Boy To Men

This was another one of my many sightings in recent Borneo trip. We saw a group of Pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina) while we were cruising the Kinabatangan river.



The macaques are just as curious as teenagers! They are curious about the changes in their body...

Elephant Tears

Found only in Borneo, the Borneo Pygmy Elephants (Elephas maximus borneensis ) are smaller and less aggressive than other Asian elephants. These elephants show a high level of tolerance to humans being in close quarters! I was less than 3 meters away when watching them feeding on the bay of Kinabatangan River. They have rounder faces, larger ears, and longer tail.
The primary threat to these elephants is the loss of habitat. The conversion of forest into plantations, logging activities & urbanization has increased the fragmentation of their feeding area. Contact with human has become more frequent when the elephants travel from one area to another.
According to the locals, the elephants have splited into 2 to 3 smaller groups and will get reunited once a year into big herds. They will spend some times together before breaking up again. Perhaps this is how the elephants adjust themselves to ensure food sustainability and yet remain bonded when they meet annually.

I have just too many questions about them unanswered! I wonder if there is any exchange of group members to maintain the male-female ratio due to attrition after the great annual party! They are believes to be able to remember (by smell) their enemies (those who have hurt them before) for life! How do they achieve that?


Whenever their enemy is nearby, they will show sign of aggresiveness & trumpeting non-stop to warn other elephants. There is so much to learn about this little & gentle giant!
Until someone really study them, these mysteries will remain unknown!

Cageless Caged Birds

These cockatoos (Cacatua goffini) are not native and are one of the many caged birds introduced to Singapore sometimes ago. They have now established themselves in quite a few area in Singapore. You may see them at Changi village, Pasir Ris, Buona Vista, Jurong, etc.
Another popular introduced caged birds is this Red-Breasted Parakeet (Psittacula alexandri). You may find them building nest in many road-side trees on many parts of Singapore! These feral birds have all chosen Singapore to be their new home!
What I'm puzzled was their 'head shaking' behavior. Aren't this is the normal behavior for caged birds when they lost their freedom and will shake their head out of boredom? Why this behavior still shown on feral birds?...