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All things Bright and Beautiful #20 Borneohistory.net
Arowana
Three molecular markers were used to test two hypotheses on the origin of the fish. Three species were tested. The geographic origin was a better indicator than the colour. Two were located in the river drainage system of Sarawak, while the third was located in central Sarawak. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/esr01152
Border Problems
The border between the Indonesian Regency of Nunukan and Malaysia presents problems for
violations of the laws, especially those related to immigration and trans-crime activities such as drug smuggling, illegal alcohol, human trafficking, terrorism, shifting regional boundaries other potential issues. Indonesia should review its border enforcement. https://doi.org/10.32699/resolusi.v4i2.2205 R
Jatti Miriek Headress
The Jatti Miriek are a small ethnic group from Miri Sarawak. The design of the headdresses are unique and need to be preserved. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/esr01152
Applied Arts
The International Journal of Applied and Creative Arts has several articles about Sarawak. IJACA | Vol.4 | Issue 1 | November 2021 |
Drone or Ambulance ?
Suppose you fall in the jungle and need blood immediately. Which is better, having it sent by drone or ambulance? This study states that sending blood by drone is better. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-07321-3
Raising Catfish?
Adding the extract solanum and the probiotic lactobacillus enhances the growth of catfish in tanks. The addition of a substance that enhances the immune system also provides benefits against common bacteria that attack the fish. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2021.737794
Sundaland
The changes in the land which connected Malaya, Borneo, Java and Sumatra during the Pleistome (29,000-11,000 years ago) caused many species to change. Some of the lands were connected, flooded and reconnected over the years. These land changes caused some species to change by connecting one hotspot to another. Arni Sholihah, Erwan Delrieu-Trottin, Fabien L. Condamine, Daisy Wowor, Lukas Rüber, et al.. Impact of Pleistocene Eustatic Fluctuations on Evolutionary Dynamics in Southeast Asian Biodiversity Hotspots. Systematic Biology, Oxford University Press (OUP), 2021, 70 (5), pp.940-960. ff10.1093/sysbio/syab006ff. ffhal-03370604f
Soil Map of Sarawak
A new soil map of Sarawak is available. A Web-Based Consolidated Geotechnical Site Investigation (CoGSI) of Sarawak Soils
Malnutrition among Dayak Children in Sarawak
39.6% of Dayak children under the age of 5 do not have enough to eat. The causes are poverty, parental education, sanitation issues and others. Mal J Nutr 27(3): 433-448, 2021
Peat Forest Restoration
Efforts to restore peat forests in Sarawak usually only partly resemble the original peat forests. This paper analyzes the historical perspective and gives recommendations for peat forest management. J van Hoeflaken et al 2021 IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 914 012044
Snakes
80% of all snakes belong to the group Caenophidian. They are Asian in origin and are nocturnal. Within this group are five other subgroups. A new group of snake, found only in Borneo, has been established. This new group is called paraxenodermus. DOI:10.1016/j.crvi.2006.10.001
Elephant Disease in Borneo
EEHV is a disease found in the calves of elephants. Three wild borne endangered elephants from Sabah have come down with the virus usually only found only within captive animals. All three baby elephants died. Investigations are continuing. Virol J 18, 231 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-021-01694-x
Hoya
A new subspecies of Hoya has been made known to the science world. They are part of the group that have specialized leaf structures that harbour ants. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3767/blumea.2021.66.03.06
Rajah Scop Owl
The Rajah Scop Owl was last seen in 1892 and now again in 2016 in Sabah, it was announced in the Wilson Journal of Ornithology in 2021. (I wonder what took them so long to announce it) The Scops Owl weighs about 100g. It is related to a similar species on Sumatra. Small owls often show rapid divergence once they are separated. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, 2021; 132 (3) DOI: 10.1676/20-50
Houseflies
Houseflies are a nuisance and often carry diseases. Efforts to eradicate them have often failed. This paper tells of the construction of coloured paper flowers with a mixture of sugar + poison. The flowers attracted the horseflies while the bait (sugar+boric acid ) killed them. The experiment was relatively successful, but the bait needs to be refined. Insects 2021, 12, 1097. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12121097
Formation of Borneo
Southwest Borneo is the oldest continental fragment. It was part of Gondwana land when the continent broke apart. During the Palaeozoic(541-252 million years ago) it rifted from Australia. During the Jurassic (201.3-145 mya) the land moved north and became part of Sundaland during the early Cretaceous.(145-66 mya) A fragment from the north collided with Southwest Borneo also during the Cretaceous. This induced widespread mountain formation and formed the Schwaner Mountains. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-021-0405-6
New Book
Agnes Keith and other Colonial Women Writers in Borneo by Mohamad Rashidi Pakri and Simon Peter Hull Google Play 2021 RM 15.00
Kuching Temperatures during El Nino and La Nina
It was hotter during El Nino events than it was during La Nina occurrences in Kuching. El Nino causes droughts, while La Nina causes floods. https://doi.org/10.17576/geo-2021-1704-20;
Bidayuh and Mixed Marriage languages of the children
Bidayuh+Melanau=Bidayuh; Bidayuh+Chinese=proficiency in both languages; Bidayuh+Malay=25% speaking Bidayuh 75% speak Sarawak Malay; https://doi.org/10.1558/sols.41152
Snake vs Gecko
When a snake attacks and tries to eat a gecko, the snake coils around the gecko and remains immobile for several minutes. Then when the snake attempts to eat the gecko, the gecko escapes. This strategy is called tonic immobility (TI). The gecko pretends to be dead, and when the snake loosens its coils to eat it, the gecko escapes. The observation was made at Bako National Park in 2011. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.11606/issn.2316-9079.v20i2p203-207
Snakes (Squamata: Serpentes: Xenodermidae)
These snakes are found in southeast, east and south Asia. They are small, usually not bigger than 55 cm but occasionally can reach 80 cm. A new species, p.bornesis has been made known to science. DOI 10.3897/vz.71.e75967