It’s been about a year and a half since I posted a black-crested macaque. In that time, their numbers continue to decline in their last remaining stronghold on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi and a few nearby islands. Even though they are listed as critically endangered, they are hunted by local residents for their meat, which is considered a delicacy. They are also hunted as pests because they destroy crops planted by local farmers — the same farmers who destroy what remains of their habitat by clearing the forest via slash and burn. Several international conservation groups are doing their best to save the remaining black-crested macaque populations. One of the problems is that they are so trusting of humans, as you can see from this young macaque, leaning in to get a better look at my wide angle lens. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 24mm) ISO 200, f/3.5 at 1/125th of a second, Nikon SB-800 flash
I certainly wasn’t going to get through Halloween week without posting a few bats. Not sure of the exact species here (there are so many of them) but these six boys (clearly they are boys) were roosting in a cave in Sumatra, Indonesia. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 500, f/10 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-900 flash units
I believe this to be a lizard in the Gonocephalus genus, commonly known as an angelhead lizard. This is another one from Sumatra in Indonesia and it was photographed just outside the front door of my bungalow. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 1600, f/2.8 at 1/60th of a second
After a morning of carrying tourists through the jungle, this Asia elephant was enjoying a refreshing bath in the river water at Tangkahan in Sumatra, Indonesia. These elephants are apparently very well cared for and form deep bonds with their handlers. At least that’s what I was told, and I didn’t see any evidence to suggest otherwise. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 125mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/640th of a second
It seems that with squirrels and cows, no matter where I go in the world there’s a unique local variety. They’re just squirrels and they’re just cows but because they don’t look like our squirrels and cows, they can seem pretty exotic. This is the red fronted squirrel, native to Sumatra, Indonesia. Unlike most squirrels, they’re not very common. This was the only one I saw, deep in the forest of Tangkahan. Not the greatest shot, but the squirrel was there one second and gone the next. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/125th of a second
This is one of the more rare creatures that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting in the wild. It’s official name is the small Sulawesi cuscus (also known as the Sulawesi dwarf cuscus, or simply small cuscus). It’s a marsupial that lives on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. Its survival is threatened by hunting and loss of habitat due to agriculture and logging. This is the only one that I saw in my four day trip to the island. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/2.8 at 1/400th of a second
This is the reticulated python, the longest snake in the world. They can grow up to 23 feet in length. As with all pythons, they are non-venemous constrictors. This one was stalking a group of black crested macaque monkeys in Tangkoko National Park in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/8 at 1/80th of a second
Just back from our Caribbean weekend in Barbados. Didn’t take too many pictures — only a few turtles and crabs, but still, didn’t have time to go through them tonight after a late arrival. Instead, I present everyone’s favorite ugly monkey, the proboscis monkey. Locals in Borneo call these guys “Dutchmen” because their bellies and noses are said to resemble those of the Dutch colonizers. Apparently, the Dutch didn’t do too well with the ladies when they first landed in Indonesia. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/60th of a second
Frame filling shots of orangutans in Tanjung Puting National Park in Indonesia are easy to get because the orangutans there are so habituated to people. In this shot, my aim was to go a bit wider and incorporate the forest environment where they live. Seeing these large red apes swinging through their natural habitat is quite a sight. The entire forest seems to sway with the weight of their bodies. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 102mm) ISO 800, f/4.5 at 1/640th of a second
I was asked last week how I know the names of so many different species of animals. Here’s an example of one that I haven’t been able to identify just yet. I know, of course, that it’s a bat, and that I photographed it roosting inside a hollow tree in Tanjung Puting National Park in Indonesia, but there are so many different bats that knowing the exact species can be difficult. To any experts that might be out there, what do you think? Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 290mm) ISO 400, f/10 at 3 seconds
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