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August 2009

Homes for hornbills

Climbing training Last year the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund helped Harapan Rainforest start a hornbill nestbox scheme. This provides additional nest sites for hornbills while the forest regenerates and more large trees suitable for nesting become available. Lack of nest holes due to loss of large trees is a major threat to hornbills in Sumatra. Over the last year, our tree climbers have mounted 20 boxes at the dizzying heights of 25-30m above the forest floor. The good news for Harapan Rainforest’s hornbills (all nine of Sumatra's hornbill species are found in the forest) is that we have just secured funds from the Seaworld-Busch Gardens Conservation Fund to continue and expand our nestbox programme for another year

Harapan Rainforest's new nurse is a real shot in the arm!

Poppy We're delighted to increase our healthcare capacity at Harapan Rainforest with the appointment of Poppy as our nurse and healthcare worker. With nearly a two-hour round trip to the nearest basic government clinic, and three hours to the nearest hospital, it is important that we are able to at least handle the minor illnesses and injuries of the Harapan Rainforest team here on site. We also need to make sure that disease prevention is a priority, bearing in mind the high incidence of malaria and water-borne disease in the area.

My Harapan Rainforest moment

Agile gibbons I'm just coming to the end of a three-month stint providing management support to the Harapan Rainforest site management team. When I used to work on RSPB reserves in the UK, I'd wake up to the dawn chorus of bird song but here in the forest, the birds are outcompeted by the agile gibbons that are regularly found around camp. Sounding like demented Clangers, the females start calling just before it gets light and usually they are off in the forest feeding before you're able to get a good view.

Independence day fun and games

Krupuk eating competition Harapan Rainforest staff and local community members celebrated Indonesian Independence Day together on August 17th. After raising the national flag, singing the national anthem and the reading of the declaration of independence, the fun began. Bathin Sembilan children enjoyed a number of games, including an uproarious race to eat krupuk (large prawn crackers) hanging by strings – no hands allowed!