Asian Glossy Starling
Aplonis panayensis
Glossy Tree/Philippines Glossy/Red-eyed Starling,
Perling/Perling Mata Merah (Malay)

Asian Glossy Starlings eat mainly soft fruits (papaya, banana, mangos) and berries, and sometimes insects. They are particularly fond of figs.

Slim bodied birds with narrow wings, they fly rapidly and may travel long distances to fruiting trees. They forage high in the tree tops and only occasionally land on the ground, usually to eat fallen fruit. On the ground, they walk rather than hop, and do so awkwardly.

Like others in their family, Asian Glossy Starlings are highly gregarious. They feed and roost in flocks of about 20. The flocks are compact and move quickly. Before settling down, they often perform displays over their roosting tree; wheeling in impressive twists and forming symmetrical patterns. It is believed that this helps the flocks identify the location of the roost.
Like their relatives the Mynas, the Asian Glossy Starling can also mimic the calls of other birds. In bright sunlight, their glossy plumage has an iridescent shine, changing to green, purple or black as they move about.

Breeding: Asian Glossy Starlings breed year round, with a peak in March-June. These gregarious birds nest in colonies preferring sheltered places high above the ground. Mainly tree holes (including holes made by woodpeckers) but also the crowns of palm trees, thickets of epiphytic ferns growing on trees, and even under the eaves of a house or other man-made structures. When a hole is used, only a bit of grass might be added. Otherwise, the nest is more elaborate, made of grass, waste paper and other rubbish. 3 blue eggs with dark brown spots are laid.

Migration? Asian Glossy Starlings don't migrate but migrating Purple-backed (Sturnus sturnius) and White-shouldered (S. sinensis) Starlings sometimes join Asian Glossy Starling flocks during the migration period.

Status and threats: Asian Glossy Starling are not at risk as they have adapted well to human habitation and large flocks can even be found in urban areas. They prosper in cultivated areas including gardens and parks. They are often considered a pest on fruit plantations.

Rafflesia pricei

Rafflesia Pricei

Distribution

• Lowland forests in Malaysia. In Sabah and Sarawak, also reported from highland areas
• Seven out of fifteen species worldwide of Rafflesia can be found in Malaysia.

• R.cantleyi and R.kerrii are found in Peninsular Malaysia whereas R.arnoldii, R. pricei, R. keithii, R. tuan-mudae and R. tengku-adlinii in Sarawak and Sabah. R.kerrii, R. keithi, R. tuan-mudae and R. tengku-adlinii are endemic to Malaysia.

Description

• The world’s largest flower weighing about 9 kg and almost 1 meter wide
• Totally dependent on one particular vine called Tetrastigma (related to the grapevine)
• The Rafflesia is a disembodied flower. A rootless, leafless and stemless parasite, it drains nourishment and gains physical support from its host vine. Its only body outside the flower consists of strands of fungus-like tissue that grow inside the Tetrastigma vine. It first manifests itself as a tiny bud on the vine's stem.
• Over a period of 12 months, it swells to a cabbage-like head that bursts around midnight under the cover of a rainy night to reveal this startling, lurid-red flower. Beauty turns beastly in only a few days. The Rafflesia only flowers for 5 to 6 days, before the petals blacken and the flower withers. The "flowering beast" begins to smell like rotting meat, attracting blue bottle flies for pollination.

Threats

• Most species are highly localised and are therefore vulnerable to extinction because of habitat disturbance and host cutting from activities such as land clearing, logging, and ethnobotanical collecting. The first two activities are important in threatening the Bornean species, while in the peninsular over-collecting by local people who sell the buds for medicine is apparently the greatest threat.

Conservation

· Because of its rarity, knowledge of the biology and ecology of Rafflesia has been slow to accumulate. Even today, little is known about its reproductive biology and distribution, which in itself poses many problems for its conservation.

· As Rafflesia is found in only a handful of localities, its long-term survival is now seriously threatenend by the depletion of the Malaysian rainforest.

· Recent successes from Sabah have indicated that Rafflesia can be artificially grown on host plant!

· Several areas where the Rafflesia spp. are protected includes Kinabalu Park and Crocker Range Park in Sabah and Gunung Gading National Park in Sarawak. To a certain degree, it maybe protected within Taman Negara but the species is certainly found in the Proposed Ulu Muda and Belum Conservation Areas in Peninsular Malaysia

Borneo Elephant

The Borneo Elephant or Borneo Pygmy Elephant Elephas maximus borneensis is a subspecies of the Asian Elephant and found in north Borneo (east Sabah and extreme north Kalimantan).

The origin of Borneo elephants was controversial. Two competing hypotheses argued that they are either indigenous, or were introduced, descending from elephants imported in the 16th–18th centuries. In 2003, mitochondrial DNA research has discovered that its ancestors separated from the mainland population during the Pleistocene, about 300,000 years ago. The Borneo elephant became isolated from other Asian elephant populations when land bridges that linked Borneo with the other Sunda Islands and the mainland disappeared after the Last Glacial Maximum, 18,000 years ago.
Since the Borneo elephant became isolated it has become smaller with relatively larger ears, longer tails, and relatively straight tusks. It is smaller than all the other subspecies of the Asian elephant. The Borneo elephant is also remarkably tame and passive, one reason scientists had thought it was descended from a domestic collection.
Wild Asian elephant populations are disappearing as expanding human development disrupts their migration routes, depletes their food sources, and destroys their habitat. Recognizing these elephants as native to Borneo makes their conservation a high priority and gives biologists important clues about how to manage them.In Aug 2007 it was reported that there are probably not more than 1,000 pygmy elephants left in Sabah, after a 2 year study by WWF.

Indochinese Tiger - Panthera tigris corbetti

The Indochinese Tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti) is more commonly known as the Indochinese, or Malayan tiger, and was recognized as a subspecies as recently as 1968 from a tiger discovered in the vicinity of a coastal town in Central Vietnam. Corbetti is a smaller, darker, and less boldly striped tiger than the Bengal subspecies found in India. Males can reach a length of 9 feet and may obtain weights in excess of 400 pounds. Female Indochinese Tigers like other female tiger subspecies, are smaller then their male counterparts. Females achieve a head to tail length of eight feet and weigh approximately 250 pounds.
The Indochinese Tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti) is more commonly known as the Indochinese, or Malayan tiger, and was recognized as a subspecies as recently as 1968 from a tiger discovered in the vicinity of a coastal town in Central Vietnam. Corbetti is a smaller, darker, and less boldly striped tiger than the Bengal subspecies found in India. Males can reach a length of 9 feet and may obtain weights in excess of 400 pounds. Female Indochinese Tigers like other female tiger subspecies, are smaller then their male counterparts. Females achieve a head to tail length of eight feet and weigh approximately 250 pounds.
The largest wild populations of Indochinese Tigers now live in Thailand. They also inhabit southern China, Myanmar (Burma), Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Within this range, corbetti inhabits the remote forests hills and mountainous terrain of the region. Much of this terrain lies between the borders of multiple countries with extremely limited access. Due to the restricted status of these areas, biologists have only recently been granted permits to study this rare feline in the field. As a result, very little is known about the status of this subspecies and its behaviors in the wild.
The Indochinese tiger needs protection in order to survive and continued implementation of sound conservation efforts to save the species from becoming extinct in the wild. Let us all hope that the various captive management programs are successful in their attempts to save this unique subspecies of tiger. Without human intervention and global protection, the Indochinese Tiger will surely become extinct.
Scientific Name: Panthera tigris corbetti
Range: Southern China, Myanmar (Burma), Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Average Weight:
Female: 100kg - 130kg (221 - 287 pounds)
Male: 150kg - 195kg (330- 430 pounds)
Size (Length):
Female: 2.31m-2.64m (7'-7"- 8'-8")
Male: 2.57m-2.84m (8-5"- 9'-4")
Diet: All tigers are carnivorous. Indochinese tiger's prey consists mostly of antelope, wild boar, wild pigs, and a variety of other hooved mammals indigenous to their territory areas.
Gestation Period: 100-119 Days (Averaging 103 Days)
Cub Maturity: 18 months - 2 Years
Cubs Per Litter: (Usually 2-3 cubs) Cubs are born blind and weigh 2-3 pounds. 18-26 month intervals.
Lifespan: 14-16 Years
Predators: Man
Social Structure: Solitary, except during mating season. Male territory may sometimes overlap.
Territory Size: 257km (160 miles)
Population (Wild): 1,000 - 1,800
Captive (SSP): 50-70 in Zoos worldwide
Conservation Status: CITES Appendix 1. (All wildcats are listed on CITES Appendix I or II).

Orang Utan

Pongo Pygmaeus

Once found throughout Southeast Asia, this species of ape now survives only in small populations across the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. The Orang utan is the largest tree dwelling mammal.

A dominant male ranges over a large territory mating with several females who give birth to a single offspring, weighting about 4 lbs every three to six years. The gestation period for the orang utan is 233 - 265 days. A mother spends years rearing the infant, and may have only two or three in a lifetime which undoubtedly adds to their diminishing numbers.

The male orang utan grows to around 5ft tall and can weigh up to 200 pounds. Females however only reach half that size. Orang utans reach maturity at 7 - 10 years of age and can live in the wild up to 40 years old.

The orang utan is almost completely arboreal (tree-dwelling), which is why it is found in the lowland forests of Borneo and Sumatra. They have no tails and therefore cannot jump. They navigate round the canopy by climbing and swinging from tree to tree.

They are highly intelligent animals and possess great strength, their strong hands and feet, which can grip like hands, are supremely adapted to life in the trees. Using their long arms, which span between 7-8ft across, they gracefully swing through the forest canopy.

These apes make a fresh nest in the crown of a tree every night and rarely come to the ground to drink – drinking instead the water that collects in tree holes.

Wreathed Hornbill (Aceros undulatus)

Wreathed Hornbill (Aceros undulatus)
Family: BUCEROTIDAE
Hornbills are large, black or brown, and white, mainly arboreal birds, with long, heavy bills. Many species have large protuberant casques on top of the bill which may be gaudily coloured. Hornbills are found throughout Africa and tropical Asia, and throughout Indonesia to New Guinea. They eat fruit and insects and have harsh, penetrating calls.

The nesting habits of the family are interesting. The incubating females are usually sealed into tree hole nests with mud, leaving only a small aperture through which food can be passed by the male. When the young are hatched the female breaks out but reseals the nest entrance again until the young are ready to leave. Ten species of hornbill occur in Sumatra, eight in Borneo, but only three are found in Java.

Description: Large (100cm) white-tailed hornbill. Both sexes have black back, wings, and belly, but male has creamy head with reddish plume from the nape, and naked yellow gular pouch with a distinct black stripe. Female has black head and neck, and blue gular pouch.
Iris-red; bill-yellow with small corrugated casque; feet-black.

Voice: A repeated, short, hoarse, dog-like double yelp koe-guk.

Range: E India, SW China, SE Asia, Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra, Java, and Bali.

Distribution and status: In Borneo and Sumatra this is a fairly common bird of lowland and hill forest, up to 2000 m. In Java and Bali it is rather local.

Habits: Flies in pairs or small flocks over the forest with heavy wing-beats, seeking fruiting trees. Often mixes at feeding trees with other hornbills.

Malayan Sun Bear

VANISHING IN THE WILD: MALAYAN SUN BEAR

The smallest bear in the world, an adult male Malayan sun bear is about 4 feet (1.2 m) tall when standing on its hind legs and can weigh up to 140 pounds (64 kg). Despite their small size, sun bears can be very dangerous.

Species Description and Natural History

Named for the golden crescent, or "U" shaped golden patch on their chest, sun bears are otherwise all black with smooth, short fur. They are increasingly rare residents of tropical rain forest in southern China, Burma, Malaysia, Sumatra, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Borneo.

Malayan sun bears are skillful climbers, aided by long sickle-shaped claws on all four feet. These extremely long claws -- up to six inches -- allow the bears to dig for honey and grubs, which they lick up using their long tongues. The bears are omnivores. Their diet also includes fruits, insects, small mammals, and birds. Sun bears sometimes will damage coconut palm, banana, and cocoa plantations through foraging. They usually are nocturnal creatures. Smell is the sun bear's most important sense and their eyesight is not very good.

Causes of Endangerment

Many bear species suffer from excessive killing and dramatic habitat loss worldwide. There are eight species of bears in the world: Malayan sun bear, Asiatic black bear, spectacled bear, American black bear, giant panda, sloth bear, polar bear, and brown bear. The northern brown bears have been eliminated from half their former range. Certain Asian bear species are struggling to survive with 75 percent of their former habitat gone. Even the polar bear, seemingly isolated in the Arctic, may be threatened by pollutants in the food chain and proposed oil development in denning areas.

Habitat Loss

The majority of the Malayan sun bear's forest habitat has been destroyed by logging and conversion to agriculture. In addition to leveling the forest, logging roads create convenient access for poachers. As natural food sources disappear, sun bears are driven by hunger to forage for food on farms and plantations, where they are shot or trapped by angry farmers.

Overexploitation

The demand for bear products is the greatest threat to all bears. Traditional Asian medicine prescribes bear fat, gall, meat, paws, spinal cord, blood, and bones for complaints ranging from baldness to rheumatism. Bear entrees are popular in restaurants, and sun bear paws are favored in Taiwan for soup. The trade in bear gall in particular is so highly profitable that it has been likened to the heroin trade, as dried gall can sell for 18 times the price of gold.

In addition, Malayan people often keep sun bears as pets. The mother bears are killed in order to obtain cubs young enough to tame.

Conservation Actions

Trade Regulation Although many countries have banned trade in bear products, the governments of South Korea and Taiwan, home to some of the most devoted consumers of bear products, are not parties to CITES. The belief in the medicinal properties of bear products is so firmly rooted in some cultures it is virtually impossible to change. A more concentrated and effective synthetic version of one ingredient of bear gall is widely available and less expensive, but its availability has not reduced the demand for bear gall.