An occasional paper consisting of current research pertaining to Borneo.
Pua Kumbu and Title History
Using a pua kumbu from Borneo, the author tries to show the title of the piece, Remung, evokes the mythical tiger flying spirit , who, in ritual chants, is supposed to guard the rice bin filled with human heads. Remaung were also the highly desirable helpers of Iban warriors. Due to the patterns association with a powerful spirit, the name associates the patterns with high rank. The name evokes the large spirals of the pua kumbu. (I have several Pua Kumbu pieces and I never knew they had a title.Tom) GAVIN, T. (2019). A Very Special Textile from Borneo at the Yale University Art Gallery. Yale University Art Gallery Bulletin, 48-53. doi:10.2307/26899727
Animal Postage Stamps
This research explores animals on stamps in Borneo and Malaya from the 19th to the 20th century. Many beautiful stamp images are included. Tigers, buffalos and many other animals are featured in wonderful color. You might want to send this to a stamp collector. https://doi.org/10.22452/KATHA.vol16no1.2
Ginger
A new species of ginger has been made known to the science world. The ginger family has at least 1500 species. Plagiostaychis is a genus with its highest diversity in Borneo. The new species name is PLAGIOSTACHYS STROBILIFERA VAR. CONICA (ZINGIBERACEAE). The variety was found in Similajau National Park in Bintulu on the forest floor with a thick leaf covering. Reinwardtia 2020 19(2)
New Book
A new book about the hunt for gutta percha and its use in early undersea cables is now available. The author moves the rubber like substance through the jungles of Borneo, to Singapore and then to the cable factories of the U.K. Special emphasis is placed on the Iban collecting methods. For a review see doi:10.1353/tech.2020.0141.
Stray Cats
150 stray cats in Kota Samarahan in Sarawak were examined for external parasites. Of these, 113 were infected. Louse was the most frequent of these parasites followed by fleas and mites. This highlights the importance of managing stray cats. Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences . 2020, Vol. 44 Issue 6, p1212-1221. 10p.
History of Property Rights among the Bidayuh
This paper examines the history of property rights among the Bidayuh. It specifically covers the old property system to private and states property rights. Journal of Borneo-Kalimatan vol.6 no. 2 2020 http://publisher.unimas.my/ojs/index.php/BJK/article/view/2901
Niah Cave Research
This paper focuses on the cultural development of ancient peoples using artefacts and cave paintings. https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v5iSI3.2576
Dusun Customs
This paper aims to identify the abolition of customs during the BNBCC(British North Borneo Company) rule against the Dusun community in Kimanis. During the reign of the Sultanate of Brunei in Sabah before 1881, the customs practices of the Dusun community did not experience any restrictions or obstacles but they were free to live their lives in accordance with their respective customs. Journal of Borneo Social Transformation Studies (JOBSTS), Vol. 6, Number 1, 2020
Asplenium alleniae (Aspleniaceae), a new fern species from Borneo and New Guinea
The fern belongs to the genus asplenium, the largest genus with over 700 species. It was found on Mount Kinabalu and New Guinea indicating the two land masses were connected long ago. It was named a.allen paris exparis. It is classified as endangered. https://doi.org/10.3767/blumea.2021.65.03.06
Snakes
The Dark Headed Cat Snake (Boiga nigriceps) is a poorly understood snake from Southeast Asia. It is member of the Colubrid family which contains 249 species. The Cat Snake lives in trees. The team radio tracked two specimens and they travelled 29 meters and 23.9 meters per day. Their meals consisted of Harlequin Tree Frogs, (Rhacophorus pardalis).The study was conducted in Sabah. Herpetology Notes, volume 14: 83-89 (2021) (published online on 09 January 2021)
Sun Bear Chest Marks
The chest marking of Sun bears were studied as to sex, time and bio chemistry. Sun bear pictures were taken from 2009 to 2018 at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre and Free the Bears sanctuary located in Sabah The researchers did not find any differences due to sex or age over a time period of 10 years. The number of dark dots in chest marks showed large amount of individual variation and the number of dots increased with age. The differences might be related to interactions among individuals which may allow for recognition and evaluation of age and health. https://doi.org/10.2192/URSUS-D-19-00027.1
Rafflesia
A full description of Rafflesia hasseltii is now available. The plant is now believed to be distributed in Sumatra and Southwest Borneo. In Sarawak, R. pricei has been reported from Gunung Murud , R. keithii from Hose Mountains, R. tuan-mudae from Gunung Gading, Gunung Pueh and its vicinity towards Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary and the latest R. hasseltii from Tanjung Datu National Park in Sarawak and its vicinity. Malayan Nature Journal 2020, 72(1), 19-25
Rafflesia hasseltii
New Species of Crab
A new species of crab has been found in a cave in North Sarawak. The cave dwelling land crab increases the number to six. Arachnothelphusa, A. sarang, is the second member from a limestone cave system in Sarawak. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology DOI: 10.26107/RBZ-2021-0001
Orangutan Sighting
The first sightings of orangutan at the Apau National Park have been made. The researchers also observed four orangutan nests and heard two orangutan calls. This observation is very important for orangutan conservation as the orangutan were found outside the species distribution range. Biodiversity Data Journal doi: 10.3897/BDJ.9.e60753