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 the Japanese Giant Salamander — the World’s Largest Amphibian
Japanese Giant Salamander (Andrias japonicus) While walking along a mountain stream at night, I encountered what looked like a living boulder—it was a Japanese giant salamander, one of the largest amphibians in the world. Reaching length... -
The World’s Only Nocturnal Monkey — The Fascinating Life of the Night Monkey
Among the more than 200 known species of anthropoid primates, there is only one that has adopted a truly nocturnal lifestyle: the night monkey, also known as the "Owl Monkey" or "Douroucouli." Spix’s night monkey(Aotus vociferans) from E... -
Searching for a Unique Owl That Lives Underground
Burrowing Owl(Athene cunicularia) This time, I set out to find a truly unique owl—the Burrowing Owl(Athene cunicularia), the only owl in the world that lives by digging holes in the ground. Burrowing Owls are widely distributed... -
Geoffroy’s Tamarin | A Small but Colorful Primate
Geoffroy's tamarin (Saguinus geoffroyi), is a small primate with a distinctive appearance and highly social nature, inhabiting the lush tropical forests of Panama and Colombia. With its striking black-and-white fur, reddish-brown nape, a... -
Searching for Wild Rainbow Boas in the Amazon Rainforest of Ecuador
– An Encounter in the Amazon Rainforest of Ecuador – This time, I’d like to share an incredible experience: spotting the stunning Rainbow Boa (Epicrates cenchria) in the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador. Rainbow Boa (Epicrates cenchria) ■ A ... -
The World’s Most Feared Pit Viper Observed in Colombia’s Chocó Rainforest: Terciopelo
This time, I’d like to introduce a terrifying yet fascinating snake we encountered in Colombia’s Chocó Rainforest — the Terciopelo (Bothrops asper), one of the most feared pit vipers in the world. This rainforest, known as... -
How to Find Poison Dart Frogs: 3 Tips from the Jungle
Kokoe Poison Frog:Phyllobates aurotaenia The rainforests of Central and South America are home to some of the most dazzling creatures on Earth—poison dart frogs.Their vivid colors—electric blue, fiery red, sunshine yellow—look like some... -
Frogs of the Chocó Rainforest: A Herping Adventure in Colombia
The Chocó Rainforest, spanning Colombia and Ecuador, is known as a treasure trove of biodiversity. It boasts the second-highest rainfall in the world, consistently high humidity throughout the year due to the lack of a pronounced dry sea... -
Meet the Tiny Monkeys of the Ecuadorian Amazon: 4 Unique Species
Deep in the Ecuadorian Amazon live some of the world’s smallest and most fascinating primates. During my month-long stay in the region, I was lucky enough to observe four incredible species—three types of tamarins and one marmoset. In th... -
How to Find the Harpy Eagle
This time, let's explore how to find the Harpy Eagle (scientific name: Harpia harpyja), one of the world’s top three largest birds of prey. They are found in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America, including Suriname, Colo...