29 October 2025

Monsoon In Sabah – A Cautionary Tale

Yet another report about a trip to Sabah, Borneo (yawn) and the incredible Deramakot Forest Preserve, Kinabatangan River, and Danum Valley. This was my first visit and I, perhaps foolishly, went in January 25 smack dab in the middle of the Borneo monsoon season.

Saw lots of rain and some cool stuff. Most of the stuff everyone else sees there plus a Tarsier and an  Otter Civet (which at first we thought was Hose’s – report now corrected). Did I see cats? You’re just going to have to read to find out.

Participants: Me

Company: Adventure Alternative Borneo (who, wisely, warned me multiple times about the season before I booked)

Guide: Henry Sapinggi

Post Views: 318
Wet fur is still fur – A mammalwatchers guide to Monsoon in Sabah

Post author

Cory Cravatta
I’m an amateur wildlife photographer from the US. Work a contract job with frequent layoffs and usually use that off time to travel and take photos and, in the summers, will frequently work as a US National Park Ranger (lately been rangering at Brooks Camp in Katmai National Park). Love photographing pretty much all terrestrial critters but especially the furry ones. Favorites to spot are usually porcupines. Favorites to photograph are bears and cats, have a lifelong goal of traveling and photographing all eight of the world’s bears in the wild (4 down, 4 to go). http://www.corycravatta.com
Post Views: 318

9 Comments

  • 30 October 2025
    Jon Hall

    Thanks Cory. Great report. As I know you know Hose’s Civet is a great record and it is unusual anywhere but especially from Deramakot. I don’t think I have ever seen it in any report other than from the mountains. Do you know if it has ever been recorded there before? Is it remotely possible it could have been an otter civet?

    • 30 October 2025
      Cory Cravatta

      There is a big part of me that questions if it was an otter Civet and even considered including that disclaimer in this report. I’m not an expert by any means but from the pics I’ve seen of each, it certainly looked more like the Hose’s.

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  • 30 October 2025
    tomeslice

    Hey guys,
    Cory – great report!
    Even before reading the comments, I was going to comment and say that I think the excitement over the civet still stands as you’ve seen a pretty rare species, but that species is an otter civet.
    From the picture, I would confirm that it’s the ear and coat pattern of an otter civet. Also, otter civets come out in the rain, which makes sense.
    While otter civets are rare and occur in Deramakot, hose’s civets occur on mountains above 450masl, while Deramakot is in the lowlands.

    It does happen occasionally that species are found at wrong altitudes for whatever reason (ironically, I saw a Rapit niviventer in Deramakot based on characteristics and all the research I did, but I guess I should question it, too). But I would say based on this photo, it makes sense that it’s an otter civet – notice that ear if that’s what it is. Look up the back of the head and ear of a hose’s civet.
    Anyway, that’s my assessment.
    Cheers!
    Tomer

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    • 30 October 2025
      Cory Cravatta

      Thanks Tomer. Eitb all of my newfound information from you and Jon, I’m definitely leaning towards Otter Civet as well.

      My notes from that night said “Hose’s Otter Civet”, lol. I, genuinely, didn’t know which it actually was and based what I wrote on looking up pics of the two. Probably should have researched habitat information a bit before publishing. 😬

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      • 30 October 2025
        Cory Cravatta

        *with

        • 31 October 2025
          Jon Hall

          Thanks Cory. This sort of conversation is partly what this community is for. A chance to discuss what we see and double check some of the rarer sightings. I don’t think a trip goes by when I don’t need help to check or correct my ‘sighting’. But as Tomer said just because something is supposed to be a mountain species it doesn’t mean that animal has read the field guides 🤣 so maybe it was a Hose’s. Though – personally – I want to see an otter civet more! I’ve been chasing that species for 10 years Tomer and I were sitting next to each other when the third guy on the boat saw one. I may recover one day. But it still hurts.

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          • 31 October 2025
            Cory Cravatta

            Yeah. Reached out and confirmed with Henry. It was, indeed, an Otter Civet.

            1
  • 31 October 2025
    tomeslice

    Jon I put money that on your next trip to Borneo you see both 😉

    1

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