17 Apr, 2023
ANIMALS OF KEHJE SEWEN ROUNDUP!
BIODIVERSITY
Our Post-Release Monitoring (PRM) team located in the Kehje Sewen Forest, East Kalimantan, has encountered a variety of wildlife over the last 14 years. These animals coexist and all play a unique role in maintain the delicate balance of the Kehje Sewen Forest ecosystem:
Asian Giant Tortoise (Manouria emys emys)
The Asian giant tortoise (Manouria emys emys) is the largest tortoise found in Asia, with its shell distinguishing it from other species. It has strong, sturdy legs covered in coarse scales, which help protect it from thorns and other sharp objects as it pushes through rough vegetation on the forest floor. It is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) as a ‘Critically Endangered’ species. Read more about Asia's largest tortoise.
Helmeted Hornbill (Rhinoplax vigil)
The helmeted hornbill (Rhinoplax vigil) is the only species of hornbill with a casque made of solid keratin. It is found in the semi-evergreen and evergreen lowland forests of Borneo, Sumatra, and the Malay Peninsula. Hornbills are known as ‘farmers of the forest’, for their part in spreading fruit seeds. Unfortunately, this bird is the most endangered hornbill species in Indonesia. Read more in this article, Helmeted Hornbill: The Symbol of Loyalty In Dayak Culture.
Plain Nawab (Polyura hebe)
The plain nawab (Polyura hebe) is a butterfly with black-bordered wings that feature short, stubby 'tails'. This pretty species is found in forest habitats at an altitude of about 400 meters above sea level, where it flies actively at high speeds. The black border of the wings is slightly wider in females, but narrower and sharper in males. Find out more about the relationship between butterflies and orangutans in our article, How Butterflies Help Orangutans.
Olive-Backed Woodpecker (Chloropicoides rafflesii)
The olive-backed woodpecker (Chloropicoides rafflesii) has a medium-sized, bright-red crest with an olive-coloured body, and black-and-white striped neck. This bird inhabits lowland forests and hills, where it forages in the tree canopy and near the ground. Find out more about our PRM team's experiences encountering this bird in our article, The Olive-Backed Woodpecker: Nature’s Clever Woodcarver.
Black-Tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)
The black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa) is a large wader bird with long legs, which allow it to thrive in both mud and sand. The base of its abdomen is white, while its tail has a distinct black colouring, as its name suggests. Read about the time this bird species stopped by Camp Lesik, in our article, Migratory Guest at Camp Lesik.
Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)
The clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) is the largest wild cat found on the island of Borneo. It has a stocky body, weighs between 12-25 kg, and measures around 90 cm in length when fully grown. Its elongated canines, measuring up to 5 cm in length, are the longest canines relative to body size of all the surviving cat species in the world. Read about the time our PRM team encountered this cat species in this story, The Biggest ‘Cat’ of The Forest.
Müller's Gibbon (Hylobates muelleri)
The Müller's gibbon (Hylobates muelleri) is a primate that inhabits the Juq Kehje Swen Forest, alongside orangutans and long-tailed monkeys. This species of gibbon in particular is endemic to Kalimantan. Read about an encounter our PRM team had with this species in the story, Owa Kalawat: The Small, Endangered Ape Endemic to Kalimantan.
Malay Blue-Flycatcher (Cyornis turcosus)
The Malay blue-flycatcher (Cyornis turcosus) is a small bird measuring 13 cm in length, with feathers that are predominantly dark-blue in colour. This species has a soft chirp that is quite melodious. It is distributed throughout the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. Read about how often these birds are spotted around our PRM camp in Malay Blue-Flycatcher: One of Kehje Sewen's Reliable Singers.
Binturongs (Arctictis binturong)
The binturong (Arctictis binturong) has black hair with a grey-white tips on his face and body. Its ears and ‘moustache’ are covered with characteristic golden-brown hair. It has a powerful tail, with which it can hang on to branches. It is an arboreal mammal that is often seen in the trees, rather than on the ground. Read more about this fascinating species in our article, Binturong: The Mysterious Neighbour.
Oriental Whip Snake (Ahaetulla prasina)
The Oriental whip snake (Ahaetulla prasina) has a pointed head shape like an arrow and bright-green colouring that resembles a fresh leaf shoot. This snake is spread across most islands throughout Indonesia, where it is found in primary and secondary lowland forests, plantation areas, and shrubland. Read about how this snake camouflages itself in the bushes surrounding our PRM camp in the story, The Oriental Whip Snake.
The presence of these animals indicates that the Kehje Sewen Forest is a comfortable home to many unique species, living in harmony with orangutans. Let's protect our forests, to protect these animals and the balance of the forest ecosystem.
Rehabilitation Habitat Orangutan (RHO) was formed 14 years ago, as part of the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOS) Foundation’s effort to preserve orangutan habitat in the Kehje Sewen Forest. We will continue to work tirelessly to secure natural habitat for orangutans and other forest species.
Text by: Communications Team, BOS Headquarters, Bogor, West Java