How to prepare a collecting trip in tropical areas
Dec 16, 2014 11:30:44 GMT
mygos, cabintom, and 1 more like this
Post by wollastoni on Dec 16, 2014 11:30:44 GMT
I have posted some tips in the past on my blog, but this could interest some of our members.
How to prepare a collecting trip in tropical areas ?
Collecting trips in New Guinea mountains, French Guiana jungles or African savanas are real dreams for most of insect collectors.
Nowadays with planes, English-speaking guides, vaccines and anti-malarial pills, it is far safer to go there than during Meek & Wallace's times.
Still, some advice must be given for all of us who want to see live Ornithoptera and Delias.
1. Legislation
If Papuans don't cut insect collector's heads anymore, Indonesian authorities can send you to jail for killing one common Eurema (while those authorities have destroyed the whole of Borneo...).
So be sure to check if a collecting and an export permit is needed where you plan to go.
This website is very well done to check this : www.theskepticalmoth.com/collecting-permits/
If you need to apply for a permit, find an association or a museum that can help you and apply at least one year in advance. It's boring but you will feel far better with all official papers.
2. Equipment
. The net : once in a jungle, you will discover that Morpho, Agrias and Delias do not fly at the same level as our Palearctic leps... they prefer flying at 4 or 5 meters high, so yes bring a very long net !
A good tip is to bring 3 or 4 nets, 2 for you in case you break one, 2 for your local guides that will be happy to help you.
. The shoes : you need good trekking shoes to avoid dangerous falls + plastic sandals to cross streams. Some collectors use plastic boots, it's heavy but is efficient to avoid leeches.
. The GPS : very useful for your data. Because sometimes you are in a place that nobody knows and every local you meet will give you a different locality name. GPS watches are perfect for this, I have found mine on ebay.
. The medicine : don't forget all your medicine ... once in the jungle in the middle of nowhere, you won't find a pharmacist easily.
. Ziplock bags : so precious ! Use them to secure all contents of your bags, including clothes and the specimens you have caught. A strong tropical storm or an army of ants can easily destroy everything.
3. Guides
Entomological local guides are the key to make successful collecting trips. They will help you avoid many problems with local army/police/village chiefs and will bring you directly to good collecting spots. Without them you will spend your 2 weeks in Sulawesi trying to find a virgin patch of forest.
I can advise you in PM some guides for many destinations if you need.
4. Behaviour
Always be polite with locals even if they don't understand what you do. If they refuse you to collect in their land, even if you have an official permit, don't do it.
Your Indonesian LIPI permits has no value for an Irian Jaya village chief, you also need an authorisation from him... that's why a local guide is very useful.
Always try to learn a few words of local language, it helps a lot.
Do not collect in crowdy area, many people will come to bother you.
This said, you will see that people in those countries are really nicer with insect collectors than Europeans or Americans.
5. Chance
Terrible roads, dangerous slippy paths, leeches and snakes, hostile villagers, collecting in tropical areas can be dangerous... but that's also why you want to go there !
Larsen's book about the Hazard of Butterfly Collecting is very funny about this subject.
And of course don't forget to take your best books... there's no TV in the jungle and the night starts at 6PM !
If some of you have other advice, feel free to share them here
How to prepare a collecting trip in tropical areas ?
Collecting trips in New Guinea mountains, French Guiana jungles or African savanas are real dreams for most of insect collectors.
Nowadays with planes, English-speaking guides, vaccines and anti-malarial pills, it is far safer to go there than during Meek & Wallace's times.
Still, some advice must be given for all of us who want to see live Ornithoptera and Delias.
1. Legislation
If Papuans don't cut insect collector's heads anymore, Indonesian authorities can send you to jail for killing one common Eurema (while those authorities have destroyed the whole of Borneo...).
So be sure to check if a collecting and an export permit is needed where you plan to go.
This website is very well done to check this : www.theskepticalmoth.com/collecting-permits/
If you need to apply for a permit, find an association or a museum that can help you and apply at least one year in advance. It's boring but you will feel far better with all official papers.
2. Equipment
. The net : once in a jungle, you will discover that Morpho, Agrias and Delias do not fly at the same level as our Palearctic leps... they prefer flying at 4 or 5 meters high, so yes bring a very long net !
A good tip is to bring 3 or 4 nets, 2 for you in case you break one, 2 for your local guides that will be happy to help you.
. The shoes : you need good trekking shoes to avoid dangerous falls + plastic sandals to cross streams. Some collectors use plastic boots, it's heavy but is efficient to avoid leeches.
. The GPS : very useful for your data. Because sometimes you are in a place that nobody knows and every local you meet will give you a different locality name. GPS watches are perfect for this, I have found mine on ebay.
. The medicine : don't forget all your medicine ... once in the jungle in the middle of nowhere, you won't find a pharmacist easily.
. Ziplock bags : so precious ! Use them to secure all contents of your bags, including clothes and the specimens you have caught. A strong tropical storm or an army of ants can easily destroy everything.
3. Guides
Entomological local guides are the key to make successful collecting trips. They will help you avoid many problems with local army/police/village chiefs and will bring you directly to good collecting spots. Without them you will spend your 2 weeks in Sulawesi trying to find a virgin patch of forest.
I can advise you in PM some guides for many destinations if you need.
4. Behaviour
Always be polite with locals even if they don't understand what you do. If they refuse you to collect in their land, even if you have an official permit, don't do it.
Your Indonesian LIPI permits has no value for an Irian Jaya village chief, you also need an authorisation from him... that's why a local guide is very useful.
Always try to learn a few words of local language, it helps a lot.
Do not collect in crowdy area, many people will come to bother you.
This said, you will see that people in those countries are really nicer with insect collectors than Europeans or Americans.
5. Chance
Terrible roads, dangerous slippy paths, leeches and snakes, hostile villagers, collecting in tropical areas can be dangerous... but that's also why you want to go there !
Larsen's book about the Hazard of Butterfly Collecting is very funny about this subject.
And of course don't forget to take your best books... there's no TV in the jungle and the night starts at 6PM !
If some of you have other advice, feel free to share them here
