After the cutting

View of Zone E , looking south

Zone F, looking west

 The grass cutting operation is regularly done to help change the perception that an oil palm plantation need not look like an uninhabited place, unkempt, dangerous to walk around and of no beauty.  The proceeds from sales of the ffb (fresh fruit bunches) have been instrumental in providing the means to undertake grass cutting works at the park.  This is because the grasses here are never applied with weedicide since day one.  Based on the Kambatik landscape design philosophy and aesthetics, it is indeed a pleasure to work and walk around the park.  After about ten years of development, the natural environment is flourishing well as evidenced by the return of wildlife to the park, chiefly the birds, butterflies and bees.   Here are some photos showing areas of the park taken just after the grass cutting operation at Zone C, E and F.

View of Zone C, near Butterfly Garden, looking east.

View of Zone E, looking north

View of Zone F, looking south

View of Zone E, looking north

View of Zone E, looking west.

View of Zone E, looking south

The Silk Hanger

A caterpillar hanging on to dear live is photographed at about a meter  from the ground.
Pix 1

Clinging on the string the caterpillar wriggled its way up its  fine silk girdle that was  stretched from a leaf above.
Pix 2

It inches its way slowly for about less than 20 minutes to reach a leaf from which the silk girdle is attached.
Pix 3

Higher and higher it went.  The whole episode of climbing up a length  of about 3 meters of the silk girdle string  took about less than 20 minutes.
Pix 4 

The caterpillar successfully reached the leaf from where it fell.
Pix 5

This is a story about a caterpillar that fell from a leaf and somehow managed to suspend itself in mid air.  The length of the fine silk string was about 3 meters and the caterpillar (larva) had no choice but to keep on climbing the string to save its dear life.  The pictures beginning from the top above depicts its movement up the string from about a meter above the ground to about 3 meters high from which its silk girdle is attached.  The whole climbing episode took less than 20 minutes.

Pruning works to oil palm trees

Oil palm trees and cut branches seen at foreground
Zone E

A long pruning pole and cut base.

 One of the toughest job at the nature park is the pruning works involving the oil palm trees. Since three months ago some of the oil palm trees weren't fruiting well due to excessive rain, haze and later the extreme dry weather .  All these conditions happened continuously over 3-4 months period (since December)  and it would seem that the dry conditions will persist till May. The extreme temperatures stressed the plants while the haze drove away useful insects especially bees and weevils that help pollinate the oil palm flowers.  These matrix of factors resulted in undeveloped flowering and fruiting sets thereby thwarting production of fresh fruit bunches for sale. In this respect it is no wonder that the prices of oil palm fruit bunches is at their best this month compared with last year average  i.e. RM 440 per ton at ramp price (i.e.  middleman's collection centre  price).   With some of the undeveloped flowers and spoilt fruit bunches  on trees, it is necessary to remove them to divert food to new and  upcoming inflorescenes or young fruit bunches.  Below are examples of the pruning works done to majority of the trees at Zone E.

Zone E

Note the cut bases
Zone E

Zone E as seen from inside the Botanic Island Two.

Green shots (3)

Zone D

Zone E

Zone E, as viewed from inside Botanic Island Two

Provinsi Liana

Provinsi Liana
Zone E

Great Mormon
Papillio memnon agenor

 I was checking out the Botanic Island Two this morning and decided to add another provinsi to the area surrounding the island.  The Provinsi Liana will house the many types of lianas or climbers present there.  The main feature of the Provinsi Liana area the tall trees packed closely together and transversed by a complex web of woody climbers or lianas,  These 'tarzan ropes' are right at my back door.  No need to go to the virgin jungle to see them.  This is the great pleasure of having your own nature park.  To my surprise this morning I encountered the Great Mormon butterfly that was fluttering and flying around the lianas.  All said, I am looking forward to do more work at the Provinsi Liana in the near future.

Pholidacarpus sumatrana palm at center
Provinsi Liana

Paku Kelindang (Iban) - Blechnum orientale

Twisted and coiled into a nice weave pattern

Strong 'tarzan ropes'

From tree to tree...a liana tranversing

Close up of a liana successfully twinning itself to a nearby  tree

Great Mormon (Papillio memnon agenor) among the lianas

More views of Provinsi Rattan

Provinsi Rattan, view looking south
Location : Zone E

View towards Botanic Island One

 Provinsi Rattan is a plain area that is situated within  two zones viz Zone E and Zone I.  At the center of the provinsi is the Botanic Island Two and Botanic Island Three which preserves many rattan species.  Rattan are climbing palms much used in local handicraft and furniture making.  From the pictures above and at the inset, it is clear that the oil palm trees have ornamental value.  But at the park, oil palm trees are considered for its commercial value because revenue from selling the FFB (fresh  fruit bunches) are plough back to maintain the park operation  and its eco-citizens, especially its wildlife and bio-diversity.

View of Botanic Island One, looking south

View of Botanic Island One, looking south

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provinsi Rattan, view looking south
Zone E

In Plain Sight - Provinsi Rattan (Part 6)

Partial view of Botanic Island Two, looking north
Location : Provinsi Rattan, Zone E

Botanic Island Two, showing rattan
trailing at the center.

 Of all the Provinsi or Plain areas, the Provinsi Rattan is the most wild in nature.  This is because in the Provinsi are located two Botanic Islands viz Botanic Island Two and Three.  At the Botanic Islands are preserved many forest trees for posterity.   At the inset is a view of Botanic Island Two , looking south.  Both Botanic Islands have rattan growing naturally in them, besides original jungle trees, unique palms, lianas and forest climbers. Presently there is one wild Rambutan tree that is fruiting profusely.  Seen also is a wild forest climber belonging to the Bauhinia species that is flowering in orange glory.  Below are more pictures of the attractions at Provinsi Rattan .....

Provinsi Rattan - home for rattan collection -  7 rattan species are available on site

Botanic Island Two - showing lianas and climbing rattan, at center

Stream at Provisi Rattan
Location : Botanic Island Three

The big tree at center is the wild Rambutan tree
Location : Provinsi Rattan, between Botanic Island Two and Botanic Island Three

Wild rambutan fruits

Colourful Bauhinia spp. climber growing wild over the forest canopy
Location : Botanic Island Two, Zone E

The beauty of forest trees

Jungle tree in full flower in May

 This lovely forest tree is located at Botanic Island Two.  I have been observing it for the last two months.  In May it started to produce beautiful yellow flowers.  The flowers were intact for about a month.  For the last two weeks I observed that it has produced fruits that are in a leaf-like form (see inset)  Today a gust of strong wind blew plenty of the fruits down to the forest floor.  Imagine if the  tree is close to a river or stream.  The fruit with its seed encased in the leaf-like pod will float down river and thus aid in its propagation.

Jungle tree in full flower in May

Fruiting in red in June

CU of leaf-like red ruits

Today  - majestic colours of red and orange...
The orange flowers belong to a bauhinia species.
Location : Botanic Island Two

Views of the park

Zone D, Provinsi Borneo looking west

Working at Zone D and E  this morning allowed me to take images of the better views in the areas.  At Zone D (top picture), the tree at left is the Durian tree.  The grass has just been cut this morning and it is the intention to plant low hugging grasses to the Provinsi Borneo area soon. More views of Zone E are shown below.

Zone E, looking south-west

Zone E, looking south-west