AS-HOPE report

Number: AS-22-S009

Preliminary Wildlife Biodiversity Survey in Belum-Temengor Rainforest, Malaysia

Report: Fred Bercovitch

Date: 2010/10/20 - 2010/11/06

 The Belum-Temengor Rainforest region covers about 300,000 ha and is one of the largest continuous forested areas in Peninsular Malaysia. Yet, it is largely unknown to science, with the most recent biodiversity survey conducted in May/June 1998 by the Malaysian Nature Society. As part of the growing collaboration between the Pulau Banding Foundation [PBF], the Primate Research Institute [PRI], and the Malaysia Science University [USM], I conducted a brief field trip to investigate the prospects for long-term conservation biology research. We spent three days at the Sungai Enam Field Camp in Temengor, five days at the Sungai Kejar Field Camp in Belum, and three days at the Sungai Papan Field Camp in Belum. We saw numerous animal tracks, including tiger and tapir, heard a variety of animals, including different species of hornbills and gibbons duetting, and saw various animals, including a cobra, two herds of elephants, a muntjac [or barking deer], a black panther, two troops of dusky-leaf, or spectacled, langurs, otters, and a number of sightings of sea eagles. The expedition included students from USM, scientific staff from the Pulau Banding Rainforest Research Center, Perak State Park Rangers, and Recreation Officer/Trail Guides from Pulau Banding Rainforest Lodge. The trip was also an opportunity to develop further collaborations and investigate future possible research topics and programs with Professor Mashhor Mansor and others at USM, as well as to continue the conservation biology work established in the MOU between PRI and PBF.

An otter in Temengor Forest Reserve

The field camp at Sungai Papan in Belum Rainforest

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