Wataru HIMENO– Author –

Wataru HIMENO, born on August 8, 1995.
From a young age, I was passionate about insect collecting, with a particular fascination for the impressive Japanese glass lizard, which sparked my love for reptiles and amphibians. After graduating from university, he volunteered in Ecuador, where he encountered the term "herping." Upon returning to Japan, I worked at a travel agency, promoting herping and started a blog called WildHerping. After leaving the travel agency, he founded WildHerping & Co. to promote environmental conservation and has since been dedicated to the protection of nature and wildlife.
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How to Find Wild Tomato Frogs and Their Natural Habitat in Madagascar
The Tomato Frog (Dyscophus antongilii), Introduction The Tomato Frog (Dyscophus antongilii), known for its vivid red, rounded body, is one of the most striking amphibians in Madagascar. I recently went searching for this species in the w... -
The Morphs of the Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher
Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone mutata) Among the many birds found throughout Madagascar, one of the most widespread and relatively easy to observe is the Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone mutata). Male Fe... -
How to Observe Wild Satanic Leaf-Tailed Geckos in Madagascar | Habitat and Field Guide
Satanic Leaf-Tailed Gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus) Madagascar is home to many unique reptiles, including the Satanic Leaf-Tailed Gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus), a highly sought-after species due to its beautiful patterns and elusive natu... -
Herping Komodo|Wildlife in Komodo National Park①
This time, I visited Komodo National Park, located to the west of Flores Island in Indonesia, in search of wildlife. Most standard tours are day trips departing from Labuan Bajo, the gateway town on Flores. However, since the p... -
Observing the Wild Green Tree Monitor in Salawati Island
Following our previous trip to observe the Blue Tree Monitor, we went to the neighboring Salawati Island to search for the Green Tree Monitor (Varanus prasinus). the wild Green Tree Monitor (Varanus prasinus) from Salawati island Salawat... -
West Papua Birdwatching Report ③: Sorong Edition
We are pleased to share the third installment of our West Papua Birdwatching Report. This time, our observations took place in Sorong, the gateway to West Papua. Known primarily as the starting point for trips to Raja Ampat, Sorong is al... -
Observing the Wild Blue Tree Monitor in Batanta Island
This time, we went to Batanta Island in Indonesia to search for the Blue tree monitor(Varanus macraei). This species is endemic to Batanta Island and captivates reptile enthusiasts worldwide with its unbelievably beautiful appearance. Al... -
Exploring Wildlife on Kume Island: Night Herping for Kume Ground Gecko (Goniurosaurus yamashinae)
Kume Island, located about an hour by ferry from Tonaki Island, offers an incredible opportunity to explore Okinawa’s unique wildlife. The island is relatively large for a remote island, with an airport and a full circuit of the island t... -
Night Herping in Tonakijima, Okinawa|Searching for the Spotted Ground Gecko
Spotted Ground Gecko (Goniurosaurus orientalis) Tonakijima (渡名喜島), a small island located about one hour by ferry from Naha, the capital of Okinawa, is a hidden gem for nature lovers and herpetology enthusiasts. Surrounded by beautif... -
Encountering Endemic and Rare Wildlife on Tokunoshima
Observations of the Banded Gecko and the Amami Rabbit Banded ceve gecko (Goniurosaurus splendens) This time, I traveled from Amami Ōshima to Tokunoshima by ferry. Tokunoshima is well known as the northernmost habitat of the Banded ceve g...