We arrived in camp on the 7th October 2010 and were all excited as we got off the kelotok and walked up the railway into camp. Our first intrepid steps into the forest were quite a shock - it was so wet everywhere and the red peaty water sparkled beautifully in the sunlight.

During our first few days of work we would all come back to camp eagerly discussing what wildlife we had seen. My most exhilarating moment came when I first saw Feb, a stunning female orangutan and her 6 month old baby clinging to her body. I couldn’t believe I was watching a wild orangutan peacefully eating in my presence. I felt so privileged.

Since that moment there have been many more special times when we have watched fleeing pig-tailed macaques, a tense fight over territory between 3 groups of gibbons, a successful follow of the ever elusive kelasi, being growled at by a sun bear and trapped on a transect by an angry, flanged male orangutan who kiss-squeaked at us in fury. In addition to this, there have been times of awe where we have seen a Malay civet travelling surreptitiously and with ease in the tree canopy, a Malay brown snake fight and kill a corrugated water snake, deadly looking scorpions prowling in camp and a strikingly beautiful green Waglers pit viper. Everyday we see beautiful butterflies, dragonflies and moths as well as sightings of colourful birds from Bornean bristle heads, hornbills, trogons and sunbirds to kingfishers, babblers and malkoas.

All in all, this has been an experience greater than I could have ever imagined and feel honoured to have been part of it. A big thank you goes out to everyone at camp and all of the people who organise the Tropical Peatland Project - long may it last in its vital conservation role.


Anna Triggol - Group 3 2010