The Weekly Recap
Hello and welcome back to the weekly recap!
The week started off with my dad’s report from Thailand where he found one of his most wanted, the gorgeous Banded Linsang, and some other lifers like the Least Leaf-nosed Bat (I dread to think what the Most Leaf-nosed looks like), Pendlebury’s Leaf-nosed Bat, and Kunz’s Leaf-nosed Bat. After seeing the pictures of his post-leech blood-stained t-shirt, I’m very glad I didn’t join him – especially when I remember the state of my brother’s feet after the last time we were in Thailand.
Jake Barker’s trip to Spain and the French Pyrenees got him 18 mammals including Iberian Lynx, Brown Bear, European Otter and some very atmospheric photos.
Three weeks in Madagascar got Anna Bauerová 20 species including the iconic Aye-aye, Diademed Sifaka and Golden Bamboo Lemur. Jacob Zinn also posted about his time in Madagascar during which he, too, got 20 species, 11 of which were lifers! Just a few of these are the Fanaloka, Sororcula Long-fingered Bat and Ivohiboro Mouse Lemur. These are both great reports so definitely check them out:)
Anna also shared a report from Panama, where she got the Northern Tamandua, Brown-throated Sloth and White-nosed Coati among many other cool species.
This short report from Greece by Samuel Marlin details how he found the Mediterranean Monk Seal, as well as a Red Fox and some Bottlenose Dolphins.
The Azores’ Espaço Talassa came through as always with 9 cetacean species for Yonathan Perez – Risso’s Dolphin, Sowerby’s Beaked Whale and Short-finned Pilot Whale, to name a few highlights.
Ronald de Mol’s trip to Taiwan got him 12 mammals such as Taiwan Giant Flying Squirrel, Formosan Ferret-badger and the cute Taiwan Serow. His report is also very detailed with lots of useful information and some great photos!
This report from a trip to India by Avijit Sarkhel and Nehal Gurung includes 27 species and many small cats, like the Fishing Cat, Asiatic Wildcat and Jungle Cat, as well as more amazing photos.
And the final trip report is Claudia W.’s, from her first ever mammalwatching trip, which was to Georgia and Armenia! It’s a great report with many cool species like the Eastern Tur, Caucasian Squirrel, Tristam’s Jird, a possible Jungle Cat and some stunning scenery.
A new trip is now available to join next January, especially for those who have a particular fondness for marmalade sandwiches: a journey to Ecuador to find the Spectacled Bear! Check out the post for more details.
Tomer Ben-Yehuda has shared the “long-awaited” (not by me) course for mammal guides, a project he’s been working on with Valentin Moser for a long time. It looks super informative and even includes a video version, so definitely go have a look, especially if you’re considering getting into guiding – something I’d recommend if, like me, you dream of dragging my dad through as many cockroach-filled bat caves as it takes to put him off for good. Although I’m beginning to lose hope such a number exists…
A few mammalwatchers would like some advice on finding specific species: Romanian bears, Gray Foxes in Florida, Souslik near Istanbul and Snow Leopards in Ladakh are all wanted, so be sure to comment if you’ve had any experience looking for these.
Similarly, some people are also looking for tips for specific locations. See here to give some ideas for Sumatra, and here to share some for a backpacker in the Pantanal and Amazon Rainforest. Also, comment here if you know of a good field guide for the Central African Republic (specifically Sangha Lodge).
If you would like to subscribe only to weekly updates like these from mammalwatching.com, you can visit this page.
Thanks for reading:)
Katy
Cover photo: Taiwan Red-and-white Giant Flying Squirrel – Ronald de Mol
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