An intimate encounter with the Sulawesi Crested Macaque

 After a short break following lunch, we set out to explore the nature reserve as the sun began to set.

When we arrived at the entrance of the forest, we took the opportunity to review the guidelines provided.

The nature reserve rangers' office was closed since it was past regular hours.

However, we could hear some noise coming from the floor above and suspected that the office had turned into a playground for the crested black macaques.

One of our primary objectives was to observe these primates in their natural environment,

and we were eager to see them up close.

They have reddish-brown eyes, prominent cheekbones, and a long tuft of hair on their heads, which is why they are called Sulawesi Crested Macaques. Unusually for primates, they possess a very short tail that is nearly invisible. This likely explains why they spend over half of their time on the ground foraging for food and socialising.

As darkness fell, we continued deeper into the forest in search of another primate species, the Tarsier. Near the entrance, we noticed a striking monument honoring Alfred Russel Wallace, which celebrated his significant discovery of the Wallace line in 1859, a boundary that separates the biogeographical regions of Asia and Indonesia.

As night took over, the forest trail buzzed with life, featuring many frogs and millipedes.

We successfully spotted our second target of the day, the Tarsius tarsier, one of the smallest known primates.

By this time, the crested black macaques had likely retreated to their safe resting places for the night.

An Enchanting Revisit to North Sulawesi Awaits

Enthralled by the avifauna of Sulawesi, the prospect of returning is already in the works since my last visit twelve years ago. The idea gained momentum when I shared it with a friend of mine, Euphtw. After years of discussion, we finally booked our tickets and embarked on our journey.

Significant changes have transpired since my last visit to Tangkoko Nature Reserve in North Sulawesi. The only constant remains the rainfall. It was torrential on the day of our departure to Tangkoko.

Scoot is the sole carrier that offers direct flights to Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi, from Singapore. I opted for a simple tortilla wrap for breakfast during our flight to Manado.

Our arrival took approximately three hours and forty-five minutes. The immigration process was efficient, and I was pleasantly surprised to encounter advertisements in Chinese language. This usage of Chinese in the country has been largely absent for an extended period.

We were warmly welcomed by Mr. Freedy, the consistently friendly staff of ManadoSafaris, who has been my preferred guide since my initial visit two decades ago.

The journey from the airport to Tangkoko was significantly reduced by the completion of a new highway that traverses the region from east to west.

Mount Tangkoko, depicted on the right of the photograph, is the lowest among the Dua Saudara Volvanoes. It is believed to be a parasitic ash cone formed as a result of an eruption in 1893.

A notable distinction compared to my previous visit is the enhanced availability of superior accommodation options.

I was thoroughly impressed with the service and facilities provided during this trip.

In Sulawesi, each bird species is remarkably unique and likely endemic. To ensure we captured every sight, we diligently captured photographs, which unfortunately revealed a Red Jungle-fowl, not included in the list of endemic birds. Can't wait to explore this Endemic Bird Area (EBA) again.