• Photo by Rantje Allen

  • Photo by William Tan

  • Photo by Rantje Allen

  • Photo by William Tan

  • Photo by Rantje Allen

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Category Archives: Terrestial Treasures

Babirusa, an endemic animal of Sulawesi and surroundings

Babirusa, also called the pig deer, is a strange creature found only on Sulawesi and a few surrounding islands. One major nature reserve protecting it is in Gorontalo.

The Pig with Curving Tusks

babirusa
Babirusa

The most distinctive feature of the babirusa is upward curving tusks. Besides a pair that juts from the animal’s jaw, another pair actually perforate the snout. Over time, those will curl backwards. Unless the babirusa wears these down with fighting or rooting, they will eventually penetrate the skull. Only adult males have those special tusks. However

, this distinctive feature occurs only among male babirusa found on Sulawesi. So, its scientific name is Babyroussa celebensis.

During the last decade, the original species has been split into several others. Those found on Buru and Sula islands are Babyroussa babyrussa. Known as the Golden babirusa, its teeth are clearly shorter and more slender than its Sulawesi relative. Also, the fur of B. babyrussa is thick. Colors range from creamy gold to black. However, its hind quarters are black. Plus, the hairs are long.

Endemic to some Togian islands is B. togeanensis. Whereas the Sulawesi babirusa has so few hairs it appears almost naked, the Togian species has a pelt that is dark above and light below. Its hairs are quite short.

No one knows why no babirusa species live in islands between Sulawesi and the Buru-Sula islands. Also, an early European description of this curved-tusk animal is by Piso and dates back to 1658.

Lifestyle of the Babirusa

Nantu reserve
Deep in Nantu Reserve

Like other swine species, the babirusa is an omnivore. However, its snout lacks a certain bone. That means its nose is too soft to dig into the ground like other pigs. It will only dig in mud and soft earth. This animal will eat vegetation, fruit, and animal material. Evidently, its strong jaws can crack nuts.

Adult males are usually solitary, whereas females and young travel together. A female will only produce one or two piglets per litter. Moreover, females only have two teats.

Nantu Forest Protects Endemic Species

In the heart of Gorontalo province is Nantu Forest. It consists of a wildlife reserve, measuring 33, 023 hectares plus a protected forest of 19,606 hectares. Additionally, there are ten thousand hectares of production forest. In total, its virgin rainforest measures about 500 square kilometers.

This preserve protects the watershed of two rivers. They are the Nantu and the Paguyaman. However, the primary purpose of the reserve is the wildlife of which much is endemic. This includes the Sulawesi babirusa.

One edge of the reserve is accessed via a very rough road. The trip can take four hours, depending on conditions. Since Nantu Preserve is not a national park, special permission from the Forest Ministry and the police is required for entry.    If you would like to add a trek after your diving trip, please let us know when you make dive reservations.

Brahminy Kite nests near Miguel’s Diving Gorontalo

Brahminy kite is a small eagle found near coastlines. Guests of Miguel’s Diving can observe this beautiful bird from our dive boat or while relaxing at our dock.

Exciting Viewing

Brahminy kite
Brahminy kite in flight

Guests of Miguel’s Diving can watch for Brahminy kites as we leave the dock for a day’s diving or when we return. With its distinctive white head and reddish-brown body and wings, the Brahminy kite is easy to spot. Often, several will circle, hover, and dive in the river estuary where our dock is located.

This bird is a mostly scavenger and will dive to grasp anything dead floating downriver. If the bird does not like the floating object it has grabbed from the river

, it will drop it. These birds also will steal what another bird has grabbed, making them both beautiful and opportunistic. Moreover, it will occasionally grab and eat live prey, such as rats, bats, or crabs.  

Brahminy kite nesting season in Southeast Asia lasts from December to April. Happily, this coincides with diving season in Gorontalo. Moreover, natural forest covers the steep mountains on each side of the river where our dive center is located. Beginning in the Dutch era until the present, residents were forbidden to cut fire wood along those steep slopes. The intention was to prevent erosion during heavy rains. However, an additional benefit is plenty of habitat for this bird to nest.

Regional Names for the Brahminy kite

Populations of this beautiful bird range from India, to Southeast Asia, to coastal Australia. European natural scientists conducted the initial surveys of this bird in India where it was common coastally and considered sacred. For that reason

, its scientific name is Haliastur indus. As a result, its common name is Brahminy kite. Hindus regard this bird as a contemporary representation of Vishnu’s sacred bird, Garuda.

Similarly, the Ibans of Borneo believe the Brahminy kite is a manifestation of the god of war. They call this consummate bird burung Singalang. In Indonesian

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, its name is elang bondol. The City of Jakarta named it as official mascot in 1989. Sadlly, it has mostly disappeared from that area. Its population on Java has also diminished.

A Subspecies and its Friends

white-headed sea bird
Brahminy kite at rest

Actually

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, the Brahminy kite found in the Philippines, along the Malay peninsula, among the Sunda islands, and throughout coastal Sulawesi, including Gorontalo, is a subspecies Haliastur indus intermedius. This comes from a study that Byth published in 1865.

The Brahminy kite is similar in size to the Black kite (Milvus migrans), which we also see flying above the dive center. Both birds have similar flight patterns and angled wings. However, the Black kite has a forked tail. Its coloration is darkish and drab. The Black kite is more commonly seen in Gorontalo.

Once or twice a year, a migrating White-bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) or an Osprey (Pandion halietus) will visit the forest around dive center. The Indonesian government has officially given protected status to the Brahminy kite. The relevant laws passed in 1990 and 1999. For your chance to see this beautiful bird, please make your dive reservations directly with Miguel’s Diving.

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Tarsius genus gains two Gorontalo species

Tarsius genus of primates gains two Gorontalo species

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, thanks to recent research. Tarsiers are the smallest of primates. They are known for their large eyes, jumping ability, and shrill duet calls.

Two New Species in the Tarsius Genus

Distribution map of Tarsius spp.

Researchers Shekelle

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, Groves, Maryanto, and Mittermeier published the result of their studies in 2017. In it, they named two new tarsier species. One is Tarsius supriatnai. Its name honors Dr. Jatna Supriatna. He sponsored most of the collaborative research on tarsiers in Indonesia. This new species lives in western Gorontalo until the Bone River. Its common name is Jatna’s spectral tarsier.

The second new species is Tarsius spectrumgurskyae. Its name honors Dr. Sharon Gursky whose life work is tarsiers. This new species lives from east of the Bone River to the tip of the Minahasa peninsula. Its common name is Gursky’s spectral tarsier.

With these two new species

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, the total species count for the Tarsius genus is now eleven. Based on developments in research

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, the species T. spectrum in no longer used.

Duet Call Determines the Species

tarsius in a palm
A tarsius from Gorontalo

Although small physical distinctives exist between species

, the way researchers easily determine species in the field is by duet call. Tarsiers mate for life, and male-female pairs call to each other. Each species has a distinctive call. The female begins the call and the male answers. Then, their call continues in distinctive patterns as they sing their song together. Spectrogram analysis played a crucial role in the 2017 research. Moreover, genetic analysis confirms the identification based on duet call.

Additionally, researchers discovered that geography is also a good way to determine species. With Sulawesi’s complex geological history, populations of spectral tarsiers developed in isolation. They also tend to remain close to where they were born.

The Smallest Primate

Tarsiers are known as the world’s smallest primate. From head to tail

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, they measure between thirty and forty centimeters. Body weight is around 100 grams, although males can weigh up to 126 grams. Their arms and tail are especially long, given their small bodies. Moreover, their eyes are large and useful for nighttime foraging. They eat insects and lizards. 

Natural predators include snakes, owls, monitor lizards, and rats. Spectral tarsiers are listed as a protected species according to Indonesian law PP. No. 7/1999 and UU No. 5/1990.

Tarsiers are only found on Sulawesi and a few surrounding islands up to the southern Philippines. They live in dense forests. The two new species of spectral tarsiers can only be viewed in the wild with special arrangements. However

, trips to see each species must be organized separately since they live in different jungle reserves in Gorontalo.    If you would like to arrange jungle trekking after your diving in Gorontalo, please let us know when you make your dive reservations with us.

Jungle trekking in Gorontalo leads to hot spring caves

Jungle trekking in Gorontalo is a great addition to a diving holiday. Any easy-to-access half day trip leads through primary jungle to caves formed by hot springs.

Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park

Gorontalo and North Sulawesi provinces contain a significant national park. Its new name is Bogani Nani Wartabone. Previously, its name was Dumoga Bone National Park. Nani Wartabone was a native Gorontalo freedom fighter. He led the successful resistance against the Imperial Japanese occupation during the Second World War. Visitors to the Gorontalo side of this park can visit a house museum dedicated to him.

The park comprises over 2,800 square kilometers. According to conservationists, this national park is the most important conservation area on Sulawesi. The park provides refuge for many of Sulawesi’s endemic species. A Maleo hatchery is located a couple hours’ hike into the park.

Caves and Hot Springs

Jungle trekking into Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park gives visitors access to two small caves. Seepage from underground hot springs formed both caves. These caves are in their natural state with no human development.

Sauna cave Gorontalo
Ceiling of the Sauna Cave

One tiny cave is called the Sauna cave. Only the slim and agile trekker can climb into it. Inside it indeed feels like a sauna, complete with steam and dripping hot water. Flow stones and dramatic stalactites grow from its ceiling. High on a cliff is the Fairy cave. Locals call it Goa Bidadari. Access to this cave requires scrambling up a steep and barren slope where mineral waters leach over the surface. Only fit and agile trekkers should attempt the brief ascent. They do so at their own risk without any recommendation from Miguel’s Diving. These caves are located in the Hungayono area.

Jungle Trekking to Waterfalls and the one River

jungle trekking to water fall
Newly-formed waterfall

Jungle trekking in the national park can lead to two waterfalls. One falls dropping one hundred meters is accessed via Lombongo Hot Springs. Another falls formed during the COVID-19 pandemic after an earthquake. This waterfall is in the Hungayono area near to the Maleo hatchery. Its waters descend into the Bone River

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, which flows through the national park. These two falls cannot be accessed on the same trip. So, those seeking jungle trekking to a waterfall must choose. Be warned that scalding hot, underground water pours into the Bone River.

Wildlife Sightings

Trekkers should be on the lookout for various wildlife. Officially

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, the national park has identified 125 bird species, 24 mammals, 23 amphibians and reptiles. Moreover, tree species number 289. Often, trekkers can see or hear the endemic Gorontalo macque (Macaca nigrescens). This is actually a different species from the Sulawesi macaque (Macaca nigra) found in North Sulawesi’s Tangkoko Reserve. Neither of these primates are monkeys because they lack tails.

Mostly likely, trekkers will glimpse endemic kingfishers. The Green-backed kingfisher (Actenoides monachus) sports a brilliant blue head and orange beak. They live only in north and central Sulawesi. Additionally, lucky visitors can see the Sulawesi dwarf kingfisher (Ceyx fallax), which is distinctly red and found only on Sulawesi.

Other Sulawesi endemic birds include the Grey-sided flowerpecker (Dicaeum celebicum) with its brilliant red breast or the Sulawesi scops owl (Otus manadensis). Watch for green parrots with red heads. These are endemic Sulawesi hanging parrots (Loriculus stigmatus). Other endemics include hornbills, woodpeckers, rails, goshawks, pigeons, other parrots.  

If you would like a jungle trek on a free day or after a short diving day, please let us know when you make dive reservations.

Zosterops chloris nests at Miguel’s Diving dive center

Zosterops chloris is a small lemon colored bird with a beautiful ring of tiny white feathers around its eyes. Commonly called Lemon-bellied white-eye, it is endemic to Indonesia. Here its name is burung katamata laut.

Regular Nesters in Miguel’s Diving Green Zone

Lemon-bellied white-eye
Lemon-bellied white-eye, an endemic

At our dive center, we seek to maintain green zones, even though our property is small. In front we maintain a grassy area edged in flowers. In the back are clusters of bamboo and trees. These are commonly used as green fencing locally. Also, we have climbing, flowering vines.

With branches towering far above the ground, a pair of Zosterops chloris have built their nest for several years in a row. After raising their young

, all the birds leave until next nesting time. As of this blog posting, they are nesting again and sing twice a day.

Rescuing Fallen Juvenile Birds

Zosterops chloris juveniles
Rescued juvenile White-eyes

One year when the juvenile birds were learning to fly, both fell to the ground. Fortunately, our dive staff were working on the speed boats that day. Boka, a dive master, noticed a large rat quietly approaching the helpless birds. He quickly scared the rat away and picked up the baby birds. Then, he placed each one on a low branch.

The parent birds quickly flew down. They made much chirping sounds to encourage their babies to try to fly up the tree in a series of short flights. One baby made a return to the nest high in the tree. Its sibling was too afraid to try. So, one parent bird perched next to it and they both slept there through the night.

Naturally, our dive staff stayed away from the baby and parent. We only checked on them occasionally during the night. However, by dawn both were gone. In the following days, we saw all four birds. After that incident, the adults seem to know Boca and start chirping if he is working at the dock.

Zosterops chloris

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, Exclusive to Indonesia

Zosterops chloris is found from the Sunda Strait west to the Aru Islands. However, it is said to be missing from the Indonesian archipelago’s large islands of Borneo, Java, Sumatra, and Timor. Based on small color variations, research in 2017 states that there are five sub-species. We are not sure which one of those nests on our property. The geographic complexity of Indonesia has created genetically isolated populations.

This small bird measures about 11 centimeters. It has a lovely, high-pitched song. Dive staff hear the nesting pair sing in the early morning. Also, they sing in the late afternoon. Recordings of their song are available at this link.

For your chance to see one of these delightful birds while waiting to board one of our speed boats, please make your dive reservations with us.

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