Kingfisher
The Dulit Partridge
The Dulit Partridge can only be confirmed in three sites in the Borneo Highlands. The last was in the 1930s. The specimens they have were collected between 1894-1902. Surveys are urgently required in this little-explored part of Sarawak. https://doi.org/10.25226/bboc.v143i1.2023.a8
The Sunda Sea
Sundaland is the currently partially drowned continental landmass that encompasses Borneo, Sumatra, Java, and the Malay Peninsula. The floor of the Sunda Sea is sinking. It has been sinking for the past 400 thousand years. This is caused by the subduction of the Indo-Australian plate. Concurrently, the sea level is rising. Therefore, Sundaland will continue to be and later drowned by water. Subsiding Sundaland. Geology, 2019, 47 (2), pp.119-122. ff10.1130/G45629.1ff.
Land Snails
Three new species of land snails have been discovered in Satun Province in southern Thailand.Doi:10.3897/zse.99.99030
Rodent Ecology
Most rodents avoid disturbed habitats as rapid land use alters their environment. This study occurred in Sarawak. Tropical Natural History 23 (2023): 19-29
New Trumpet Vine
Nyctocalos tunjuharii (Bignoniaceae) is described and illustrated as a new species from Mt Kallang, Tenom, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3767/blumea.2023.68.01.04
Pangolins
A new study states the north pangolin, a critically endangered species, diverged from the south and west pangolin 1.6 million years ago. These findings are consistent with the ‘out of Borneo hypothesis’, whereby Sunda pangolins diversified in Borneo before subsequently migrating throughout Sundaland. DOI: 10.22541/au.167825887.78445413/v1
Missing Foot
The missing foot of a 31,000-year-old male in Borneo was amputated scientists say. The surgical amputation resulted in no infection and he lived another 6-9 years. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05160-8
New Journal Issue
A new issue of Bulletin Institut Ekosains Borneo is now available. Articles include The Giant Passion Fruit, Food Waste: Where Should it Go, Economic Value of Sarawak’s Parks, Indigenous Leafy Vegetables of Sarawak and others.
New Species
A new species of beetle Anamycetaea borneensis (from Borneo)has been made known to science. https://www.publish.csiro.au/IS/justaccepted/IS22053
Rainfall
The average rainfall in the Sarawak River basin is 3830mm (150 in). There does not seem to be any trend as the graph jumps up and down over the years. Larhyss Journal, ISSN 1112-3680, n°53, Mars 2023, pp. 183-197
Mangosteen
Where did the cultivated mangosteen come from? The wild species are found along the streams of Borneo, Sumatra and the Malay peninsula. However, the exact parentage of those grown for sale remains uncertain. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9792
Lightning in Brunei
A lightning strike in the Brunei jungle affected 29 British Forces in Brunei on 25 August 2020. After 22 months all but one have been returned to active duty. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/military-2023-002393
Cave Painting in Sarawak
Prehistoric paintings in a Niah Cave are analyzed. Physical features of the human body, bodies in motion and other images are shown and explained. A MUST-READ. ISVS e-journal, Vol. 10, Issue .1
New Species
A species of Durian, previously thought to occur only on the Malay peninsula, Singapore, Java and Sumatra has been found in Borneo. Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore 63(1 & 2): 125–135. 2011
Kingfisher
There are two extremes of this bird. The first is the dark backed and he lives in India and Indochina. The second is the rufous back which is from Java and the Lesser Sunda Island. However, between Java and India are a series of birds that are intermediate between the two species. The two species were isolated 820,000 years ago and reconnected 140,000 years ago. https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.13207
Proboscis Monkeys
A study of troops of proboscis monkeys shows that logged-over areas are devoid of the animal. Unprotected unlogged areas were also studied and demonstrated a healthy population. Reducing the number of logged areas and ensuring connectivity among trees could help reestablish habitat. DOI: 10.13057/biodiv/d240346
Gula apong
The sap of the nipa palm tree becomes the basis for nipa sugar, a favourite food among Sarawak residents. However, after four days the sap becomes rancid. This is because the sugar is used up and ethanol is produced. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26656/fr.2017.6(S4).004
Terung Asam
Terung Asam is an under used fruit in Borneo. In the kampong, it is used to make fish soup and is roasted in the fire and diced for sambal kerabu. It is very sour and found only in Borneo.
Droughts
With the coming of El Nino, a drought pattern is expected to become re-established over Borneo. https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-2889
Water Bugs
The island of Jolo has recorded a new water bug. The new water bug is added to the 19 species already discovered.10.35011/lbb.54.2-41
Cave Bark Lice
Nine new species of cave bark lice (psyllipsocus) have been made known to science. Two are from Borneo. 10.35929/RSZ.0088
Bergendang
Bergendang is a uniquely Sarawak Malay traditional entertainment frequently held during social gatherings at home. The objective of this research is to investigate the use of space during bergendang in the houses of traditional Sarawak Malay society before the 1960s. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v8i23.4489
Chewing Lice
We present a checklist of those 13 chewing lice recorded from Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo, including hosts, localities, and literature references. 10.11646/ZOOTAXA.5263.1.2
Rain Forest Regeneration
This doctoral dissertation compares the restoration of rain forests between when nothing is done to the land to when the land is restored by man. https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000606319
Worms
Two new species of deep water worms have been described. H. alata n. sp. and H. brunei n. sp. are portrayed from deep water off the Island of Borneo in the South China Sea. DOI: 10.11646/ZOOTAXA.5260.1.1
Iban in Brunei
The Ibans in Brunei are not considered to make up one of the seven tribes eligible for citizenship and therefore for government benefits. The Iban have found it difficult to be accepted and fully integrated into Brunei society. This essay describes the trials and tribulations of this segment of Brunei society. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-6059-8_15
New Book
Asymmetric Neighbours and International Relations is available at the ridiculous price of RM175.00
Spotted Barb
The spotted barb(Barbodes binotatus,) has escaped its normal range and entered the waters of Sulawesi across the Wallace line. It is thought that this is a human-related transfer. This could upset the ecological balance of the area. DOI: 10.13057/biodiv/d240369
New Snail
A new snail has been made known to science in Brunei. The snail is mostly seen at night and has a flat shell as opposed to a circular one. doi: 10.3897/BDJ.11.e101579