Wild life in Samui

[samuijimmy]

Yes, it's a baby monitor lizard. It's been living in that hole for a couple of weeks now. I've seen the fellow peeking out of it's hole many times, but wasn't able to get any pics till now. It'd quickly return back into the hole when I approached, so that's the best pic I'm able to get so far.

Here's a larger version! yes they usually disappear pretty fast when you do see them... this one was let loose...

I am not sure how it managed to get caught

[MantisMan]

Yes, it's a baby monitor lizard. It's been living in that hole for a couple of weeks now. I've seen the fellow peeking out of it's hole many times, but wasn't able to get any pics till now. It'd quickly return back into the hole when I approached, so that's the best pic I'm able to get so far.

Here's a larger version! yes they usually disappear pretty fast when you do see them... this one was let loose...

I am not sure how it managed to get caught

I just saw one of those today walking down my street!

I've never seen one before. About the size of a cat. He ran off like a scared cat too.

[Jose]

Koh P has small monkeys living in the mountains, my husband gets up early and sees them from time to time, these are much much smaller and do not have the massive teeth and are definitely not escaped coconut monkeys.

But there used to be those too, not sure escaped or not but my husband told a story of his dog getting into a fight with a wild one years ago when he was a boy. Dog won but barely.

As for Phangan, I've seen both small (1-2 feet) and large (say, about the same size as a German Shepherd) monkeys out in the wild, both alone and in groups. There's a few large 'uns that seem to hang around Bottle Beach (I think some of the Thais might be feeding them), and you can sometimes see groups of them on coastal rocks in the more remote parts of the island. I don't know how they got there, but since they're regularly employed in the coconut business, maybe they escaped from coconut farmers.

Early morning (except on FMP periods) you can also see one or two wild monkey families on this spot, crossing the road or just hanging from the road's power/phone lines. Have also seen them around here, where a largish male monkey challenged my Thai ridgeback dog, forcing me to intervene with the aid of a large stick.

[Jose]

I am not sure how it managed to get caught

I wish these simple people would stop hunting and killing them... These lizards are important to the ecosystem's balance, as they help by eating pests such as the coconut beetle.

[Mole]

Who says that they get hunted?

Thais don't hunt and kill monitor lizards.

[notmyself]

Who says that they get hunted?

Thais don't hunt and kill monitor lizards.

Not entirely true. Anything above 1.5m is likely to be caught and shipped (live) to China for so called traditional medicine. The blood is supposed to cure/ ward off dementia in old people but the lizard itself needs to be old and therefore bigger.

[samuijimmy]

I am not sure how it managed to get caught

I wish these simple people would stop hunting and killing them... These lizards are important to the ecosystem's balance, as they help by eating pests such as the coconut beetle.

I said in the post, it was not killed... Jose! ... it was if I remember correctly re-located, as they were protecting their chickens etc. .... about 4 years ago...now.. I know they did not kill it and eat it....

This family rescues and saves all kinds of animals, even snakes are caught and relocated when found around their house ... the most recent was three kittens left at the side of the road now have a good home!

[Tropicalevo]

Who says that they get hunted?

Thais don't hunt and kill monitor lizards.

Sorry but they do - big time. Monitor lizards are a delicacy - as are pythons etc.

I had one guy who worked for me and he caught one of the monitors that swims in my pool. Hit it on the head and tied it to a tree to take home for the pot.

He was a Samui Thai and he does not work for me any more (not for that reason - but I was tempted).

[Tropicalevo]

The squirrels have most certainly started a come back. The problem with squirrels started when the coconut trees started to die and not the Burmese but the wave of cheap labour before the Burmese from isaan was part of the problem as well. The squirrel problem started way before Burmese workers started to come to Samui.

I agree.

Yep - Issan workers were the first culprits to eat them all. When the red palm weevil started to decimate the coconut trees some years ago, there was a move to make the squirrels a protected species - to be sponsored by HM the King. This never happened. The suplications were not made. At the time, squirrels were the only indiginous things that ate the weevil grubs. So - no squirrels - the weevils multiplied - lots.

[John 1]

The squirrels have most certainly started a come back. The problem with squirrels started when the coconut trees started to die and not the Burmese but the wave of cheap labour before the Burmese from isaan was part of the problem as well. The squirrel problem started way before Burmese workers started to come to Samui.

I agree.

Yep - Issan workers were the first culprits to eat them all. When the red palm weevil started to decimate the coconut trees some years ago, there was a move to make the squirrels a protected species - to be sponsored by HM the King. This never happened. The suplications were not made. At the time, squirrels were the only indiginous things that ate the weevil grubs. So - no squirrels - the weevils multiplied - lots.

Sorry not true. Samui people were the 1st to eat the squirrel's and still do and on a daily basis try to shoot them in the bush above my place.

[limbos]

May well be, the problem got out of hand when the truck loads of cheap labor Isaan construction workers arrived on the island.

Local population only supported their own lifestyle, which not really caused a near extinction to the squirrel population.

Edited December 24, 2013 by limbos

[HeavyDrinker]

Many moons ago, I was woken up in the wee small hours by the wife's mother who claimed she could see a shark patrolling the shallows off Haat Mae Nam but I still maintain to this day that it was more down to the gallon of gin based cocktails she'd guzzled that evening...

We did see a King Cobra skimming across the road (near where the Italian restaurant is (or was) with a half eaten Krait in its gullet...that was a buzz.

Many low paid construction workers often rely upon wildlife to supplement their feeble incomes. I've often seen them around here up to their waists in the filthy canals hunting down a Monitor. rather them than me..but they assure me it is a nice dish. When the airport and was being built, I scarcely saw a Monitor yet used to see them daily.

I once came across a gaggle of excited Cambodian workers on Samui who'd caught a Scolopendra in a water bottle which they then packed in mud and baked, craced the mudball open which removed the exoskeleton and revealed the flesh inside. The taste wasn't unlike a nasty prawn.

[Jose]

I am not sure how it managed to get caught

I wish these simple people would stop hunting and killing them... These lizards are important to the ecosystem's balance, as they help by eating pests such as the coconut beetle.

I said in the post, it was not killed... Jose! ... it was if I remember correctly re-located, as they were protecting their chickens etc. .... about 4 years ago...now.. I know they did not kill it and eat it....

This family rescues and saves all kinds of animals, even snakes are caught and relocated when found around their house ... the most recent was three kittens left at the side of the road now have a good home!

Faith in human nature restored... Thanks SamuiJimmy!

(Let's just hope they've released this poor animal safely away from the local carnivores' prying eyes)

Edited December 24, 2013 by Jose

[Mole]

The isan and khmer will eat anything they can get their teeth on.

Let's hope this fellow won't end up on some grill.

I presume being reptile, they taste like chicken?

[John 1]

The isan and khmer will eat anything they can get their teeth on.

20131224_113036.jpg 20131224_113051.jpg

Let's hope this fellow won't end up on some grill.

I presume being reptile, they taste like chicken?

Wouldn't this be classed as a racist post or are Issan and Khmer not a nationality.

[evadgib]

Who says that they get hunted?

Thais don't hunt and kill monitor lizards.

I have yet to see one that isn't being pursued by a lynch mob. The last one I saw had just been killed on Maenam beach and was being paraded as a trophy @ walking street.

[samuijimmy]

Not to get too far off topic here... I tried to find the post I had mentioned it before... but no luck!

In regard to this red beetle that attacks the coconut trees... I believe the Agricultural Dept has been getting it under control... In various parts of Samui, you see these pheromone traps hanging around... these would attract and trap the males... Have any of you KP guys seen them over there?

But in looking around, Samui at least, the damage that was caused a year or two back, is not looking as bad now!

Here is the little critter.... not native though!

Edited December 24, 2013 by samuijimmy

[Tropicalevo]

I think that you are beginning to believe the publicity Jimmy. We are not winning the battle.

Certainly at this end of the island (Plai Laem and north) most of the trees are dead or will be soon.

Some of the residents in the area where I live were treating the coconut trees, but there were so many that were not being treated - we were facing a losing battle. Even with treatment we were told to expect to loose 10% per annum!

You photo is fine for your example, but looking at the coconut trees in the background - some are already dead, and the many of the others are starting to go that way. (Green leaves turning gray, coconut seeds brown instead of yellow, broken and collapsing branches - all too late already. The tree is dead inside.)

A specialist brought in by the Rotary Club some years ago explained that once the red palm weevil attacked a tree - it was usually dead before we saw the signs. The only way to stop them is the chop down the tree, cut the trunk into one foot sections and burn the lot.

Each weevil lays 200 - 300 eggs at a time, 3 times a year. The grubs then eat their way down the soft centre of the tree and it dies from the inside out.

The ento molog entamol bug expert said that the only natural predator of the weevil was the squirrel and that we needed to re-introduce the squirrel to solve the problem.

The Santiburi golf club claimed to have solved the probel by introducing Vietnamese bees (they eat the weevil larva). The bug guy explained that this was very dangerous. It probably was not a long term solution and it could easily give the island other problems (plagues of bees or eating other larva that were good for the environment???)

So - the long term prognosis is - the coconut trees will all die! Then - the weevil will start to hit ornamental palms. This is already happening up here.

[samuijimmy]

I think that you are beginning to believe the publicity Jimmy. We are not winning the battle.

Certainly at this end of the island (Plai Laem and north) most of the trees are dead or will be soon.

Some of the residents in the area where I live were treating the coconut trees, but there were so many that were not being treated - we were facing a losing battle. Even with treatment we were told to expect to loose 10% per annum!

You photo is fine for your example, but looking at the coconut trees in the background - some are already dead, and the many of the others are starting to go that way. (Green leaves turning gray, coconut seeds brown instead of yellow, broken and collapsing branches - all too late already. The tree is dead inside.)

A specialist brought in by the Rotary Club some years ago explained that once the red palm weevil attacked a tree - it was usually dead before we saw the signs. The only way to stop them is the chop down the tree, cut the trunk into one foot sections and burn the lot.

Each weevil lays 200 - 300 eggs at a time, 3 times a year. The grubs then eat their way down the soft centre of the tree and it dies from the inside out.

The ento molog entamol bug expert said that the only natural predator of the weevil was the squirrel and that we needed to re-introduce the squirrel to solve the problem.

The Santiburi golf club claimed to have solved the probel by introducing Vietnamese bees (they eat the weevil larva). The bug guy explained that this was very dangerous. It probably was not a long term solution and it could easily give the island other problems (plagues of bees or eating other larva that were good for the environment???)

So - the long term prognosis is - the coconut trees will all die! Then - the weevil will start to hit ornamental palms. This is already happening up here.

I don't doubt or disagree with you Tropo!..

That first pic was taken up Soi One, near Maenam, probably in April or May, if memory serves... where there were many already dead Coconut trees.... probably too little done, too late... they should have got on it when the problem first started to occur.... I've seen a number of these traps around, there probably should have been more set out around affected areas!... Including your area!

There are many other places around the tropical and sub tropical world where they have the same problem... so the "solution" was probably available... but sitting on it too long, probably caused the bigger problem here ~

But in my observation, there seems to be less die out now.... even around Santiburi golf course area, I was surprised there were not more dead trees, after looking at that area over a year ago!

As for introducing wasps, or other predatory insects or what ever may lead to longer term problems... who knows for sure what the long term effects will be? Certainly there are a number of areas that have been clear cut of the trees, logged up in to 2x4"s for building materials.

Around me, at least most of the coconut trees are looking OK ... I hope it stays that way!

[Jose]

In regard to this red beetle that attacks the coconut trees... I believe the Agricultural Dept has been getting it under control... In various parts of Samui, you see these pheromone traps hanging around... these would attract and trap the males... Have any of you KP guys seen them over there?

I've seen one of these hanging from a post near the Bantai high school.

Many coconut trees in the area are infected, most have that gray leaf sick look about them.

[Tropicalevo]

Sadly - grey leaf means dead already! No known cure.

Jimmy - I pray that you are correct about less dead trees. I was paying 700 baht a month for five years to keep mine all alive - to no avail.

[samuijimmy]

Sadly - grey leaf means dead already! No known cure.

Jimmy - I pray that you are correct about less dead trees. I was paying 700 baht a month for five years to keep mine all alive - to no avail.

Well I do too, the islands won't be the same with out them... but even those around Santiburi, look a whole lot better than they did last year some where I have images, where the foliage looked pretty grey I remember imagining at the time how bare the island would look without them ....

.... perhaps tomorrow or the next day I will ride around a few areas and look again... but my observation about a month or so ago in that and other areas it was not as bad as I had expected! Sorry to hear you lost your trees.

I should be over on KP within the next couple of weeks, it will be interesting to see how many more are affected.... good Jose has seen traps..over there...

This is an image next to Santiburi Golf club, in March of this year.... looking good as far as I can tell ...

[AngThong]

What will replace the trees when they die? They cut down a hell of a lot of jungle back in the day to plant all those coconut trees.

[PoorSucker]

What will replace the trees when they die? They cut down a hell of a lot of jungle back in the day to plant all those coconut trees.

Condos?

[Tropicalevo]

This is one a many sections with dead trees near my place here in Plai Laem. This section is next to Idyllic Resort on Samrong Bay.

Apologies to you real photographers for the poor quality taken with my Micky Mouse camera. (Max telephoto and bad light!)

[samuijimmy]

I did not get to Santiburi today, but headed up Soi 5 Maenam, and got a pretty good birds eye view... in several directions.... being a bit hazy, it was hard to get clear shots with telephoto lens... but it really seems to vary... some areas of coconut trees, definitely look worse than others...

This needs a closer look... looking roughly toward Santiburi.. (there are a lot of dead branches ready to fall right now! ... along with the coconuts!

This looking toward the centre of the island... these look better...

There were some fine looking cashew nut trees ! .... But no sign of wild life... but that is fairly normal...

[MantisMan]

What is that blue basket hanging from the trees? I've seen them before.

[Tchooptip]

The squirrels have most certainly started a come back. The problem with squirrels started when the coconut trees started to die and not the Burmese but the wave of cheap labour before the Burmese from isaan was part of the problem as well. The squirrel problem started way before Burmese workers started to come to Samui.

Yes they are even working hardly at the come back, here is a picture I have taken from my window ( not far behind IT center)

[MantisMan]

^^^^

Are you a Peeping Tom?

[evadgib]

I saw one yesterday using an overhead cable to cross the road opposite Macro. It reminded me of this

http://youtu.be/DsuVLsDyln4

Edited December 30, 2013 by evadgib