WIldlife-watching maluku
Whilst firmly on the Birding/Diving map, Maluku is not a traditional wildlife-watching destination. Whilst even a casual visitor to these islands would appreciate watching rare birds-of-paradise dance, spectacular parrots & hornbills flying above, & some of the world’s most impressive butterflies soaring in the canopy, this is truly a land for the specialist. Rare reptiles, bats, marsupials, rodents & insects are found throughout with many new species surely to be discovered. We can offer some dedicated trips to see these species, aswell as optimizing chances for the adventurous visitor to experience some of Maluku’s unique diversity rarely seen by others.
Where We Visit
Maluku wildlife highlights
Whilst these islands may not have many famous creatures, no Komodo Dragons, Orangutans or TIgers, they are undoubtedly full of life, much of which is unique & beautiful. Waking up in one of the larger island's rainforests to hornbills & cockatoos flying above & a myriad of smaller intricate species living in their niches is still a very special experience. Some of the rainforests, dry forests and reefs here are pristine & a privilege to visit.
Sites:
Aketejawe-lolobata National Park- On the largest island of Halmahera, this area of pristine lowland forest is packed with endemic species. Highlights are indeed birds with the experience of visiting a Wallace's Standardwing Bird-of-Paradise lek a highlight. Otherwise the stunning forest is truly full of colourful life with much to see, if here for culture, birdwatching or diving/snorkeling this area is not to be missed.
Manusela National Park- This wild & woolly chunk of Seram climbs from the lowlands into the mountains and is breathtaking, parrots are everywhere as are rare butterflies, cassowaries & unique mammals, you pass through this park on the way to the popular and beautiful area of Sawai & an excursion into the moutains here should be mandatory, there are also tours to see Saltwater crocodiles in its rivers.
Kei's Leatherback Sea Turtles- In Sept-Nov, the giant Leatherbacks return to Kei to nest, they are heavily persecuted & now conservation measures are in place to try and protect them, visiting them on a tour helps the locals realise these magnificent turtles could be worth more alive than dead & actively helps conserve the remaining population, this trip is surely a highlight of a visit to the spectacular Kei archipelago.
Aru islands- Step in the footsteps of Alfred Russell Wallace & visit one of the least known corners of the Indonesian archipelago, watch Birds-of-Paradise dance from special platforms perfect for observation & photography, go on night walks to discover rarely seen marsupials & trek through the forest to see spectacular birds & butterflies, this remote & special region offers a truly unique nature safari.
Maluku is as beautiful as it is interesting. Combining one of these sites with diving/snorkeling or visiting the sights of more popular areas enriches your experience of the region whilst also aiding in local conservation efforts, for those with more specialist interests see below.
Specialist tours
Within this little visited part of Indonesia are myriad endemic forms, whilst bird-watching is overwhelmingly the most popular on activity in regards to wildlife watching, those with specialist interests can find a wealth of interest in the deep remote parts of this region, including rare marsupials, spectacular butterflies & seldom seen reptiles.
Rare Mammals- Due to it's isolation the mammal fauna of Maluku is quite depauperate yet what is here is often unique to the archieplago with 3 species of endemic cuscus in the northern group, many bats including spectacular Masked Flying Fox & Tube-nosed bats plus numerous unique rodents. The rarest mammals are the Buru Babirusa & the possibly extinct Seram Banidcoot but perhaps a pioneer with a thermal camera will be the first to photograph these, we plan expeditions in both of their proposed habitat.
Herping- In a land with few mammals, reptiles fill many habitats, with lots of endemic Monitor Lizards, stunning snakes, two impressive Sailfin lizards & many endemic geckos & skinks, they are prevalent in any forested habitat on the islands. The Tanimbars also have a selection of endemic reptiles that have more in commmon with Northern Australia than Indonesia including unique Blue-tongued Skinks & Scrub Pythons & very few people have seen these. Our guides, being local, are excellent at finding herps in the field & this is certainly a novel region to explore.
Butterflies/Insects- When Alfred Russell Wallace visited this region he remarked on how spectacular the insect life was, even mentioning he nearly fainted when he first captured the Wallace's Golden Birdwing butterfly, many incredible Birdwings are found in the archipelago & are some of the worlds most impressive butterflies, none are common however & local knowledge is needed to find them. Apart from these icons of Maluku there is also Megachile pluto, the world's largest bee, this is also incredibly rare with a possible site near the aforenoted Golden Birdwing, plus many gigantic impressive beetle species & a high diversity of Mantids & Stick Insects. Indonesia is a wonderful place to look for the small things, the guides often being as delighted as our guides when they find something special.
All our specialist tours start with a conversation, and when we pass it on to our guides the response is usually overwhelmingly positive, get in touch and see if we can provide what you are looking for.
Suggested itineraries
Classic Sumatra Wildlife
Tiger Tracking
Islands & Mountains
Sumatra Primates
Sumatra Rare Mammals
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