Image Copyright Suthanai Krupanitch
Last Observed: March 2016 – Koh Chang
Last Observed By: Suthanai Krupanich
The black-crested bulbul indeed has a black head and crest but its body is a shaded yellow colour.
It is a forest dwelling bird that lives on fruit and insects.
Image Copyright Stanley van Broekhuizen
Last Observed: February 2016 – Koh Chang
Last Observed By: Stanley van Broekhuizen
The tiny oriental dwarf kingfisher is one of the most attractive birds that you’ll see on Koh Chang or anywhere else for that matter. It grows to only around 13cm in length but has brilliantly shaded purple and yellow feathers and a bright red beak. Clearly camouflage isn’t its thing.
They live around small streams in densely shaded lowland forests.
They feed on geckoes, snails, crabs, frogs and various insect species.
Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher Wikipedia
Image Copyright Suthanai Krupanitch
Last Observed: February 2016 – Koh Chang
Last Observed By: Suthanai Krupanitch
The ochraceous bulbul is a little brown bird. Specifically it is a Southeast Asian native little brown bird that is usally found in the mid levels of rainforests at up to 1,500 metres altitude.
No wonder it likes Koh Chang.
Ochraceous Bulbul Wikipedia
Image Copyright Paul Dunn
Last Observed: November 2015
Observed By: Paul Dunn
The tiger cowrie is a large mollusc with a characteristic and much-prized spotted brown and white shell that can measure up to six inches in length.
It is a widespread species being found on the ocean floor all across the Indo-Pacific region.
Adult tiger cowries feed on coral and invertebrates whilst juveniles feed on algae.
Image Copyright Paul Dunn
Image Copyright Paul Dunn
Image Copyright Paul Dunn
Image Copyright Paul Dunr 2015
Last Observed: November 2015
Observed By: Paul Dunn
The banded krait is a long (typically 1.8 metres) species of elapid snake found in India and Southeast Asia.
Banded kraits are a shy and timid species of snake that are mainly nocturnal. They are typically lethargic and non-aggressive even when confronted. You should still treat them with great respect though due to their highly toxic venom which contains many different neurotoxins.
There are very few recorded cases of banded krait bites on humans but they can be fatal (estimates range from 1% – 10% untreated mortality rates).
Banded kraits, like the king cobra, feed mainly on other snakes, particularly rat snakes and keelbacks, but they also feed on fish, frogs and skinks.
Image Copyright Sam Kettel
Observed: Koh Chang, January 2016
Observed By: Sam Kettel
The water monitor is a huge and relatively common lizard that is native to South and Southeast Asia. As the name suggests their habitat is in or around areas close to water.
Typical adult lenghts of these lizards range from 1.5 to 2 metres long but the longest specimen ever recorded was a huge 3.21 metres.
They are the world’s second largest species of lizard after their giant relatives the Komodo Dragon.
Water monitors are strong swimmers and their diet is a combination of land and aquatic life including fish, frogs, rodents, turtles, snakes, eggs and even young crocodiles.
Water Monitors are not overall an endangered despite a market for their skins but their range has been dramatically reduced by destruction of habitat, particularly in mainland India.
Image Copyright Sam Kettel
Image Copyright Sam Kettel
Image Copyright Sam Kettel
Image Copyright Sam Kettel
Image Copyright Sam Kettel
Image Copyright Sam Kettel
Image Copyright Jean-Pierre Odet
Observed: Koh Chang, April 2016
Observed By: Jean-Pierre Odet, Everyone!
Koh C
hang has a large population of man’s best friend. Sadly man isn’t always the best friend he could be to Koh Chang’s dogs and many live wild and uncared for. These “wild” dogs, as well as having pretty sad lives, have an effect on local native wildlife populations, although by and large they are more scavengers than hunters.
In case of any uncertainty the dog is the animal in the background of the picture.
Why are there so many uncared for dogs on Koh Chang? There’s very little desire from many dog owners to de-sex their pets so unwanted litters are often born and left to fend for themselves. Disease is rife and rabies exists in Thailand remember so approach any wild dogs with care.
Thankfully there are some people on the island making efforts to improve the lives of these unwanted pets. Find out more below and feel free to volunteer resouces and help.
Koh Chang Animal Project (Foundation)
Happy Dogs Koh Chang
Image: Dave Hinchliffe
Observed: Koh Chang, April 2016
Observed By: Dave Hinchliffe, Everyone!
So obviously there’s loads and loads of cats on Koh Chang. They are the world’s most popular pet and live everywhere where there are people.
However all cats retain a large part of their wild cat roots – even those two pictured – and any cat that doesn’t have extensive exposure to humans in their first eight weeks will become feral and seek to avoid people.
they are accomplished hunters despite their scrounging expertise and are more than capable of fending for themselves. Feral and domestic cats have become a significant predator in Koh Chang, feeding on lizards, snakes, birds and small mammals. It is interesting to speculate whether they are responsible for threatening the survival of any indiginous species. Probably, although even the wild cats seem to prefer to scavenge on the margins of human development rather than deep in the junge where plenty of things will be more than happy to feed on them.
Image Copyright Napha Kotkanplu
Last Observed: January 2016, Koh Chang
Observed By: Napha Kotkangplu
The Vinegaroons, also known as whip scorpions are in fact a family of arachnids that is completely separate from scorpions themselves.
They get their rather marvellous name from an ability they have when attacked to discharge a pungent liquid that contains acetic acid and smells like vinegar.
As you can tell from their fearsome pincers vinegaroons are formidable predators that feed on insects, millipedes, scorpions and even small vertebrates. They kill their prey by crushing them and are particularly fond of cockroaches.
Image Copyright Napha Kotkanplu
Image Copyright Napha Kotkanplu
Image Copyright Napha Kotkanplu
Image Copyright Napha Kotkanplu
Image Copyright Rinske Hackman
Last Observed: February 2016, Koh Chang
Observed By: Rinske Hackman
The unique three pronged “antlers” that sprout from the head of this bizarre insect are almost like a helicopter’s rotor blades. They don’t turn of course. This fly gets around using its wings and the internet is unusually circumspect regarding what on earth the blades are for.
So I’m going to guess that they offer protection from predators by camouflage. Or maybe they are used in display to win potential mates? Or perhaps they are used to fight off other Umbelligerus peruviensis? Maybe the fly is wearing them for a bet? If you know please pass on a scientific answer.
Umbelligeris peruviensis National Geographic
Image Copyright Rinske Hackman
Image Copyright Rinske Hackman
Image Copyright Rinske Hackman
