Nature Newsletter Edition Dec „10- Feb„11

MNS Mission : To promote the study, Chairman’s Message and his assistant Mah King Wah for appreciation, conservation and protection of rejuvenating this Special Interest Group ’s natural heritage, focusing on Dear Members, (SIG).It is hoped that members will show their biological diversity and sustainable Time flies, soon Christmas is development. support. approaching and a new year begins. Perak Casey Ng who has Branch has been existing for 40 years and the HELP the environment and opt to go paperless volunteered to form the “Communication by downloading this newsletter from website. To Society 70th anniversary has just been Department” for Perak Branch and the un-subscribe mailing of printed copy, please celebrated with a grand dinner where Perak inform editorial team at [email protected] mastermind behind the blog will be leaving us Branch was represented by 10 members who for Dubai next year. We wish him every had an enjoyable evening meeting members Highlights success in his new move. With his knowledge from other states and VIPs. 1. Chairman‟s message and creativity, he has done a lot for the branch; 2. SIG updates Quite a numbers of activities reactivating the branch with fresh ideas and 3. Quiz have been carried out, at the moment Taiping 4. Nature Info approaches. We feel sad that he is leaving us. 5. Branch updates Raptor Count is now into week 7 and a few Hopefully he will be back with us after his 18- more are on the cards. Please be reminded month stint in the Middle East. Merry Xmas that some activities cannot beplanned well Year-end vacation is here ahead. So please log on to our blog to get the Happy again. Do bear in mind to keep the latest news and updates. environment clean. Join our activities and New Year The Geology, Caving and talks. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Trekking Group led by Robin Leow has been 2011 quite active this year. He will be organizing Leow Kon Fah Gong Xi Fa Cai numerous caving exploration and talks from time to time. We have to thank Robin Leow Wildlife Crime Hotline 019 3564194

For latest info & contact - www.mnsperak.wordpress.com For membership renewal, please contact Wee Chin at [email protected] or call 03 2287 9422 1 planning development projects. course in January 2011 and everyone is On the Silver Plate….. invited to sign up. This 1-day course, limited to Census will be carried out at the following sites the first 30 paid-up participants, will include Slideshow : Across Borders on a date to be fixed by the respective team classroom work and field practice in Kinta Date/Time : 10 Dec 2010 (8.00pm-10.00pm) leaders (name and contact in brackets): Nature Park, . Lecture topics will Venue : No.5 Jalan , cover binoculars and how to use them, bird 1. Ulu Dedap ricefields, Kg. Gajah (Ooi Beng identification, field craft and where to see birds, Naturalist photographer Prof Emeritus K. Yean 017-508 2206) birding etiquette and bird conservation. Please Fletcher will take the audience along on a road 2. Kinta Nature Park, Batu Gajah (Dr Chan Kai see below for more information. trip through various national parks of southern Soon 012-531 5670) Thailand to share his exciting adventure with 3. ex-mining lands, Taiping (Lim Kim Date: Sunday 9 Jan 2011 (8.00 am – 6. wild elephants, fishing cats and many other Chye 016-553 8431) 00pm). unique creatures. The talk is open to members 4. Kuala Gula, Matang Forest Reserve (Lim Kim and the public. Admission is free. For more Chye 016-553 8431) Location: YMCA, Ipoh (morning) and Kinta details and seat booking, please 5. Malim Nawar ex-mining lands (Tan Ah Lai Nature Park, Batu Gajah (afternoon). email [email protected] or log 012-518 1929) on to www.mnsperak.wordpress.com 6. Taiping Lake Gardens (Ng Kok Keong 012 Who can join: Open to MNS members and 5147188) the public (children 12 years old and above) Asian Waterfowl Census (AWC) 2011 Those interested in picking up the finer Attire & things to bring: Pen and pencil, dull- points of waterbird identification and to help with coloured clothing, cap, covered footwear, Duration : January 2011 the counting, please contact the above persons water. Place: Various locations in Perak (see sites to confirm participation. listed below) Fee: RM10.00 (members); RM20.00 (non- Co-ordinator : Perak Bird Group members). Non-members who sign up to join Introduction to Birdwatching course, MNS on the spot will be reimbursed RM10.00. The Asian Waterfowl Census is an annual January 2011 Fee includes course materials, notepad and waterbird census carried out every January two coffee breaks but not lunch and transport throughout Asia by volunteers at their local Have you sometimes seen a colourful bird in to Kinta Nature Park. Registration close on 2 sites. In Malaysia, this citizen science project is your garden and wished you knew its name? Jan 2011. co-ordinated by MNS, with participation by How about that melodious call, owner unseen, birders from the various Bird Groups of the that greets you every morning like Registration: Please bank in the required Society. Analysis of data collected during AWC clockwork……..have you wondered what bird it amount into the Bird Group account: help Wetlands International, the organizer, in was? You now have a chance to find out more CIMB account no. 0826-0000716-05-1 long term planning for the conservation of about our birds and even learn their names. (Account name: Malaysian Nature Society waterbirds and their wetland habitats. The data The Bird Group of MNS Perak Branch will be Perak Branch). is also a useful tool for decision-makers when running the Introduction to Birdwatching

For latest info & contact - www.mnsperak.wordpress.com For membership renewal, please contact Wee Chin at [email protected] or call 03 2287 9422 2 Please either email the copy of the bank-in slip If you want to burn some calories, drag Eco-friendly Kangaroo Farts Could Help to K K Ng ([email protected]) or post it to: your friends and family members along to Global Warming K K Ng, participate in the Lighthouse Run. Most 25, Jalan Taman Lagenda,. interesting of all is you will be awed by the sight Taman Lagenda, of the raptors flying past. If you haven't While the usual image of greenhouse gas 34700 Simpang, Taiping participated in this event before, it is time to go. pollution is a billowing smokestack pushing Do plan early as resorts and hotels are usually out carbon dioxide, livestock passing wind For more information, please contact: fully-booked during TTRW. contribute a surprisingly high percentage of For more information, contact Ng Kit BG Co-ordinator: Lim Kim Chye (016-553 Wan [email protected] total emissions in some countries. 8431; [email protected]) or Australian scientists are trying to give BG Asst. Co-ordinator: Dr Chan Kai Soon I am a TREE kangaroo-style stomachs to cattle and sheep (012-531 5670; [email protected]) in a bid to cut the emission of greenhouse I gases blamed for global warming, researchers Tanjung Tuan Raptor Watch Week Am a tree. say. 12 – 13 March 2011 Thanks to special bacteria in their stomachs, Like you kangaroo flatulence contains no methane and The Tanjung Tuan Raptor Watch I breathe, scientists want to transfer that bacteria to Week is an annual event organized by MNS to watch raptors migrating back to the north after I reproduce. cattle and sheep who emit large quantities of wintering in Indonesia. I too need the warmth the harmful gas. Tanjung Tuan is a strategic place to Of the sun, watch these birds flying very low as they cross The wetness of the rain the Straits of Malacca, and resting before they Source : continue their journey to their home sites in The space to grow. China, Japan and Russia. This event helps http://www.kooky.com.my/node/1546 create bird conservation and environmental One difference between the two awareness for the public. of us Many exciting activities have Is that Good and bad side of the Baya Weaver been planned for these 2 days. From face painting to painting your own T-Shirt, Marine You need me The male partially builds several nests, then Walk (with a guide to explain the A-Z of marine More than I need you. tries to attract a mate. When a female chooses life by the beach), Nature Walk, sales of him, they finish one nest together. Once the nature-related merchandise and nature crafts, female is busy incubating the eggs, the male - all by the beach. You won‟t be starved as there will be ample food stalls. Pat Moon , Earth Lines abandons her to court another mate.

For latest info & contact - www.mnsperak.wordpress.com For membership renewal, please contact Wee Chin at [email protected] or call 03 2287 9422 3 The presentation is divided into 2 parts. Part The calcium carbonate of limestone is Silver Gallery 1 introduces what is limestone rock and the readily soluble in rain water producing karst conservation of limestone hills and caves. Part 2 topography which includes limestone Reliving the Legacy of Gunung Lanno is about caving in Totes Gebirge, Austria (an pavements, sink holes, dolines, karst towers, Speleological Expedition 2001 example of alpine karst) and Gunung Lanno, caverns and caves. Malaysia (an example of tropical karst). Limestone have many uses such as in On 24th Sep 2010 (Fri), the Geology, Generally, limestone is formed from making building blocks, dimension stones, Caving and Trekking SIG of MNS Perak accumulation of thick layers of calcareous aggregates, cement, lime, iron and steel launched its first programme by presenting a skeletons of marine invertebrates such as industry, fillers and pigments, glass industry, talk on "Reliving the Legacy of Gunung Lanno corals, sea urchins, brachiopods, bivalves, mineral supplement, precipitated calcium Speleological Expedition 2001" by the group crinoids and gastropods. Under compaction and carbonate and other industrial uses. Since team leader, Ramli Mohd Osman. Twenty one cementation these layers become bedded limestone have many uses, there is a conflict participants attended the presentation. The Limestone formation. between conservation and exploitation of content of the presentation is as follows: Limestone consists principally of calcium limestone hills. carbonate derived from the skeletons of marine Department of Mineral and Geoscience Part 1 invertebrates with impurities such as clay, silt, report (2008), noted that there are 308 quarries 8.00 pm - 9.00 pm: sand and iron. Dissolution of calcium carbonate in Malaysia. Sixty eight (22%) of these are 1. Introduction to limestone rocks - from the limestone leave behind red soils called limestone quarries. Of the 68 limestone composition and how they are formed terra rosa which is alkaline with pH greater than quarries in Malaysia, 34 (50%) are located in 2. The unique properties of limestone have 8. These soils accumulate in pockets, Perak, making the state of Perak having the created: depressions, and cracks and crevices of a highest number of limestone quarries in a. Unique limestone hill ecosystems - flora and limestone hill. Due to the presence of these Malaysia. The issue of conservation of fauna soils, plants would later colonize the hill. limestone hills and their associated caves are b. Unique karst topography - caves Dr. S.C. Chin, in his PhD thesis in 1977, therefore the highest in Perak. c. Uses of limestone identified 1216 species of limestone flora in Limestone is not exclusively found in Malaysia. d. Conflict of conservation and exploitation Peninsular Malaysia. Of these, 258 species It is found in all continents and most countries 3. Distribution of limestone (limestone hills, (21%) were identified to be exclusives. These in the world. Some of these countries produce karst topography, caves) in the world and plants require environment with high pH for the most magnificent of mountain ranges of Malaysia growth and survival. Among these 258 species, limestone such as Totes Gebirge in Austria 76 species were identified to be endemic to and spectacular caves such as Mammoth Part 2 Malaysia. Cave in Kentucky, USA, which is the longest in 9.00 pm - 10.00 pm: Invertebrates that are specially adapted to the world at 591km Reliving the Legacy of Gunung Lanno limestone hills are the snails that require It is estimated that there are 1,302 Speleological Expedition 2001 calcium carbonate to produce their shells. A limestone hills and 1,722 caves in Malaysia. 1. Totes Gebirge, Austria (Alpine Karsts) number of these limestone hill snails are also Perak has 80 limestone hills with 192 caves. 2. Gunung Lanno, Malaysia (Tropical Karsts) endemic to Malaysia. The highest number of limestone hills and

For latest info & contact - www.mnsperak.wordpress.com For membership renewal, please contact Wee Chin at [email protected] or call 03 2287 9422 4 caves in Perak is in the Kinta Valley that has 45 limestone hills and 135 caves. A Metabolic Marvel

Alpine karsts (example Totes Gebirge in During hibernation, the North Austria) have the following characteristics: American black bear does not wake 1. 10⁰C; low humidity up to eat, drink, urinate or defecate – 2. Sparse vegetation; caves are easy to find eventhough it may sleep for up to 130 3. Cave fauna are rare 4. Shafts are common days. 5. No stalactites, stalagmites, columns or Now biologists are studying its water based speleothems amazing metabolism to see if their 6. Physical weathering dominates - walls and findings can help with humanorgan ceiling rough preservation, kidney disorders and even long-distance space travel. Tropical karsts (example Gunung Lanno in Participants listening attentively Malaysia) have the following characteristics: 1. 30⁰C; 100% humidity 2. Dense vegetation; caves are not easy to find Quiz (hidden by vegetation) 3. Cave fauna are abundant 1. Which animal has a built-in baby 4. Shafts are rare. Caves are dominated by horizontal passages. carrier? 5. Stalactites, stalagmites, columns or water based speleothems are ubiquitous 6. Chemical weathering dominates - walls and 2. Which is the fastest animal ceiling smooth sprinter?

The international speleological expedition of 2001 that consists of 10 speleologists: 5 from 3. The Vulture also feeds on bones. Austria, 3 from Germany, 1 from Britain and 1 Ramli sharing his knowledge True or False? from Malaysia discovered, studied, surveyed and registered 36 caves in Gunung Lanno and 1 cave in Gunung Merawan. Should MNS members have any questions on 4. Frogs often hibernate at the bottom limestone hills and caves and associated fields of the pond or stream. True or By Ramli Mohd Osman relating to caves and limestone hills and future activities of GCT SIG, please feel free to inquire the False? team leader, Ramli Mohd Osman.

For latest info & contact - www.mnsperak.wordpress.com For membership renewal, please contact Wee Chin at [email protected] or call 03 2287 9422 5 Biospeleological and Speleogenesis temple and walked through the south gate to Assessment of Gua Cicak and Gua Tanah Gua Cicak. Trekking to Gua Cicak and the Merah neighboring cave Gua Tanah Merah require one to walk through some old rubber plantation These are the accounts of biospeleological and thick undergrowth at ground level. At the and speleogenesis assessment of Gua Cicak foothill of the caves, trekking up the slope of and Gua Tanah Merah conducted on 9 Gunung Lanno to these caves was not easy for October 2010 (Saturday). The assessment the thick vegetation of the slope. Nevertheless, team were Fletcher, Donna, Moon and I. Moon we were happy to know these caves are not was with the team only for Gua Cicak readily accessible thus lessen potential assessment. anthropogenic impact. Guided by the Expedition location Fletcher, Robin and Moon - at entrance of Introduction Gua Cicak Coordinates for the entrance of Gua Cicak we After the talk on "Reliving the Legacy of were mislead in an order of 70 meters. Both Gunung Lanno Speleological Expedition Gunung Lanno. Accessing to these caves Fletcher handheld GPS and my GARMIN Malaysia 2001" on 24 September 2010 require one to pass through private lands own GPSmap 60CSx confirmed that. (Friday), the Geology, Caving and Trekking by a number of land owners. Permission to Locating the main entrance of Gua Cicak (GCT) SIG attempt to conserve the limestone access into the these private lands were was done by instinct rather than relaying on hill of Gunung Lanno and its cave systems. requested from the biggest share owner of the the Expedition location coordinates. I took new This conservation attempt will be made land. location coordinates for the main entrances of between the Department of Land and Mines, On 9 October 2010 (Saturday) 8.00 am, the Gua Cicak and the nearby cave Gua Tanah Department of Minerals and Geoscience assessment team consisting of Fletcher, Donna, Merah. All new GPS readings and new [Geoscience Unit; Geology Heritage Sub-Unit] Moon and I met at Kwong Fook Ngan discoveries are listed below. and MNS Perak [Geology, Caving and Trekking SIG]. Gua Cicak was surveyed and documented in August 1998 and Gua Tanah Merah was surveyed and documented in November 2001 by Gunung Lanno Speleological Expedition Malaysia. From here on, all findings from Gunung Lanno Speleological Expedition Malaysia 2001 and that of 1998 shall be referred as Expedition. Gua Cicak and Gua Tanah Merah are among 15 other caves that are enclosed between two locked iron gates - one in the Donna, Fletcher and Moon - in the Chamber Scorpion - in the Chamber of Missing north and the other in the south west of of Missing Liphistius (Gua Cicak) Liphistius (Gua Cicak)

For latest info & contact - www.mnsperak.wordpress.com For membership renewal, please contact Wee Chin at [email protected] or call 03 2287 9422 6 Findings in Gua Cicak looked into the deep recesses Cave Racer that support predators such as trapdoor We wasted no time and head for the chamber Snake Passage we failed to find the snake. spiders and whip spiders. The presence of where the Expedition found 14 Liphistius Ting and I had looked for the racer in 2006 with many insects attracted geckos and spiders. tempurung (trapdoor spider) nests. Dr Helmut negative results. Listed below are comparison of The cave racer snake being the top most Steiner, the biospeleologist of the Expedition the Expedition found in August 1998 and what predator feed on the bats. was the one that found and document these we found in October 2010. Since 2006, there were no cave racer nests. Fletcher noted that these 14 Liphistius Cave fauna snake or bats or trapdoor spiders in the cave. Expedition found: Cave racer snake, bats, No other cave fauna were recorded during the whip spiders, spiders including trapdoor spiders, 2006 visit. In October 2010 in spite of the fact geckos and many gecko eggs, cockroaches, there are no bats or guano, we observed that many insects, relatively little there are millipede and cave crickets that guano. sustain predators such as the whip spider and scorpion. We have no idea the identity of the insect exoskeletons found in clumps and why they are found in such a way. Nor can we explain

Snail shells mortuary - in the Chamber of Missing Liphistius (Gua Cicak) tempurung might just be the only 14 left in world. In spite with the guide of the Expedition photograph of Liphistius nests location we failed to see any trace of the nests being there. Ting and I had looked for these nests in 2006 Cave cricket - in the Chamber of Missing with negative results. The present team Liphistius (Gua Cicak) members decided this particular chamber, We found: A scorpion, a whip spider, spiders, where the Liphistius tempurung nests were, cave crickets, a millipede, insect exoskeletons in should be called Chamber of Missing clumps, snail shell mortuaries, remain of 3 pairs Liphistius. of cave cricket exoskeleton legs. We continued to scout the rest of the cave for cave fauna. One particular fauna that we Interpretation of cave fauna diversity: looked for is the cave racer snake reported In August 1998 Gua Cicak was rich in cave during August 1998 Expedition. In spite we had fauna diversity. The presence of bats that Collapse breccia - at the entrance of Gua provided guano would sustain guano feeders Cicak

For latest info & contact - www.mnsperak.wordpress.com For membership renewal, please contact Wee Chin at [email protected] or call 03 2287 9422 7 why there are numerous heaps of snail shells Location coordinates Our coordinates at ground level determined by found in the Chamber of Missing Liphistius. Expedition coordinates of Gua Cicak main GARMIN GPSmap 60CSx: Speleogenesis entrance: N 04⁰ 31.258' Expedition noted: Gua Cicak was N 04⁰ 31.243' E101⁰ 08.479' speleogenetically connected to nearby Gua E 101⁰ 08.522' Elevation: 64m a.s.l. Tanah Merah. A rock fall has removed the Elevation: 75m a.s.l. Estimated accuracy: 4.4m connecting wall. Height above ground level: Not recorded Measurement counts: 493 Estimated accuracy: Not known Interpretation of GPS coordinates: We noted: There is a block of collapse breccia Measurement counts: Not known The difference in horizontal distance at the main entrance of Gua Cicak. This between the Expedition coordinates and our collapse breccia is not only restricted to the Our coordinates of Gua Cicak main entrance coordinates is 76 meters. Using our main entrance of Gua Cicak but found determined by GARMIN GPSmap 60CSx: coordinates, the height of Gua Cicak main cemented along the cliff of Gunung Lanno all N 04⁰ 31.247' entrance is 15 meters above ground level. the way to the entrance of of Gua Tanah E 101⁰ 08.481' Merah. Elevation: 79m a.s.l. Findings in Gua Tanah Merah Interpretation of collapse breccias: Height above ground level: 15m By 12.30 noon, Moon left the team because After the formation of Gua Cicak and Gua Estimated accuracy: 10.0m he has some important commitment that he Tanah Merah huge blocks of limestone that Measurement counts: 450 has to attend to. Fletcher, Donna and I form the connecting wall disintegrated into continued to assess Gua Tanah Merah. Listed rubbles or boulders and cobble sized Coordinates at ground level (arbitrary below are comparison of Expedition findings in fragments forming rock screes along the location at ground level) November 2001 and what we found in October limestone cliff between Gua Cicak and Gua Expedition coordinates at ground level: Not 2010. Tanah Merah. Over time these rock fragments known were cemented together by dissolution and deposition processes forming the collapse Our coordinates at ground level determined by breccias we see today at the entrances of the GARMIN GPSmap 60CSx: caves and along the cliffs between these N 04⁰ 31.258' caves. E101⁰ 08.479„ Elevation: 79m a.s.l. Anthropogenic impact Height above ground level: 15m Expedition noted: No anthropogenic impact Estimated accuracy: 10.0m was recorded. Measurement counts: 450 Coordinates at ground level (arbitrary We found: Little human interference. Except location at ground level) for some arrow markings on one or two walls Expedition coordinates at ground level: Not of the cave and one arrow marking on the cave known Whip spider - in the Chamber of floor there are no other damage to the cave. Missing Liphistius (Gua Cicak)

For latest info & contact - www.mnsperak.wordpress.com For membership renewal, please contact Wee Chin at [email protected] or call 03 2287 9422 8 Cave fauna rubbles or boulders and cobble sized The floor of the cave is generally of dry red Expedition found: No bat colony inside fragments forming rock screes along the mud which I interpreted as terra rosa - the cave. The cave was apparently barren of cave limestone cliff between Gua Cicak and Gua remain of dissolution of impure limestone. fauna. Tanah Merah. Over time these rock fragments There is nothing of value in this cave deposit. were cemented together by dissolution and Location coordinates We found: 5 bats, a whip spider, a piece of deposition processes forming the collapse Expedition coordinates of Gua Tanah Merah iridescence blue and gold beetle wing in the breccias we see today by the entrances of the main entrance: twilight zone of the cave, two moths at cave caves and along the cliffs between these N 04⁰ 31.238' entrance, patches of thin layer of guano caves. E101⁰ 08.514' deposit. Elevation: 73m a.s.l. Interpretation of cave fauna diversity: Anthropogenic impact Height above ground level: 14m The cave fauna diversity in Gua Tanah Expedition noted: There is evidence of Estimated accuracy: Not known Merah has increased over a period of 9 years. digging inside the cave most probably guano Measurement counts: Not known The presence of bats in the cave produce even though during the expedition no bat colony was seen inside the cave. Our coordinates of Gua Tanah Merah main patches of line layers of guano on the cave entrance determined by GARMIN GPSmap floor. This provide food for the guano feeders We found: A homemade galvanized zinc 60CSx: (we did not find any) that support the whip N 04 31.250' sieve, a galvanized tin can and a changkul ⁰ spider found in the cave. E101 08.487' blade. These are excavation and earth sorting ⁰ tools. It is not certain what they were used for. Elevation: 89m a.s.l. Speleogenesis Height above ground level: 25m Expedition noted: Gua Tanah Merah was Estimated accuracy: 9.8m speleogenetically connected to nearby Gua Measurement counts: 703 Cicak. A rock fall has removed the connecting Coordinates at ground level (arbitrary wall. location at ground level) We noted: There is a block of collapse Expedition coordinates at ground level: Not breccia at the main entrance of Gua Tanah known Merah. This collapse breccia is not only Our coordinates at ground level determined by restricted to the main entrance of Gua Tanah GARMIN GPSmap 60CSx: Merah but found cemented along the cliff of N 04⁰ 31.258' Gunung Lanno all the way to the entrance of E101⁰ 08.479' Gua Cicak. Elevation: 64m a.s.l. Estimated accuracy: 4.4m Interpretation of collapse breccias: Measurement counts: 493 After the formation of Gua Cicak and Gua Tanah Merah huge blocks of limestone that Millipede - in the Chamber of Missing Interpretation of GPS coordinates: form the connecting wall disintegrated into Liphistius (Gua Cicak) The difference in horizontal distance between

For latest info & contact - www.mnsperak.wordpress.com For membership renewal, please contact Wee Chin at [email protected] or call 03 2287 9422 9 the Expedition coordinates and our coordinates 2. Why are there so many snail shells heaps in 9. Continue to monitor the anthropogenic is 54 meters. Using our coordinates, the height the Chamber of Missing Liphistius? impacts on Gua Cicak and Gua Tanah Merah. of Gua Tanah Merah main entrance is 25 3. Identification of these snail shells. meters above ground level. 4. Determine the composition of the rock Conservation value fragments and matrix of collapse breccias. 1. Gua Cicak was once the habitat of 14 Among further works to be done and 5. Survey the length of the skylight shaft in the Liphistius tempurung, a species of trapdoor unresolved mysteries to be solved: Chamber of Missing Liphistius. spider that might be the only 14 left in the 1. What contribute to those clumps of insect 6. Survey the distance between the main world. exoskeletons in Chamber of Missing entrances of Gua Cicak and Gua Tanah 2. Gua Cicak was the only cave in Gunung Liphistius? Merah. Lanno cave systems that harbored a cave 7. More coordinate readings should to be racer. taken at ground level and at the main 3. Cave fauna diversity of Gua Tanah Merah entrances of Gua Cicak and Gua Tanah has increased over a period of 9 years with the Merah. This is important in determining the presence of 5 bats and accumulating guano. 4. accuracy of the locations of these caves for Gua Cicak is speleogenetically connected to speleogenesis interpretations. Gua Tanah Merah. The collapsed part of the 8. Continue monitoring the cave fauna diversity cave is now evidence by numerous collapse and population of Gua Cicak and Gua Tanah breccias at the entrances of Gua Cicak and Merah. The latter cave shows an increase in Gua Tanah Merah and along the cliff between cave fauna diversity over a period of 9 years. Gua Cicak and Gua Tanah Merah.

It is hoped that we do more conservation assessment of the caves in Gunung Lanno in the future. Gunung Lanno has been delineated as a quarry site. Gua Cicak and Gua Tanah Merah are just two of the 36 caves found in Gunung Lanno. High hope we can convince Department of Land and Mines and Department of Minerals and Geoscience that Gunung Lanno and its associated cave systems have conservation values.

I thanked Fletcher, Donna and Moon for their participation in assessing the conservation Fletcher and Donna - photographing a value of Gua Cicak and Gua Tanah Merah in Skyline - in the Chamber of Missing scorpion in the Chamber of Missing this trip. Liphistius (Gua Cicak) Liphistius (Gua Cicak) by Ramli Mohd Osman

For latest info & contact - www.mnsperak.wordpress.com For membership renewal, please contact Wee Chin at [email protected] or call 03 2287 9422 10 Festival Of Wings planting and river cruise etc. It has been a long, management! After a short briefing by the Kuala Selangor Nature Park long time since I last visited the park and it is station staff, we were off to watch the birds 23-24 Oct 2010 obvious that there had been a lot of changes to nearby. the facilities, thanks to the many corporate Another pleasant surprise was that we My wife and I went for the eight in this sponsorships. were allowed to take photographs of the birds series of MNS events organized at Kuala We walked round the exhibition booths and but not the station facilities. Unfortunately, we Selangor Nature Park. We drove off from Ipoh briefly listerned to the talks by David Bakewell were way too late in relation to the timing of the at about 7am in the morning, exited the Sungei (on bird migration) and by Balu high tide. By the time we started watching, Buloh toll Perumal (on mangrove almost all the waders were already roosting in and travelled system). Since our stomachs the ash pond and we missed the sight of along route were protesting we had to go thousands of birds coming in to roost. 54. The latter back to go back to Kuala Nonetheless, the bare ash pond surface is a narrow Selangor town to check into carpetted with thousands of waders was a sight winding road Melawati Ria Hotel, and then to behold, especially for first timers there. with fair to have lunch. These birds consist mostly of whimbrels, numbers of There were about 40 curlews, godwits and terns. lorries along people going for the Kapar In the evening, we walked round the lake the way and birdwatching event, including in the park. Lighting was poor due to the so by the time we reached the car park of our recently elected president. The bus started overcast sky. There were not much activities KSNP, it was already 10am. All parking lots off late and the driver had to slow down to ask or birds . The only migrant waders we saw were occupied and like many who arrived people where exactly were the around the same time, we had to park our cars to turn into the Common along the road in the adjacent housing estate. power station. Sandpiper By the time we walked to the Naturally and the amphitheatre where the opening ceremony we arrived later than Great was held, we saw the recently elected new intended and were Egret. Two MNS President and others leaving the place. further held up by the accipiters We just missed the opening ceremony!! security because of briefly Anyway, we promptly registered ourselves inadequate whizzed for the Kapar Birdwatching slotted for 2-4pm documentation. When over the and the Morning River Cruise for the we eventually reached trail, following morning. The event appeared to be the ash pond, we were causing well-received by the public and supported by pleasantly greeted by some alarm private corporations. MEPS sent a large a friendly team of staff among the contingent complete with banners. Most of the from the station, and everyone received a roosting Pink-necked Pigeons and Yellow- participants are from various schools and they gift pack with snacks, drinking water and vented Bulbuls. had been slotted for various talks, mangrove towels. Such a considerate act by the station

For latest info & contact - www.mnsperak.wordpress.com For membership renewal, please contact Wee Chin at [email protected] or call 03 2287 9422 11 At night, the Watchman at KSNP showed same spots, sometimes riding into the waves Close-knit Family us a very friendly Buffy Fish Owl which so that the boat will rock more violently. He stayed put even though cars and motorbikes indeed succeeded in getting some of us wet. dashed past under it. Later, we realized that it There was not much to learn from this Crested gibbons live in the forests of South- was actually a family of three birds and one cruise and I would not recommend it east Asia. They mature at about nine years, bird was to anyone. at which time they start to look for a mate. actually holding a catfish. After the cruise, we rushed back Once formed, a couple remains together for The next to our hotel to take a bath and then life. They mate only every two to three morning, it was went home. the much years. A young gibbon stays with its family awaited River By Chan Kai Soon for up to six years. Cruise but it turned out to be a big disappointment. Fascinating Courtship Rituals It was actually not much of a ● Western Grebes in North America ‘run’ cruise but just a short journey to the river Watch on Youtube : together over the water, standing bolt mouth. Some waders were seen on the upright. muddy river http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgC4jAB ● Herons worldwide pick p twigs and shake banks. About Cg-g them at prospective mates to advertise their 10 Lesser Adjutants were nest-building intentions. also seen and Evolving for the Modern World ● Female Grey Phalarope that breeds in the these Arctic practises role reversal by taking the appeared to be Evolution is usually a slow process but the lead in the courtship; she establishes a used to human fast-breeding animals can evolve quickly if territory and displays to attract a mate but presence too. their environment alters. However, leaves him to raise the young. there was In industrial regions, pollution has given an ● Male Greater Birds of Paradise in Papua practically unusually dark form of the peppered moth New Guinea pose motionless upon seeing nothing to see an advantage because its enemies find it an approaching female, in mid-courtship or learn once harder to spot against the grime. Since more display, until she picks one of them. we reach the rivermouth except for a few boats dark moths survive, the number of ark harvesting cockles. The boatman seems intent ● Male Adelie Penguins of the Antarctic on getting us nauseated and wet. He just species has greatly increased over the last woo a female by placing gifts of pebbles at made the boat turned round and round at the 200 years. her feet.

For latest info & contact - www.mnsperak.wordpress.com For membership renewal, please contact Wee Chin at [email protected] or call 03 2287 9422 12 Taiping Raptor Watch, 31 October 2010 Malayan Tapir’s Vanishing Trick

All the signs promised a good showing by the raptors – daily totals building over the THE MALAYAN TAPIR’s half-black, half- previous days and fine weather, with light tail white colouration may not look like winds on the morning itself – and we were not camouflage, but it is particularly effective. disappointed. At dusk and dawn, when the tapir is active, The 8th edition of the Taiping Raptor these colours actually break up the animal’s Watch held at Scott‟s Hill on Sunday 31 October was a crowd pleaser but not before outline in the jungle, making it hard for the some anxious waiting. After a slow start with a predators to see it. few passing Oriental Honey Buzzards and small hawks, the first flock of 10 Black Bazas The white ‘saddle’, although prominent in appeared at 1015 hrs, followed soon after by a daylight as a tapir rests, looks like a rock larger flock of 51. Thereafter, flocks began appearing from all directions, with the bazas when the animal is standing still. first spiraling up to gain height and then gliding silently in a stream overhead, appearing like Black area blends in with the darkness of planes on a bombing mission. The “baza twilight; the white area could be mistaken extravaganza”, with some flocks numbering Here comes the Bazas… …. for a patch of moonlight. more than 100 birds, had the watchers all excited and the photographers happily clicking total of 1,149 raptors counted. Black Bazas away. were still passing overhead as the participants, The lines and spots on the coat of the This year, we were able to drive up to including a family from Taiping Villa, left the young tapir merge with the dappled light of Scott‟s Hill, thanks to the Taiping Villa site. The few of us involved in the full season the forest floor. management which gave us permission to monitoring returned to Taman Lake View to enter their gated housing area to access the continue counting till 5.00 pm.

event site. We had an invited representative

from Majlis Perbandaran Taiping (MPT) with By Lim Kim Chye freeze

True. That’s where the water doesn’t doesn’t water the where That’s True. us and took the opportunity to talk about the 4.

spectacle of raptor migration as an eco-tourism

True. Very enterprising scavenger enterprising Very True.

and environmental event for Taiping. The For more information on birdwatching 3.

Cheetah

discussion was positive, with agreement activities, please contact Perak Bird Group Co- 2.

Kangaroo reached in principle to co-operate in organizing ordinator, Lim Kim Chye (016-553 8431; 1.

the 2011 TRW as a public event. [email protected]) At noon closing time, counters Hakim and QUIZ THE FOR ANSWERS Chiu had logged 1, 094 Black Bazas out of a

For latest info & contact - www.mnsperak.wordpress.com For membership renewal, please contact Wee Chin at [email protected] or call 03 2287 9422 13 Term 2010-2011 The Perak Branch invites applications for financial assistance to carry out bird conservation Office Bearers High Conservation Value (HCV) projects in Malaysia. Learn how you can benefit Sites In Perak from Tan Kean Cheong grant by contacting Chairman the Chairman at [email protected] Mr. Leow Kon Fah

Vice Chairman Mr Lee Ping Kong

Hon. Secretary Ms. Georgia Tham Yim Fong

Hon. Treasurer Mr. Har Wai Ming Perak Nature (PN) is a newsletter published for Committee Members membership internal distribution only. Members are Mr. Ooi Beng Yean invited to share their views of common interest and Mr. Casey Ng Keat Chuan contribute articles and images. Accuracy is the Mr. Ramli Mohd Osman contributor‟s responsibility. Mr Tou Jing Yi Ms Lee Yuat Wah Articles including the author and photographers‟ Mr. Manimaran Vadivelu names (max. 500 words),advertisements, digital images (100 dpi & no larger than 640 x 480 pixels & separately from the article), etc. must reach the Co-opted editorial team by the 15th of month. Dr. Chan Kai Soon Ms. Chong See Foon The editorial team reserves the right to edit for length and content. Send contributions to Hon. Auditor [email protected] or Mr. Liew Chin Chow The Malaysian Nature Society, MNS Perak Branch, PO Box 34, Ipoh Garden Post Office, 31407 Ipoh, Perak Nature Editor Perak, MALAYSIA For latest info & contact, please log on to Ms. Ng Kit Wan www.mnsperak.wordpress.com Lend a Hand - MNS Perak conducts conservation projects www.mns.my/state.php?sid=9 in these focus sites. If you live nearby these regions and Don‟t forget to register your email address to take part would like to volunteer, kindly contact us. in MNS Perak e-discussions http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MNSPERAK/ 14