Kapuas expedition finds giant squirrel in heart of darkness
JAKARTA (JP): A 40-day expedition, along the rivers of Kapuas and Mahakam stretching from west to east Kalimantan, concluded yesterday in Samarinda with a bonus -- the belief that they may had discovered a new animal species.
The animal, a giant squirrel, was discovered when the 20- person team was cruising the Muller mountain located in the interior bordering West and East Kalimantan, according to Julius Pour, their spokesman in Jakarta.
Julius said the team also discovered the kantong semar, an insect-eating plant with a diameter of three meters, enggang birds, honey bears, wild orchids and fern as thick as 20 centimeters.
Mulyawan Karim, the expedition team leader, told Antara upon arrival in Samarinda that the squirrel whose length almost reaches one meter was not included in the reference book.
He said the assumption about the animal's novelty was supported by a zoologist who participated in the journey. Another interesting fact recorded by the team in the mountain was the discovery of orang utan's footprints, he added.
"The discovery is considered special because it tells us that the animals still live there, meaning we should start efforts to protect them," he said.
Mulyawan said that it was widely believed that orang utan in Muller mountain had perished.
The expedition called "Kapuas-Mahakam Expedition 1994, Kompas- Gramedia-Mapala UI" was carried out to mark the centenary anniversary of the historic expedition conducted by a Dutch military doctor Anton W. Nieuwenhuis, who explored the biological and cultural environment along the two rivers.
Book
In addition to his scientific purpose, Nieuwenhuis also led a mission by the Dutch colonial rulers to end the inter-tribal wars and head-hunting traditions which made the Dayak indigenous people infamous.
Among the targets of the Rp 250 million-expedition was to promote the ecotourism and agrotourism of the region and to gather facts which will be used for a book.
The expedition, jointly organized by the Kompas newspaper, the Gramedia publishing company and Mapala UI; the organization for nature lovers of the University of Indonesia; started in Pontianak, the capital of West Kalimantan in mid June.
Mulyawan said the journey covered 1,000 kilometers of trekking and cruising the Kapuas and Mahakam rivers, passing the rough rapids in Putussibau, West Kalimantan, and Long Pahangai in the other province.
He said some of the boats overturned when passing the rapids, but luckily no injuries occurred, Antara reported.
Participants of the expedition include reporters working for Kompas and other publications published by Gramedia such as Jakarta Jakarta, Hai, Kawanku and Foto Media.
State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja and Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono joined the expedition team at certain points. (par)