I have just returned from a week at Kuala Belalong Field Studies centre where I was assisting PhD student Natasha Mannion with setting up and retrieving both camera traps and songmeters from the pristine forests surrounding the centre. Today I resume work on my own project. In a couple of hours I will be conducting a driven transect from the East to West border of Temburong, Brunei. Transects are primarily in search of roadkill, but we also see and record plenty of live mammals spotted along the roadsides or crossing.
On Sunday/Monday I will be retrieving and redistributing my cameras set up to monitor presence/absence of mammals on the main road. I’m having a truly incredible time in Brunei. I am learning so much through both my own project and my involvement in Tasha’s work. I’m also learning and experiencing a lot about the local culture here by interacting with the local people. For example, earlier today we passed by a family from one of the Long Houses who had come together to tidy up their park space. The family welcomed us to join them by a large fishing pond where we were offered homegrown Durian fruit to try. Before covid19, the family welcomed guests for cultural experiences at their home in the Long House, so hopefully we may be able to visit them here before heading home.
Modes of travel and fieldwork activities:
