Harapan Rainforest was recently honoured by a visit from Tony Whitten, a senior biodiversity specialist at the World Bank. Tony was part of a team that produced a World bank paper in 2001 that was influential in prompting RSPB’s involvement in the conservation of Sumatra’s lowland forests when it predicted the imminent loss of the important dry lowland forest. His own engagement with Sumatran wildlife began in the 1970s when he studied the Kloss gibbon on Siberut, an island off the western coast. He has remained a strong advocate for conservation of Sumatra’s amazing wildlife ever since.
While at Harapan Rainforest he was particularly interested in the aquatic life of the small forest streams and the larger Kapas River (he netted the predatory bottom-dwelling frogmouth chaca pictured above). He also got a tantalisingly brief video clip of a sun bear checking out his forest camp. Follow this link http://eapblog.worldbank.org/content/indonesia-hope-for-the-future-and-fish-in-a-sumatran-rainforest to see Tony’s blog of his stay in the forest. His stunning pictures and infectious enthusiasm make for a great read. Thanks, Tony!
Tropical Forest Conservation Manager, RSPB