Royal Holloway students faced with theft of fruit baits

by Rhys Davies

This year, Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) was pleased to welcome students from Royal Holloway, University of London, for their inaugural two-week field course.

The students joined some of DGFC’s ongoing research projects and spent time tracking pangolins, observing orangutans and going on boat trips along the river to observe the many species of primate. Later in the week, the students gave presentations about their own projects, which included the territoriality of Carpenter bees, the reaction of ants to different predation threats, gecko behaviour and millipede uncurling latency. The projects provided the group with a taste of tropical biodiversity research, and exposed them to some of the challenges that can be faced, such as the theft of fruit baits by the Centre’s resident long-tailed macaques!

The students thoroughly enjoyed their unique learning experience and DGFC looks forward to welcoming the next cohort of students in 2023. Royal Holloway Borneo Field Course convener Dr Steve Portugal said “We were amazed at the biodiversity immediately surrounding Danau Girang Field Centre, and the variety of activities on offer. We particularly enjoyed the boat trips and can’t wait to come back next year”.

This story was first published in Jungle Times Issue #144 (September-October 2022) and has been edited for the website.