Wataru HIMENO– Author –
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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... -
Wildlife Observed in Amami Oshima
This time, I went herping in Amami Oshima, mainly searching for reptiles and amphibians.Amami Oshima is an island with rich nature covering its entire area, home to a unique ecosystem and many endemic species. Here are some of the amazin... -
Snake “Caudal Luring” – The Amazing Hunting Strategy of Using the Tail to Attract Prey
The spider-tailed horned viper （Pseudocerastes urarachnoides), which uses caudal luring to attract birds, observed in Iran. What is Caudal Luring? Caudal luring is a fascinating behavior in which a snake moves its tail like bait to attr... -
Searching for the King Cobra in Bali
This time, I had the chance to observe the Sunda King cobra (Ophiophagus bungarus) on the famous Indonesian island of Bali.The King cobra is known as the largest venomous snake in the world, and it also inhabits Bali, where it ... -
Wildlife Survey in the Tokara Islands – Takara-jima
We conducted a herping survey on Takara-jima, reached after approximately 13 hours by boat from Kagoshima Port. Our primary targets were the Tokara pit viper (Protobothrops tokarensis) and the Takara gecko (Gekko takaraensis), both endem... -
How to Find the World’s Largest Wild Snake – Reticulated Python
This time, I observed Reticulated pythons (Malayopython reticulatus) on Bali and Flores Islands in Indonesia. Members of the python family, including this species, can grow to very large sizes. Large individuals feed on big prey only onc...
