We registered our interest in a 2hr guided night walk at the RDC ticket office at 8am. They took a local SIM number so that they could confirm whether the walk would be taking place as a minimum of 4 participants was required. When we convened at 6pm our party consisted of 5 participants, a guide and spotter who were both friendly and enthusiastic.
Just after 6.20pm, once the neighbouring Wallace's hawk-eagle had flown the tree, this Red giant flying squirrel, Petaurista petaurista hurled itself out of its nest hole and off the dead branch far away up, up in a 40m+ Mengaris tree. It made a circuit, scent-marking the trees within gliding distance of it's home. It amazed us further by proximity flying along the section of the canopy walk that extends beyond the Trogon tower, where we stood in wide-eyed wonder.
Coming down from the canopy we made a short detour into the start of the kingfisher trail where we spotted a sleeping Red bearded bee-eater and Black-backed kingfisher.
Sunda Stink-badger, Mydaus javanensis
Who would have thunk it? Skunks in Borneo? Bambi had us convinced Flower's American!
For the second time today our childhood conceptions and conventional world order was rattled.
Green tree viper
Long-legged millipede
Whilst we made our way along a section of the Pitta trail, our expert spotter pointed out both a Western tarsier and a Sunda flying lemur (colugo), we were beyond gleeful at our luck.
If you are planning to do a night walk it is essential you pack a torch, a hand torch is preferable to a head torch as the light attracts flying insects and bats.
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