22 | Environment TUESDAY August 27, 2013 Chasing the ‘cendrawasih’, or 39 ways to woo your lover

Christian Razukas opy 50 meters up. “To really get the THE JAKARTA POST right perspective, you need to get up in the trees.” im Laman is a Harvard- Tree climbing and Indonesian trained biologist, but he fl uency were skills Laman cultivated talked about a lot of num- during fi eld research for his doctor- bers at the @america cul- ate in Kalimantan in the late 1980s. Ttural center on Thursday when Meanwhile, Scholes, the only scien- describing the eight years he spent tist studying live birds of paradise, chasing birds of paradise in Indone- spoke Melanesian Papuan and knew sia and Papua New Guinea. how to fi nd cendrawasih in the rain- Laman and his partner, Cornell forest, he adds. University ornithologist Edwin An eye for heights led to a real dis- Scholes III, spent 544 days in the covery when looking for the Bronze fi eld, racking up 18 expeditions to 51 Parotia bird of paradise in the Foja sites — and 200 trips by plane, 58 by Mountains in Papua. boat and 33 by helicopter. The parotia displays on the In the end, Laman, who is also ground for females who sit on a renowned National Geographic perches overhead. Thinking he wildlife photographer, says that the might be missing something, Laman © Tim Mann key number is considerably less: built a bamboo ladder and placed a Stunning: Laman says that this shot of a Greater Bird of Paradise taken in the Aru Islands in Papua is among his favorites. “The sun popped out from behind “It’s really all about 39 ways to woo camera above. the clouds and I saw the picture I dreamed of happening before me.” your lover.” On the last day of the trip, Laman Laman is the fi rst person to hit paydirt: His camera revealed that poles — no more or the birds would Doctors who treated Scholes after capture on camera live birds the parotia displayed previously un- know. he was medevaced to Australia fi ve of paradise, or cendrawasih, exposed blue and yellow feathers on “I didn’t know the birds could days later said that the ornitholo- from all 39 species, waiting as its back to the females above. count.” Laman laughs. gist had been lucky: The drugs he long as 80 hours in a makeshift No one had observed that before, Laman then climbed another tree was taking to fi ght malaria and giar- shelter to photograph a bird for just Laman said. The feathers’ use had by the birds’ perch, where he hid a dia likely had kept him alive after 90 seconds. been a mystery. remote-controlled camera inside two the rupture. The famously colorful feathers The birds are “one of those spe- leaves stitched together by rottan. Laman is upbeat about the future of the male birds of paradise at- cies that people can get motivated The next day, while capturing of the birds of paradise. While three tract females, who are generally about because they are so beauti- images of the birds around sunrise species are endangered in Papua brown and non-descript and build ful,” Laman said, showing a video as they appeared on the perch to New Guinea, none of the 27 species their nests alone. Males are chosen of a 12-Wired Bird-of-Paradise that display, Laman said he saw a grand endemic to Indonesia are, although to breed based on their plumage, used a dozen extremely long and opportunity as a photographer. several are threatened. which has evolved explosively — fi lament–thin feathers extending “The sun popped out from behind Hunting by local communities is and gorgeously. from his wings to delicately caress the clouds and I saw the picture I not the biggest threat to the birds, Laman’s expeditions, backed by a female. dreamed of happening before me.” although it would be nice if the gov- National Geographic and the Cor- The birds were introduced to Laman said he was not too wor- ernment could crack down on it, nell Lab for Ornithology, resulted in Europe by sailors from Magellan’s ried about snakes or other animals Laman says. Destruction of natural a book titled Birds of Paradise: Re- voyage to circumnavigate the globe when in the fi eld. “Part of life in the habitats remains the biggest prob- vealing the World’s Most Extraordi- in the early 16th century, Laman said. jungle.” More scary, he said, was lem. nary Birds, published last year. Stopping in Ternate, the expedi- © Tim Mann when Scholes had his appendix Laman is also upbeat on the po- “There were many [other] expe- tion captain — Magellan had been In the field: Ed Scholes (left) and Tim Laman pose while waiting to see burst on a separate expedition in the tential for ecotourism to inspire lo- ditions that went to shoot them,” La- speared to death in the Philippines a bird of paradise in their blind, or temporary shelter. Papua New Guinea highlands with cal communities to bring people to man said. But those naturalists and at that point — received a cendrawa- just two others. see the cendrawasih with their own explorers shot the birds of paradise sih skin as a gift from the nearby Sul- drawasih must fl oat in heaven, call- He and Scholes were taken into “They didn’t have enough help to eyes. “People going to watch birds dead and took the skins back to mu- tan of Bacan. ing them the birds of paradise. the rainforest to fi nd their target, carry him out,” Laman said. “They in the forest are not going to disturb seums in Bogor, New York or Lon- The birds were named after the Laman says that the most strik- the Greater Bird of Paradise, by lo- had a satellite phone and were able the birds too much.” don. “I was the fi rst to photograph odd way their skins were prepared, ing image from his trips was taken cal residents, who climbed into the to call one of their colleagues in all the species alive.” according to Laman: The wings and on Wokan in the Aru Islands, about mountains to meet them. town who was able to arrange for a Laman notes that the only shoot- legs were removed to display their 100 kilometers southwest of Papua, About 50 meters up near the helicopter — but they did not have Laman’s talk can be viewed at ing he does is with a bow and arrow plumage. People in Europe, con- where the naturalist Alfred Russel birds’ display perch, the guides built a helipad, so the helicopter had to atamercia.or.id and signed copies of — to send climbing ropes to where fused about exactly how wingless Wallace was the fi rst European to the scientists an observation post drop axes so they could cut down his book with Scholes are available the birds are atop the rainforest can- birds could fl y, thought that the cen- see a displaying bird of paradise. with a fl oor comprising 12 bamboo trees.” from timlaman.com.

DISASTER In the Philippines, Cebu fi ghts oil slick from collision

ANN/Philippine Inquirer VISAYAS ebuanos are racing against time to stop the spread of an Coil slick that endangers ma- rine life in a coastal municipality on Mactan Island in the Philippines, where the livelihood of 5,000 fi sher- men is on the line. Local offi cials have been ap- pealing for sawdust, coconut husks, feathers, hair, stockings and used clothing that can be used for makeshift oil spill booms to stop the spread of oil from a sunken pas- senger vessel that went down after being rammed by a cargo ship on Aug. 16. These materials were identifi ed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as environment-friendly oil absorbent. The appeal didn’t fall on deaf ears. ANN/Philippine Star A six-wheel truck delivered saw Abandon ship: Life boats from the St. Thomas Aquinas paddle in front of dust from furniture companies the Sulpicio Express after their collision. from the Mactan Export Zone to Cordova town, which was worst hit On regular days, Sumagang said ies and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) by the oil slick. a fi sherman could earn a minimum director in Central Visayas, said his The Tuburan municipal gov- of P200 a day. If they were lucky, offi ce had set aside P1.4 million in ernment delivered a truckload of he added they could get as much as livelihood assistance for the affected coconut husks while private estab- P1,000 a day. fi shermen in Cordova. lishments in Barangay Mabolo in Sumagang, head of Namasba, said He said the livelihood programs Cebu City sent drums and oil ab- even their fi sh pen was hit by the oil would include mangrove potting sorbent fi bers to Cordova, while the slick and killed most of the fi sh that and planting. The regional BFAR Golden Prince Hotel sent 300 used ANN/Philippine Star were due for harvest next month. would also provide fuel to fi sher- bedsheets and Cebu Private Power Ruined: Oil from the sunken MV St. Thomas Aquinas reaches the shores of Cordiva town on Mactan Island, Cebu. He said their group lost P330,000 men so they could fi sh in areas not Corp. donated absorbent pads, ab- The municipality is located in front of Talisay City, where the vessel sank. for the 2,000 pieces of grouper that affected by the oil slick. sorbent booms and chemical gloves. were found fl oating in the fi sh pens At least 120 households are seen The 1,650 inmates at Cebu Pro- Norte, was rammed by cargo ship has declared a state of calamity in beach resorts in the city, which Mac- and P15,000 for the 3,000 pieces of to benefi t from the initial BFAR live- vincial Detention and Rehabilita- MV Sulpicio Express Siete of the the entire province after the oil slick tan Island is famous for. dead rabbitfi sh. lihood assistance. tion Center (CPDRC) even volun- Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corp. reached 12 of 13 villages in Cordova Guests were advised to stay out Namasba has 69 members with In the meantime, a massive teered to have haircuts on Thursday around 9 p.m. on Aug. 16 while town and portions of Talisay and of the water while resorts used old more than 100 dependents. cleanup drive was launched by local so they could donate their hair to entering the Mactan Channel off Lapu-Lapu cities. towels and bed sheets in collecting Rodrigo Agasita, Namasba liaison government units, military, police, Cordova town. Lawis Ledge, Talisay City, just 3.2 An assessment report showed oil before this reached the shore. offi cer, raised fears that with their Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and So far, ABS-CBN has been able to kilometers from the port. that 328 hectares of mangroves con- Because of the oil slick, the liveli- main source of livelihood gone, they concerned citizens to remove the oil send eight dump trucks full of indig- The Thomas Aquinas sank a few tracted by nine people’ organiza- hood of 5,000 fi shermen in Cordova might not be able to feed their chil- slick from Mactan waters. enous materials, mostly human and minutes after it was rammed. As of tions in Cordova town and one in was put on the line. dren who have to go to school. On Wednesday, some residents, dog hair, chicken feathers, saw dust Thursday, 75 bodies have been re- Lapu-Lapu City were destroyed. Fisherman Roger Sumagang said Sumagang said they received each policemen and soldiers installed im- and used clothing. trieved while 46 remained missing. Most mangroves were less than a he stopped fi shing on Aug. 17, a day an initial kilo of rice on Tuesday but provised spill booms. The oil collected will be given More than 500 passengers were meter tall and had died due to lack after the sinking of the Thomas it was barely enough to feed a family A team of Japanese salvage ex- to cement plants in Naga City and rescued. of carbon dioxide required during Aquinas because oil covered the with six children. perts, also arranged by the fi rm 2GO, San Fernando town in southern But, oil started to leak from the photosynthesis and heat generated catch he had when he tried to fi sh. Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy which owns the Thomas Aquinas, Cebu and will be used to run their sunken ship, which was loaded with by the oil slick. Consumers also refused to buy told the affected fi shermen that they arrived on Aug. 20. The team in- machines. 20 tons of diesel oil and 120 tons of Three villages in Lapu-Lapu — any sea product — shellfi sh and would continue to receive food as- cludes technical divers and an ex- Passenger vessel MV St. Thomas bunker oil. Calawisan, Babag, and Suba-basbas fi sh — after learning that these were sistance from the municipality. pert in salvaging oil from sunken Aquinas of 2GO, from Agusan del Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III — were also affected as well as some caught in the area, he added. Andres Bojos, Bureau of Fisher- vessels.