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| July 12, 2004. I decided to go back to Sematan to find a "husband" for that female Betta sp. "Sematan". Zhou joined me this time. For the first half an hour, we failed to find any betta. We decided to go to the upper stream to search for the betta. We found two juveniles betta. Those young fish are not our target fish. We decided to split out and moved to different direction to search for adult fish. It rained half an hour later. It was a heavy rain. I could not find Zhou. I shouted his name so loud but still, I only could hear the sound of heavy rainfall....nothing else. I went back to the spot where we left our belonging. Waiting for the rain stop under the tree. After waiting for more than half an hour, there's still no sign of Zhou coming back to this spot. I was starting to worry that he could be lost in the tropical jungle or at worst, drown into the river. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| The rain seem never stopped. I was feeling cold and hungry in the jungle and yet no idea where my partner was! It was my worst collection trip. I was so wet and cold that I decided to get out of the jungle and get cover inside my car. On the way back to get my car, I was looking around the area and failed to see any shadow of a man. I couldn't think anymore, I rushed back into my car and praying that he can find the way back. Half an hour later, he's back and alive....and WET! He was looking for me too and thought something bad happened to me after failing to find me in the jungle for more than one hour!! | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| A beautiful dawn but ended up to be my worst collection day. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| A juvenile of Betta lehi "Sematan". | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| July 14, 2004. This is our pay back time. My cousin was joining me and Zhou to explore the remote area of Sematan. After studying the Sematan map, we decided to explore another remote area of Sematan. This time we all have to hike as the road is too rough for my car to drive pass. Alas! This is the second day of hiking after coming back from the border of Kalimantan. My wounded left leg not fully recovered yet. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| We by passed a few clearwater streams. It was a hot afternoon. I couldn't stand the heat so I requested to turn back after 45 minutes of hiking. After reading the map again, we decided to walk for a few minutes before turning back and started our fish collection. We found a beautiful clearwater stream but too bad, no betta species was found. All the fish we found are common fish. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| A common sight in Sematan. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| We are really an adventure team !!! | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| This road is good for 4WD challenge !! | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| A blackwater pond....biotope of Betta ibanorum "Sematan". | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| On the way back, we stopped at a blackwater pond. Zhou and Methos were walking into the bushes to find the water source of this pond. I was taking a nap near the pond .....dreaming that I am in the heaven. More than 40 minutes later, both of them came back to me with a plastic bag. Zhou showed me a pair of wild betta and said; "Betta sp. "Sematan" ". But I said this is not the species I found in another area. We observed carefully and found out this betta looks like Betta akarensis. What a shock to me to find akarensis group of betta in the western part of Borneo. To my knowledge, the most western part of Sarawak where I can find akarensis group of betta (Betta ibanorum) is somewhere near Matang. The distance of Matang to Sematan is more than 50km and in between these two area is the coverage area of pugnax group of betta. We're so excited because this is a new discovery! Zhou is probably found a betta species which nobody else found. (Later confirmed from scientist that Betta cf akarensis is Betta ibanorum) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| At last, we were paid back for what we deserved after losing each others in the jungle of Sematan under the heavy downpour! NOTE: In September 2004, I revisited the blackwater stream of Betta sp. "Sematan" and found the male wild betta. This Betta sp. "Sematan" is called Betta lehi (referred to Raffles Bulletin of zoology - Southeast Asian Freshwater Fish Diversity) , same as those Betta lehi at Batang Kayan drainage near Lundu. To see the picture of Betta lehi "Sematan",please CLICK HERE. |
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| Betta cf akarensis "Sematan"...a great discovery!!! | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Some irresponsible people burnt the forest during the dry season !!! | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| A blackwater stream. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| A road to nowhere. No human settlement along the road. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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