasionally fantastic. Leftover rice made a tasty

pudding, and tinned fruit was also well received. Most of the team remained a healthy weight and no one

complained of hunger, although everyone recorded weight loss, some significantly so.

It is important to check with the local staff that they are happy with the food, as diets and meal sizes vary

between the two cultures. In future we will consider a western chef and a local chef to prepare for the two

groups separately. Good communication with the kitchen staff as to meal times and number of people is very

important to avoid frustrations on both sides. The local staff consumed vast amounts of coffee and sugar,

which had to be replenished numerous times from Tumbang Tohan. Though not strictly food, cigarettes are a

staple in this area. We brought in our own and sold them to the guides at the local rate.

Consider lino to cover your kitchen surfaces where food is being prepared so that it can be wiped down. We

used some left over tin to good effect. Slops should be emptied away from the kitchen to avoid attracting

wildlife, and surfaces cleaned and leftovers either discarded or stored well for the same reason.

Water was carried from the river to two water buckets: one in the kitchen and one in the science/media tent.

Drinking water in the science/media tent was purified with two water filters and stored in jugs. The river

water was heavy in sediment, and the filters needed replacing once. This was an effective system.

Water in the kitchen was purified by boiling on an open fire. This was energy intensive so filters could be

considered in future, or, as stated previously, solar cookers could be used in conjunction with fuel efficient

stoves. Rainwater should be collected in future to avoid using river water which had high levels of sediment

and tannins .

101

APPENDIX 8: BREAKDOWN OF INCOME

Each team member contributed financially to the overall cost of the expedition, totalling some

£15,000. Small grants were targeted as the main source of funding and consumed a lot of time

both in the research and in the writing. Institutions such as our universities and other NGOs were

also approached, and through our network we are able to secure significant contributions from

individual major donors.

We made many attempts to raise funds through events but for us this did not prove effective, often

just breaking even and taking large amounts of time and motivations away from the team. In

hindsight, I think we could have raised large amounts from the sale of merchandise given our

connection to the talented student body in Cornwall.

GRANTS & INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT £29,063.53

RGS Neville Shulman Challenge Award £ 4,000.00

Gilchrist Education Trust £ 1,500.00

University of Exeter £ 5,500.00

UoE DARO Annual Fund £ 5,000.00

ZSL £ 1,000.00

Orangutan Land Trust £ 500.00

Foyle Foundation £ 5,000.00

Primate Conservation Inc £ 1,648.86

WWF £ 3,162.16

Explorers Club £ 1,252.51

FXU £ 500.00

FUNDRAISING AND DONATIONS £22,922.05

TEAM MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS £15,000.00

TOTAL INCOME £66,985.58

102

APPENDIX 9: BREAKDOWN OF EXPENDITURE

FEES AND PERMITS £ 3,402

TRAVEL £ 12,375

ACCOMMODATION £ 985

SUBSISTENCE £ 733

FIELD SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT £ 19,778

Field and Camp Supplies £ 8,249

Medical Supplies £ 1,098

Multimedia and Communications £ 1,544

Research and Scientific £ 5,024

Food and Sustenance £ 3,491

Repairs and Maintenance £ 372

COMMUNICATIONS £ 6,338

Mobile and Telephone £ 61

Satellite Calls and Data £ 6277

INSURANCE & SAFETY £ 8,119

Equipment Insurance £ 2,049

Casevac Membership and Plan £ 2,444

Personal Health, Liability and Travel Insurance £ 3,826

TRANSPORT & LOGISITCS £ 2,966

Agent and Fixer Fees £ 261

Freight and Customs £ 2,674

FIELD STAFF WAGES £ 5,861

EXCHANGE RATE DIFFERENCES £ 815

RECCE COSTS £ 4,800

EXPEDITION CELEBRATION EVENT £ 600

OTHER COSTS £ 214

£

TOTAL EXPENDITURE £ 66,986

103

APPENDIX 10: LIST OF MAMMALS

Order Family scientific name common name Borneo

endemic

Red list

status

Insectivora Erinaceidae Echinosorex gymnura Moonrat - LC

Soricidae Crocidura monticola Sunda shrew - LC

Scandentia Tupaiidae Tupaia dorsalis Striped tree shrew y DD

Tupaia longipes Bornean tree shrew y LC

Rodentia Sciuridae Ratufa affinis cothurnata Pale giant squirrel - NT

Callosciurus notatus Plantain squirrel - LC

Callosciurus prevostii atricapillus Prevost's squirrel - LC

Sundasciurus lowii lowii Low's squirrel - LC

Sundasciurus hippurus Horse-tailed squirrel - NT

Exilisciurus exilis Least pigmy squirrel y DD

Nannosciurus melanotis pallidus Black-eared pigmy squirrel - LC

Lariscus insignis Three-striped ground squirrel - LC

Muridae Sundamys muelleri Müller’s Sundamys - LC

Maxomys rajah Rajah Sundaic Maxomys - VU

Maxomys surifer Indomalayan Maxomys - LC

Niviventer cremoriventer Sundaic Arboreal Niviventer - VU

Maxomys whiteheadi Whitehead’s Sundaic Maxomys - VU

Hystricidae Hystrix brachyura Malayan Porcupine - LC

Trichys fasciculata Long-tailed porcupine - LC

Hystrix crassispinis Thick-spined porcupine y LC

Pholidota Manidae Manis javanica Sunda pangolin - EN

Carnivora Ursidae Helarctos malayanus Malayan Sun Bear - VU

Viverridae Aonyx cinerea Asian Small-clawed Otter VU

Cynogale bennettii Sunda otter-civet - EN

Viverra tangalunga Malay civet - LC

Arctictis binturong Binturong - VU

Paradoxurus hermaphroditus Common palm civet - LC

Prionodon linsang Banded linsang - LC

Hemigalus derbyanus Banded civet - VU

Herpestes brachyurus rajah Short-tailed mongoose - LC

Herpestes semitorquatus Collared mongoose - DD

Felidae Prionailurus bengalensis Leopard cat - LC

Neofelis diardi Sunda clouded leopard y VU

Artiodactyla Suidae Sus barbatus Bearded pig - VU

Tragulidae Tragulus kanchil Lesser oriental chevrotain - LC

Tragulus napu Greater oriental chevrotain - LC

Cervidae Muntiacus muntjak Southern red muntjac - LC

Muntiacus atherodes Bornean yellow muntjac y LC

Rusa unicolor Sambar deer - VU

Primates Lorisidae Nycticebus menagensis Bornean slow loris Y VU

Tarsiidae Tarsius bancanus Bornean tarsier - VU

Cercopithecidae Presbytis rubicunda rubicunda Red langur y LC

Presbytis frontata White fronted langur y VU

Macaca fascicularis Long-tailed macaque - LC

Macaca nemestrina Southern pig-tailed macaque - VU

Nasalis larvatus Proboscis monkey Y EN

Hylobatidae Hylobates albibarbis Bornean white-bearded gibbon y EN

Chiroptera Rhinolophidae Rhinolophus trifoliatus Trefoil horseshoe bat - LC

Molossidae Cheiromeles torquatus Greater naked bat - LC Emballonuridae Emballonura sp Lesser/Greater sheath-tailed bat - LC

104

APPENDIX 11: LIST OF BIRDS

List of birds as observed in and around Bukit Batikap Protection Forest during the HoBP Murung Raya Expedition 2010-2011. Residence status: R = Resident, E = Endemic, M = Migrant. Sites include M = Mohot River, HJ = Hulu Joloi (Joloi River north of Mohot River), J = Joloi River (The Joloi River from Camp Bravo to Mohot River).

Family Scientific Name Common Name Red list

status

Resi-

dence

status

Site

M HJ J

Phasianidae Melanoperdix niger Black Partridge VU R x

Rollulus rouloul Crested Partridge NT R x x

Lophura ignita Crested Fireback NT R x

Polyplectron schleiermacheri Bornean Peacock-Pheasant EN R, E x

Argusianus argus Great Argus NT R x

Ardeidae Egretta garzetta Little Egret LC R x

Butorides striata Striated Heron LC R x

Ciconiidae Ciconia stormi Storm's Stork EN R x

Accipitridae Spilornis cheela Crested Serpent Eagle LC R x x

Haliastur indus Brahminy Kite LC R x x

Ichthyophaga humilis Lesser Fish-Eagle NT R x

Falconidae Microhierax fringillarius Black-Thighed Falconet LC R x

Scolopacidae Actitis hypoleucos Common Sandpiper LC M x

Columbidae Treron capellei Large Green-Pigeon VU R x

Treron curvirostra Thick-Billed Green-Pigeon LC R x

Psittacidae Loriculus galgulus Blue-Headed Hanging Parrot LC R x

Cuculidae Cuculus saturatus Himalayan Cuckoo LC R, M x

Cacomantis variolosus Brush Cuckoo LC R x

Phaenicophaeus sumatranus Chestnut-Bellied Malkoha NT R x

Phaenicophaeus chlorophaeus Raffles Malkoha LC R x

Phaenicophaeus curvirostris Chestnut-Breasted Malkoha LC R x

Centropus sinensis Greater Coucal LC R x

Carpococcyx radiatus Bornean Ground-Cuckoo NT R, E x

Strigidae Ketupa ketupu Buffy Fish Owl LC R x

Bubo sumatranus Barred Eagle Owl LC R x

Otus rufescens Reddish Scops-Owl NT R x

Otus lempiji Sunda Scops-Owl LC R x

Apodidae Collocalia esculenta Glossy Swiftlet LC R x x

Apus affinis Little Swift LC R x x

Collocalia fuciphaga Edible-Nest Swiflet LC R x

Rhaphidura leucopygialis Silver-Rumped Needletail LC R x

Hemiprocni-dae Hemiprocne longipennis Grey-Rumped Tree-Swift LC R x

Trogonidae Harpactes kasumba Red-Naped Trogon NT R x x

105

LIST OF BIRDS CONT...

Harpactes orrhophaeus Cinnamon-Rumped Trogon NT R x x

Harpactes duvaucelii Scarlet-Rumped Trogon NT R x x

Alcedinidae Alcedo meninting Blue-Eared Kingfisher LC R x x

Alcedo euryzona Blue-Banded Kingfisher VU R x

Ceyx erithaca Black-Backed Kingfisher LC R x

Ceyx rufidorsa Rufous-Backed Kingfisher LC R x

Pelargopsis capensis Stork-Billed Kingfisher LC R x x

Actenoides concretus Rufous-Collared Kingfisher NT R x

Meropidae Nyctyornis amictus Red-Bearded Bee-Eater LC R x x

Coraciidae Eurystomus orientalis Dollarbird LC R, M x

Bucerotidae Aceros undulatus Wreathed Hornbill LC R x

Aceros comatus White-Crowned Hornbill NT R x

Anthracoceros malayanus Black Hornbill NT R x x

Buceros rhinoceros Rhino Hornbill NT R x x

Rhinoplax vigil Helmeted Hornbill NT R x

Anorrhinus galeritus Bushy-Crested Hornbill LC R x x x

Anthracoceros albirostris Oriental-Pied Hornbill LC R x

Aceros corrugatus Wrinkled Hornbill NT R x

Megalamidae Megalaima rafflesii Red-Crowned Barbet NT R x

Megalaima australis Blue-Eared Barbet LC R x

Megalaima henricii Yellow-Crowned Barbet NT R x

Megalaima eximia Black-Throated Barbet LC R, E x

Megalaima chrysopogon Gold-Whiskered Barbet LC R x

Megalaima mystacophanos Red-Throated Barbet NT R x

Calorhamphus fuliginosus Brown Barbet LC R x

Picidae Sasia abnormis Rufous Piculet LC R x

Celeus brachyurus Rufous Woodpecker LC R x

Meiglyptes tristis Buff-Rumped Woodpecker LC R x

Reinwardtipicus validus Orange-Backed Woodpecker LC R x

Blythipicus rubiginosus Maroon Woodpecker LC R x

Picus mineaceus Banded Woodpecker LC R x

Eurylaimidae Corydon sumatranus Dusky Broadbill LC R x

Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos Black-And-Red Broadbill LC R x x

Eurylaimus ochromalus Black-And-Yellow Broadbill NT R x

Calyptomena viridis Green Broadbill NT R x

Eurylaimus javanicus Banded Broadbill LC R x

Pittidae Pitta granatina Garnet Pitta NT R x

Pitta nympha Fairy Pitta VU M x

Pitta guajana Banded Pitta LC R x

Camphepagi-dae Hemipus picatus Bar-Winged Flycatcher-Shrike LC R x

Hemipus hirundinaceus Black-Winged Flycatcher-Shrike LC R x

Coracina fimbriata Lesser Cuckoo-Shrike LC R x

Dicruridae Dicrurus aeneus Bronzed Drongo LC R x x

Dicrurus paradiseus Greater Racquet-Tailed Drongo LC R x

106

LIST OF BIRDS CONT...

Rhipiduridae Rhipidura perlata Spotted Fantail LC R x x

Monarchidae Hypothymis azurea Black-Naped Monarch LC R x

Terpsiphone paradisi Asian Paradise Flycatcher LC R x x

Corvidae Corvus enca Slender-Billed Crow LC R x x x

Platylophus galericulatus Crested Jay NT R x

Platysmurus leucopterus Black Magpie NT R x x

Eupitidae Eupetes macrocerus Rail Babbler NT R x

Hirundinidae Hirundo rustica Barn Swallow LC M x

Sittidae Sitta frontalis Velvet-Fronted Nuthatch LC R x

Pycnonotidae Pycnonotus zeylanicus Straw-Headed Bulbul VU R x

Pycnonotus eutilotus Puff-Backed Bulbul NT R x

Pycnonotus nieuwenhuisii Blue-Wattled Bulbul DD R x

Pycnonotus simplex Cream-Vented Bulbul LC R x

Pycnonotus brunneus Red-Eyed Bulbul LC R x

Pycnonotus plumosus Olive-Winged Bulbul LC R x

Pycnonotus erythropthalmos Spectacled Bulbul LC R x

Alophoixus ochraceus Ochraceous Bulbul LC R x

Alophoixus bres Grey-Cheeked Bulbul LC R x x

Alophoixus phaeocephalus Yellow-Bellied Bulbul LC R x

Ixos malaccensis Streaked Bulbul NT R x

Setornis criniger Hook-Billed Bulbul VU R x

Alophoixus finschii Finsch's Bulbul NT R x

Tricholestes criniger Hairy-Backed Bulbul LC R x

Iole olivacea Buff-Vented Bulbul NT R x

Irenidae Irena puella Asian Fairy-Bluebird LC R x

Muscicapidae

Rhinomyias umbratilis Grey-Chested Flycatcher NT R x x

Muscicapa dauurica Asian Brown Flycatcher LC R, M x

Ficedula dumetoria Rufous-Chested Flycatcher NT R x

Cyornis turcosus Malaysian Blue-Flycatcher NT R x

Cyornis superbus Borneon Blue-Flycatcher LC R, E x

Cyornis unicolor Pale Blue-Flycatcher LC R x

Philentoma pyrhoptera Rufous-Winged Philentoma LC R x

Philentoma velata Maroon-Breasted Philentoma NT R x

Rhinomyas sp. Jungle Flycatcher Sp. x

Turdidae Chlamydochaera jefferyi Fruit Hunter LC R, E x

Copsychus malabaricus White-Rumped Shama LC R x

Copsychus saularis Magpie Robin LC R x

Enicurus ruficapillus Chesnut-Naped Forktail NT R x

Enicurus leschenaulti White-Crowned Forktail LC R x x

Trichixos pyrropygus Rufous-Tailed Shama NT R x x

Zoothera interpres Chestnut-Capped Trush LC R x

Silviidae Orthotomus atrogularis Dark-Necked Tailorbird LC R x

Phylloscopus borealis Arctic Warbler LC M x

107

LIST OF BIRDS CONT...

Timalidae Trichastoma rostratum White-Chested Babbler NT R x

Trichastoma bicolor Ferruginous Babbler LC R x

Malacocincla sepiaria Horsfield Babbler LC R x

Malacocincla abbotti Abott's Babbler LC R x

Malacocincla malaccensis Short-Tailed Babbler NT R x

Malacopteron cinereum Scaly-Crowned Babbler LC R x x

Malacopteron magnum Rufous-Crowned Babbler NT R x

Malacopteron magnirostre Moustached Babbler LC R x

Malacopteron affine Sooty-Capped Babbler NT R x

Stachyris maculata Chestnut-Rumped Babbler NT R x

Stachyris erythroptera Chestnut-Winged Babbler LC R x

Stachyris nigricollis Black-Throated Babbler NT R x

Stachyris poliocephala Grey-Headed Babbler LC R x

Macronous ptilosus Puffy-Backed Tit-Babbler NT R x

Alcippe brunneicauda Brown Fulvetta NT R x

Erpornis zantholeuca White-Bellied Yuhina LC R x

Sturnidae Gracula religiosa Common Hill Myna LC R x

Chloropsidae Chloropsis cyanopogon Lesser Green Leafbird NT R x

Chloropsis sonnerati Greater Green Leafbird LC R x

Chloropsis cochinchinensis Blue-Winged Leafbird LC R x

Dicaeidae Prionochilus xanthopygius Yellow-Rumped Flowerpecker LC R, E x

Prionochilus percussus Crimson-Breasted Flowerpecker LC R x

Prionochilus maculatus Yellow-Breasted Flowerpecker LC R x

Dicaeum trigonostigma Orange-Bellied Flowerpecker LC R x

Dicaeum concolor Plain Flowerpecker LC R x

Nectarinidae Anthreptes singalensis Ruby-Cheeked Sunbird LC R x

Anthreptes rhodolaemus Red-Throated Sunbird NT R x

Anthreptes simplex Plain Sunbird LC R x

Hypogramma hypogrammicum Purple-Naped Sunbird LC R x x

Arachnothera longirostra Little Spiderhunter LC R x

Arachnothera affinis Grey-Breasted Spiderhunter LC R x

Estrilidae Lonchura fuscans Dusky Munia LC R, E x

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APPENDIX 12: LIST OF AMPHIBIANS

Family Scientific name Common name Red list status

Distribution extension

Bufonidae Ansonia leptopus Brown slender toad ? ?

Ansonia longidigita Long-fingered slender toad NT y*

Phrynoidis aspera River toad LC n

Phrynoidis juxtaspera Giant river toad LC n

Pedostybes hosii Brown tree toad LC Y

Pelophryne signata Lowland dwarf toad NT y*

Dicroglossidae Limnonectes finchi Rough guardian frog LC y

Limnonectes laticeps Corrugated frog LC y

Limnonectes kuhlii Kuhl's creek frog LC n

Limnonectes leporinus Giant river frog LC n

Limnonectes malesianus Peat swamp frog NT n

Limnonectes palavanensis Smooth guardian frog LC y*

Limnonectes paramacrodon Lesser swamp frog NT y

Occidozyga laevis Common puddle frog LC y*

Megophryidae Leptobrachium abbotti Lowland litter frog LC y*

Leptolalax dringi Dring's slender litter frog NT y*

Leptolalax gracilis Sarawak slender litter frog NT y

Megophrys nasuta Bornean horned frog LC n

Microhylidae Chaperina fusca Saffron-bellied frog LC y*

Metaphrynella sundana Tree hole frog LC y

Microhyla perparva/perpetriga Narrow-mouthed frog sp LC y

Ranidae Hylarana raniceps White-lipped frog LC y

Odorrana hosii Poisonous rock frog LC n

Hylarana nicobariensis Cricket frog LC y

Hylarana picturata Spotted stream frog LC y

Rhacophoridae Nyctixalus pictus Cinnamon frog NT y*

Polypedates colletti Collett's tree frog LC y

Polypedates leucomystax Four-lined tree frog LC y

Polypedates macrotis Dark-eared tree frog LC n

Polypedates otilophus File-eared tree frog LC y

Rhacophorus appendiculates Southeast Asian tree frog LC y

Rhacophorus harrissoni Brown tree frog NT y*

Rhacophorus kajau White-eared tree frog NT n

Rhacophorus nigropalmatus Wallace's flying frog LC y

Rhacophorus pardalis Harlequin tree frog LC y

Ichthyophiidae - Caecilian sp. DD -

109

APPENDIX 13: LIST OF REPTILES

*) Not previously recorded in Kalimantan

**) Not previously recorded in Indonesia

Family Scientific name Common name Red list status Distribution extension

Lizards Gekkonidae Cnemaspis sp. - - .

Cyrtodactylus consobrinus Peters' bent-toed gecko NE .

Cyrtodactylus malayanus Malayan bent-toed gecko NE .

Ptychozoon horsfieldii Horsfields gliding gecko DD ?

Agamidae Aphaniotis fusca Dusky earless agama LC .

Aphaniotis ornata Ornate shrub lizard NE .

Bronchocela cristatella Crested green lizard NE .

Draco melanopogon Black-bearded flying lizard NE .

Draco quinquefasciatus Five-banded flying lizard NE .

Gonocephalus bornensis Bornean angle-headed lizard NE .

Gonocephalus doriae Marquis Doria's angle-headed liz-ard

NE .

Gonocephalus liogaster Blue-eyed angle-headed lizard NE .

Varinidae Varanus salvator Common water monitor LC n

Scincidae Apterygodon vittatum Striped Bornean tree skink NE .

Eutropis multifasciata Common sun skink NE .

Eutropis rudis Black-banded skink NE .

Eutropis rugifera Red-throated skink NE .

Lipinia vittigera Common striped skink NE .

Sphenomorphus cyanolaemus Blue-throated litter skink NT y*

Sphenomorphus multisquamatus Many-scaled litter skink NE .

Sphenomorphus sp. -

Tropidophorus beccari Beccari’s keeled skink NE .

Snakes Boidae Python reticulatus Reticulated python NE .

Calamaridae Calamaria sp1 - - .

Calamaria sp2 - NE .

Pseudorabdion saravacense - DD y**

Colubridae Ahaetulla_prasina Oriental vine snake LC .

Asthenodipsas laevis Smooth slug eating snake NE .

Boiga drapiezii White-spotted cat snake NE .

Dendrelaphis caudolineatus Striped bronzeback tree snake NE .

Dendrelaphis formosus Elegant bronzeback tree snake NE .

Dendrelaphis pictus Painted bronzeback NE .

Lycodon effraenis Scarce wolf snake LC n

Oligodon purpurascens purple kukri snake NE .

Oligodon signatus Rusty banded kukri snake NE .

Ptyas fusca White-bellied rat snake NE .

Rhabdophis chrysargos Speckle-bellied keelback snake NE .

Rhabdophis conspicillata Red-bellied keelback snake NE .

Xenochrophis maculatus Spotted keelback snake NE .

Xenodermus javanicus Rough-backed litter snake NE .

Crotalidae Trimeresurus borneensis Bornean leaf-nosed pit viper NE .

Elapidae Calliophis intestinalis Malayan striped coral snake LC n

Ophiophagus hannah King cobra VU n

Turtles Testudinidae Cyclemys dentata Asian leaf turtle NT n

Trionychidae Amyda cartilaginea Asiatic softshell turtle VU n

110

APPENDIX 14: LIST OF TREE SPECIES

Names of trees sampled in Bukit Batikap Protection Forest, including scientific name derived from the local names where possible with the help of the Bornean Orang-utan Survival Foundation (BOS) and Cheyne, unpub. data.

Family Scientific name Local name Family Scientific name Local name

Anacardiaceae Gluta sp Reggahas Lamiaceae Geunsia tetandra Kato Topung

Bouea opposito-folia

Tamehas

Lauraceae Dehaasia sp Pangowan

Dracontomelon dao

Tingkuan

Eusideroxylon zwagerii Ulin

Annonaceae - Mahawai phuti Leguminosae Koompassia excelsa Doho

Apocynaceae Dyera costulata Jelutong - Kasinut

Dyera costulata Tatong Koompassia malaccensis Kempas

Bombaceae Durio sp Durian Sindora sp Marijang

Burseraceae - Hongas Magnoliaceae Magnolia bintulensis Assam

Santiria laevigata Irat Michelia champaca Menyerau

Dacroydes sp karamu Meliaceae Aglaia sp Bunyo

Canarium sp Mahasom Sandoricum sp Papung

Casuarinaceae Casuarina sp Balau dysoxylum sp Uhai

Clusiaceae Garcinia sp Gandis

Moraceae Artocarpus odoratissi-mus

Binturung

Garcinia sp Kondis Artocarpus comando Bundut

Dilleniaceae Dillenia sp Salam Mohing Gambir

Dipterocarpaceae Dipterocarpus sp Bajan Artocarpus anisophyllus Poan

Dipterocarpus sp Bajanohith Artocarpus sp Sampang

Shorea pinanga Kangkawan z Lan-ing

Artocarpus sp Tampang

Dipterocarpus sp Karuing Myristicaceae - Kumpang deha

Shorea sp Katoi - Kupung

Shorea sp Kayu batu Myrtaceae Syzygium sp Jambu Burung

Shorea sp Kayu Matahri Syzygium sp Jambu Merrah

Shorea sp Kelapis Nauclea Rubiaceae sp Benken

Shorea sp Latang prengat - Kolo Lamba

Shorea sp Lutung Phyllanthaceae Baccaurea sp Kalibon

Shorea sp Meranti Aporusa sp Moloch

Shorea rugosa Pahan Baccaurea sp Poak

Shorea sp Propock/Maharoon Baccaurea sp Umbak

Shorea macrophyl-la

Tankawang

Baccaurea sp Unding Undang

Shorea sp Tehan Rubiaceae Anthocephalus cadomba Hotap

Euphorbiaceae Croton sp Balik Anging Sapindaceae Nephellium sp Lanamun

Mallotus sp Belanti Pometia pinnata Potamak

Macaranga sp Hasang Nephellium sp Takuho

Mallotus sp Klumpai Disoxylum sp Talonka

Neoscortechinia sp Pupu palanduk Dimocarpus sp Tenkuhith

Croton argyratus Tembalik ingin Sapotaceae Palaquium sp Nyatu

Fagaceae Lithocarpus sp Pampaning Simaroubaceae - Gading

- Tekarot - Gading Phuti

Sterculiaceae Heritiera sp Lambin

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