LEAP research students arrive in Sumatra
On Tuesday March 13th, 2018 we arrived in Jakarta (Java) to begin the permit process to be able to start our research in Indonesia. After about a week of obtaining the correct letters and documents from Ristek (The Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education of the Republic of Indonesia), the police and home affairs offices we headed over to Sumatra to meet our counterpart collaborator Dr. Abdullah at Syiah Kuala University in Banda Aceh. It was great to finally meet Abdullah after communicating via emails and What’s App to arrange our different projects. Pak Abdullah has a keen interest in tropical forest conservation and understanding how tropical habitats are influenced by anthropogenic means. His passion is for the endemic Sumatran elephant but more recently he has expanded into the world of primatology with students from Bournemouth University.
Dr.Abdullah and Vice Rector of Syiah Kuala University with Nathan, Emma, Rosanna and Helen
Abdullah has a field site and a university campus in the Leuser Ecosystem which he was visiting whilst we were waiting for immigration to process our passports. We took a trip down south in the Aceh province with him to meet his students and the staff at the Blangkerjeren site. Helen and Emma gave a lecture to the second year biology students on their projects which was a great opportunity for them to practice their Bahasa Indonesian and share the importance of tropical forest conservation in Aceh. The students were keen to learn about orangutan and elephant behavioural ecology and seemed to enjoy the opportunity to practice their English with us (and take a few selfies!). We stayed at Mr. Jali’s field site and made connections for possible future LEAP collaborations before trekking in the forest on the search for various primates. It must have been our lucky day as we managed to get a glimpse of two different groups of gibbons, a siamang group, pig-tailed macaques and even got a visit from a group of Thomas’ langurs whilst eating our breakfast!
Top: Dr.Abdullah and students from Syiah Kuala University; Bottom left: Dr.Abdullah with Mr.Jali
Whilst waiting for various aspects of our permits to be granted we took the opportunity to travel and visit different parts of Aceh and North Sumatra. We took a trip to Bukit Lawang to get in a few practice hikes, and also to see the semi-wild orangutans and macaques that inhabit the hilly forests of Gunung Leuser National Park. Bukit Lawang translates to “gateway to the hills” and it certainly lived up to it’s name! The slopes were vertical up and down but it was worth it for it’s breathtaking views and the tubing back to the village down the river.
We made the most of the Easter weekend by taking the ferry from Banda Aceh to Pulau Weh for a mini beach and diving break. The palm-fringed island boasts some of the worlds hottest diving spots and provided the perfect opportunity to relax and wind-down after all the networking we have been doing so far.
Back in Banda Aceh we are wrapping up the permit process now and just waiting for the go ahead from immigration and National Park authorisation. We are all looking forward to getting to our different field sites and starting our research projects on orangutans, siamangs and elephants throughout Sumatra. Helen and Nathan will attend the upcoming Southeast Asian Biodiversity, Science, Education and Humanity conference at Syiah Kuala University in May where Nathan will be presenting a poster so check back soon for updates on that!
Until next time,
Nathan, Rosanna, Helen & Emma x
