GOING, GONE
SAY YOUR LAST GOODBYE TO THESE VANISHING CREATURES
Take a good long look at these animals, for they may not be here much longer. They are but a few on a long list of critically endangered animals, pushed to the very edge of extinction by man. Soon, these sketches may be all that's left of them.
For the period of September to December 2008, ASIAN Geographic will donate a percentage of every new subscription received to TRAFFIC, a wildlife trade monitoring network that ensures trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature. New subscribers will also receive a copy of this limited edition poster as our thanks and reminder to save these beautiful animals.
Join ASIAN Geographic in our fight to save our Planet's animals - before they disappear, forever.
ASIAN Geographic thanks all our readers for participating in our Asia’s Big 5 Voting Contest. The contest garnered an overwhelming amount of response, with more than 5,000 votes pouring in over a four-month period.
Your immense support has shown us how much you care, and that these iconic animals truly are Asia’s treasures.
Congratulations to these Five Lucky Winners of our Asia’s Big 5 Contest:
Helen Round, Australia
Melissa Lam Mei-Er, Singapore
Joanne Ng, Singapore
Patrick Henry Tom, Hong Kong
May Lim, Sinagpore
You have won:
» 1 pair of entry tickets to the Singapore Zoo
» 1 Limited Edition ASIAN Geographic Polo T-Shirt
» 1 copy of ASIAN Geographic’s Special Edition Passport Magazine
Winners will be notified of their win via post and contacted by a member of our staff.
“Save the Sharks, Save the World”
As the battle between conservation and consumerism wages on, ASIAN Geographic and Scuba Diver AustralAsia Magazines havejoined forces with ClubScuba, Malaysia Underwater.com and Underwater Studios to start an online campaign to stop shark finning in the Asia Pacific.
Join our online pledge and make your stand now!
Bird Watching in Christmas Island Tucked away in the corner of the Indian ocean, hundreds of kilometres away from any known city, this limestone outcrop was once the tip of a colossal volcano that rose from the depths of the Java trench. To most, Christmas Island is synonymous with scenic dives, whale shark diving, sports fishing charters and bird watching tours. And rightly so. The island is home to 10 native land and shore birds, with an additional 86 migrant species recorded so far.
Mine, Mine, Mine…
Three famous words of the movie Finding Nemo (2003), where a group of frigatebirds were fighting over a crab before it jumped back into the water in a quick getaway. Looking up at the no holds barred display of aerial acrobatics by the Christmas Island Frigatebird (Fregata andrewsii), Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor) and the Lesser Frigatebird (Fregata ariel), those words seemingly echoed throughout the skies.
Frigatebirds rule the skies over the island; hundreds hover and glide over the seas, riding updrafts created by the islands while scouting for their next meal. Known as pirates of the seas, these frigatebirds are opportunists that will seek any chance to have free meals from others or fight over it in mid-air. From the ground, they look like squadrons of bomber planes, heading out for battle in search of strike targets, and mid-air attacks like gruelling dogfights. The agile birds soar overhead, enthralling travellers with
their antics.
Of the three different species on the island, the Christmas Island Frigatebird is by far the most rare. Slightly larger than the Greater Frigatebird with a length of up to 100 centimetres, the Christmas Island Frigatebird is distinguishable by the white collar of the female and white belly of the male. These voracious foragers have been recorded flying distances of about 5,000 kilometres on a 26-day journey, and sightings have been recorded in the far reaches of Indonesia. Sadly, this magnificent species is in serious decline, with an estimated 1,200 breeding pairs remaining in Christmas Island. Today, they are listed as ‘critically
endangered’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
Meet the Boobies
Another group of birds that make their presence felt on the island are the Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster plotus), Red-footed Booby (Sula sula rubripes) and the endangered Abbott’s Booby (Papasula abbotti). Avid bird watchers will find plenty of chances to see these spectacular divers, except for the more elusive Abbott. Brown Boobies are visible along the ground, nesting their young among the pinnacles of limestone rocks, while the Red-footed Bobbies can be spotted nesting in trees along the lower shore terraces. Much of the breeding habitat of the Abbott’s Booby was destroyed by phosphate mining in the 1960s and 1970s, and its population is estimated to be about 3,000 birds and decreasing. While these birds are known to feed with spectacular plunges into the sea, they are particularly clumsy in takeoffs and landings, using strong winds and high perches to assist their takeoffs.
Of Gold and Silver
A subspecies of the widely distributed White-tailed Tropicbird, the Golden Bosun (Phaethon lepturus fulvus) is another endemic bird unique to Christmas Island. The Golden Bosuns of Christmas Island are the only population in the world that have a golden tinge to their plumage. They are significantly harder to find than the other endemic birds on the island, but rare sightings are possible. Golden Bosuns nest on the ground, sometimes returning to the same nest for years.
The red-tailed tropicbird or Silver Bosun (Phaethon rubricauda westralis) on the other hand, nests in depressions along the coastal and inland cliffs. Recognised by their white bodies, red tails and beaks, these charming birds make for excellent bird watching, with groups of up to 20 soaring effortlessly through the blue skies and perching on rocks along the coast.
An Eco Icon
Christmas Island has been deemed of immense scientific value for its unique natural topography, and many unique species of fauna and flora that have evolved independently of human interference. And with much of the 1,600-odd islanders relying on exports for their daily needs, related organisations and individuals are looking towards conserving its natural heritage. The declaration of the Christmas Island National Park
in 1980, and extensions in 1986 and 1989, placed over 60 percent of the Island under formal protection. Today, large areas of pristine and ancient rainforests remain, and the island has succeeded in preserving its many unique eco-attractions.
Christmas Island’s departure from the era of phosphate mining to that of eco-tourism was a welcome break for its feathered residents, some of which depend on the island for its only remaining nesting habitat.
With such a rich number and variety of birds on Christmas Island, travellers on a birdwatching holiday can expect to be rewarded with some truly special sightings, starting with the Bird and Nature Week in September this year. For more information, visit www.christmas.net.au/birdweek.php.
Brunei's Big-Nosed Wonder
The pristine Brunei rainforest, home to over 10,000 Proboscis monkeys (Nasalis carvatus), is a great treasure trove of astonishingly varied wildlife and natural wonders. Its extensive network of mangroves provides a peaceful sanctuary for the endangered Proboscis monkey, which is currently facing a serious threat in its home territory.
Endemic to the island of Borneo, the number of Proboscis monkeys in the wild has dwindled down drastically in recent years. Its natural habitat in the mangrove forests and swamps of Sabah, Sarawak and Kalimantan has been threatened due to widespread poaching and habitat destruction as a result of human activities like logging and land clearing. Fortunately, a substantial number of Proboscis monkeys still thrive in the Sultanate of Brunei where natural forest clearing is strictly prohibited.
The bulbous-nosed creature with its oversized belly is the largest primate in the Island of Borneo. It is primarily arboreal and dwells among the forest canopy and nipah palms, feeding mainly on seeds, fronds, leaves, mangrove shoots and unripe fruits, as well as the occasional diet of caterpillars and other insects. The males are much larger in size as compared to the females; and they have a longer and bigger protruding nose, used for attracting the opposite sex and as a voice amplifier for warning calls.
Proboscis monkeys are diurnal, and their active period is from late afternoon till dark. Although mostly arboreal, they can often be found near the river. These proficient swimmers are capable of crossing rivers and swimming 20 metres underwater. A river cruise will enable one to spot these unique primates engaging in their daily activities.
Although laws have been established to protect these monkeys from poachers, more immediate conservation efforts in restoring their natural habitats are needed to safeguard the continual survival of these creatures. Until then, this endangered species can only seek refuge in the unspoilt forest of Brunei, where they are safe from the destructive acts of man.
