Borneo Herping Question

[bioteacher]

Hi All,
New to the site and wondering if anyone has any experience herping in Borneo...Sabah or Sarawak. I may be making a trip there at the end of June, beginning of July as part of my Master's Program...and I plan to stay a little longer to do some herping. So just wondering if there are any recommendations for good spots to find herps (particularly black spitting cobras or wagler's pit vipers).

Thanks for the help!!!

[lefty]

speak to matt at viper and vine. hes in that neck of the woods all the time. im sure he would be able to point you in the right direction

[Buriram]

Hi,

I will be in Cambodia and then Sulawesi at probably the same time as you are in that neck of the woods - much the same as you - data collection for MSc thesis. Tell me more...

[Bluejen]

Originally Posted by bioteacher

Hi All,
New to the site and wondering if anyone has any experience herping in Borneo...Sabah or Sarawak. I may be making a trip there at the end of June, beginning of July as part of my Master's Program...and I plan to stay a little longer to do some herping. So just wondering if there are any recommendations for good spots to find herps (particularly black spitting cobras or wagler's pit vipers).

Thanks for the help!!!

I spent 3 months in Sabah, living in the jungle and saw a grand total of.... 3 snakes.. lol (i wasnt there looking for them so not so bad lol)

I've heard Sarawak is better

*though for if you're going as part of your masters program and you do go to Sabah its worth trying to arrange a trip too Danum Valley research centre.

[Gaboon]

Originally Posted by Buriram

Hi,

I will be in Cambodia and then Sulawesi at probably the same time as you are in that neck of the woods - much the same as you - data collection for MSc thesis. Tell me more...

Sorry to butt in, where you doing this masters? Something im sort of looking into, and one that allows me to travel to the tropics is all the more intriguing.

[HABU]

develope your eye and patience...

most things even trained people walk right by... be lazy... sit. observe... be still and things begin to move again...

walk lightly and pause... be a ghost because most everything will already know that you are there way before you even get close...

look for the patterns and the colors of things... know habitats and what should be there...

stealth and a slow, plodding silent way about yourself.

covering real estate isn't the answer... work areas... if possible, prep areas a day or two before...

be smooth and aware...

wander, drift around like a shadow... you can walk right up on things... sit and chill... things will come out.

observe, don't hunt... things will show and be gifts...

[Gaboon]

Originally Posted by HABU

develope your eye and patience...

most things even trained people walk right by... be lazy... sit. observe... be still and things begin to move again...

walk lightly and pause... be a ghost because most everything will already know that you are there way before you even get close...

look for the patterns and the colors of things... know habitats and what should be there...

stealth and a slow, plodding silent way about yourself.

covering real estate isn't the answer... work areas... if possible, prep areas a day or two before...

be smooth and aware...

wander, drift around like a shadow... you can walk right up on things... sit and chill... things will come out.

observe, don't hunt... things will show and be gifts...

image

Is there something lurking in that picture?

[capester]

First of all, you lucky b**tard! Secondly, Habu, that was beautiful! I have been to Langkawi, yes I know it's not the same as herping in Sarawak. However, one night we left the car as it got dark and saw lots of mosquitos and a few bats but it was when I was trying to get pics of an owl and was stood still for a long time that a galago moved (got great pic) and a vine snake snatched a gecko out of the bush right next me (many great pics and couldn't resist giving it a quick stroke whilst his mouth was occupied). My trip inspired me to study zoology, had to do foundation degree and now in my first year of Bsc so I'm hopefully only a couple of years behind you! Still.....lucky ba**ard!