Saturday, November 28, 2009

Shitting Colugo

Met up with Ruixiang and Jiayi to go Bukit Timah earlier today. It started pouring when we reached our meeting point at a nearby bus stop though. We ended up having some snacks at a small eatery before the rain finally stopped about an hour later.

I was a little worried that the colugos will be hiding due to the rain, and indeed, we did not managed to spot any colugo after walking for about 2 hours in the reserve. In fact, towards the end of the trip I was thinking, that this was probably going to be the first time for the past half a year that I did not spot any colugo during a Bukit Timah trip. I decided to check with the ranger before we left the reserve, and even he did not see one today. Then all of a sudden, Ruixiang shouted my name and starting running towards the carpark.

Malayan Colugo (Cynocephalus variegatus)
He actually saw this Malayan Colugo (Cynocephalus variegatus) gliding to this tree! It was almost at my eye level on this tree! We all got really excited, and I just starting snapping away with my camera.

Malayan Colugo (Cynocephalus variegatus)
Then suddenly, the colugo had this rather constipated look. I was wondering what's wrong.

Malayan Colugo (Cynocephalus variegatus)
It then flipped it's tail and side flaps over its back, and started shitting! You can actually see some string-like thing stuck to its anus.

Malayan Colugo (Cynocephalus variegatus)
And finally, all is done.

Unfortunately at this point, a big group of people walk by and started talking loudly and shouting, and some even attempted to walk nearer to it. The colugo immediately climbed all the up to the canopy and we eventually lost sight of it among the thick foliage...

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

hahahahaa. This is really cool and funny! I have never seen such a creature before at Bukit timah Reserve! Not fair! :) Karen CS

Ron Yeo said...

Aiyo, next time u r there, look around the trees more carefully. If still can't find, ask the ranger. Or u can follow me on a trip next time. Haha...

Ivan said...

Any specific areas where colugos are more commonly spotted? I've been visiting Bukit Timah quite often lately, and always make it a point to look up in the trees but no luck so far...

Ron Yeo said...

I can usually find one or two on the trees near the visitor info counter.

Anonymous said...

A big group of people walking by and shouting... Yeah, we know exactly what country we're talking about.