"top ten" mammals you would like to see (1 Viewer)

[Matt Prince]

The list was made marginally easier by already having seen Wolverine..

Wolverine is probably top of my mammal want list at the mo, so where did you get yours John?

OK for a list, mix of easy and near impossible (and will be totally different if you ask me in ten minutes)

1. Wolverine
2. Snow Leopard
In a way its almost disappointing that you can see these - part of their appeal was there mythic stature...
3. Strap-Toothed Whale
4. Caracal
5. Elephant Shrew
6. Wolf
7. Giant Anteater
8. Echidna
9. Ethopian Wolf
10. Ribbon Seal

Hmm what about... or.. and..

Doh!

 

[Farnboro John]

Wolverine is probably top of my mammal want list at the mo, so where did you get yours John?

!

Mine was in Finland, there should be notes on contacting the guys who sorted it on the Finland bit of Jon Hall's site. If not the Dixonsummermadness thread in vacational trips has it I think.

We had Wolverine and Brown Bear from a hide and then Moose on the drive out in the morning. Not a bad night out!

John

 

[sglynas]

Lots of dreams here.
I would much prefere a good view of "Lesser" mammals than a fleeting glance of a Snow leopard just so that I could "Tick" it.

Much as I disagree to Zoos unfortunatly that is the only place I am going to see any Big Cat.

Steve.

 

[James Eaton]

W. Tarsier is "reasonably common" at Danum, but only on the road to the research area and Rhino Ridge Trail IMO. Dunno about around the Lodge though.
Chris

Hmmm... they maybe reasonably common but after 15 visits to Danum Valley I still haven't seen one there, despite putting in many, many hours looking for the little critters... the tariser family is a really, really hard family to clean-up, so far I'm on 5 of the 8(ish).
Surprised Rhino Ridge is good for them - I thought the habitat there would be too mature for them as they usually favour degraded secondary. They get seen about once a fortnight by the lodge.

James, that's a very impressive list for Way Kambas. The only memorable mammal encounter I had there was spotlighting eyeshine of a large mammal while walking along the road.

Our compulsory know-nothing guide (supposedly there for our safety) literally hid behind us, thinking it was a Tiger. Regrettably, it turned out to be a Sambar!

Isn't Sunbear also a realistic possibility there?

How could I forget my Sunbear encounter there! While looking at a dead-something-or-other on the road, 7 of us looked up in amazement as a Sun Bear walked slowly across the track just in front of us! I saw one on two occasions a month later at Gunung Kerinci - Sumatra is amazing for wildlife. Loads of Binturong also!
The armed guides maybe useless for 99.9%, but definitely worth having considering what mammals are present inside the park...

James

 

[rockfowl]

I would much prefere a good view of "Lesser" mammals than a fleeting glance of a Snow leopard just so that I could "Tick" it.

I'd agree however my sightings involved a female at 70m which exploded up the rock face, stopping frequently to stare back and the second, a male watching us from a ridge was on view for nearly an hour. Hardly fleeting, but without doubt, very lucky, one of life's ultimate moments!

 

[rockfowl]

Mysticete,

Are you still going to have a crack at Iromote Cat whilst in Japan? I saw Mark Brazil (actually in Brazil) and he was unaware of anyone seeing it recently - Now there's a challenge!

 

[James Eaton]

I'd agree however my sightings involved a female at 70m which exploded up the rock face, stopping frequently to stare back and the second, a male watching us from a ridge was on view for nearly an hour. Hardly fleeting, but without doubt, very lucky, one of life's ultimate moments!

:eat:

 

[rockfowl]

 

[rockfowl]

I remembered this impressive list (apologies to Mysticete, might influence a few), I can only manage ten of these and I completely forgot about Russian Desman which I'd really like to see - http://creagrus.home.montereybay.com/vlad-top50mammals.html

Another one for you James - http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/saola-laos.html#cr

 

[James Eaton]

Another one for you James - http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/saola-laos.html#cr

Yep, the ultimate prize - never seen by a biologists or westerner in the wild, they really are in the very backwaters of Indochina. One of the most iconic camera shots I have ever seen is of a Saola, standing in a forested stream, awesome!

James

 

[chowchilla]

Yep, the ultimate prize - never seen by a biologists or westerner in the wild, they really are in the very backwaters of Indochina. One of the most iconic camera shots I have ever seen is of a Saola, standing in a forested stream, awesome!

James

I remember when it was first discovered it was named the Vu Quang Ox as I recall. I've heard so little about it since then that I was wondering if it still existed.

Extraordinary animal.

 

[James Eaton]

I remember when it was first discovered it was named the Vu Quang Ox as I recall. I've heard so little about it since then that I was wondering if it still existed.

Extraordinary animal.

Yep, still exists - there has been quite a bit of money ploughed in for the rediscovery of this species. Lots of camera-trapping, following up hunters reports, analysing old horn trophies, even a guy doing a phD on them, there is the Saola recovering team, even a big Saola meeting and workship last year and they have turned up very little until this latest report.

Also from Lao is the Kha-nyou, never been seen by a biologist in the wild, only in markets, now that is truly fascinating - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laotian_rock_rat

James

 

[jurek]

Saola is set to become an ultimate mammal "blocker", population of few tens and likely extinct in 5-10 years.

So, James, if you set off the beaten track in Indochina, something exceptional is waiting.

 

[rockfowl]

I remember the footage of the Kha-nyou - http://www.rinr.fsu.edu/rockrat/more.html and the video - http://www.rinr.fsu.edu/rockrat/ , interesting beast!

and a smart Saola - http://www.arkive.org/saola/pseudoryx-nghetinhensis/video-08.html

 

[chowchilla]

Yep, still exists - there has been quite a bit of money ploughed in for the rediscovery of this species. Lots of camera-trapping, following up hunters reports, analysing old horn trophies, even a guy doing a phD on them, there is the Saola recovering team, even a big Saola meeting and workship last year and they have turned up very little until this latest report.

Also from Lao is the Kha-nyou, never been seen by a biologist in the wild, only in markets, now that is truly fascinating - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laotian_rock_rat

James

Not only a new species, but a new family! and what a bizarre looking creature.

Clearly the forests in this part of the world are extraordinary. Perhaps amongst the world's oldest since they harbour these 'living fossils'?

 

[DMW]

What are the chances of Kouprey surviving? The dry deciduous forests in N Cambodia must have had an awesome magafauna until a few decades ago.

 

[lincsbirder]

Lots of dreams here.
I would much prefere a good view of "Lesser" mammals than a fleeting glance of a Snow leopard just so that I could "Tick" it.

Much as I disagree to Zoos unfortunatly that is the only place I am going to see any Big Cat.

Steve.

Snow Leopard sightings in Ladakh arnt just glimses.2 of the 3 sightings we had in 08 where fairly long- 1 hour and 2hours90 min. But, we did find 2 kills and we was there for a month.

Mark

 

[sglynas]

Congrats Lincsbirder on the Snow leopard sightings (he says jeolously) I never realised that they could be "Watched" as such.
I would love to see Lynx in the uk someday.

Just thinking about how many types of Mammal you can see regularly in England.

Rabbits, wood mouse, Grey squirrel.
then has to think for a while.
I can go out and see Roe deer whithin a mile from my house.
Fox (more often in town than in the countryside)
Badger (if you know where to look)
I do see bats pipistrelle and long eared

I dream of a Pine Marten (locally)

Mammals are not easy to see are they?

Steve

 

[jurek]

Kouprey

Unfortunately, recent survey found it extinct. And ARKive has a colour film of a herd... :-C

On the positive, those who join OBC tour with Jesper Hornskov will likely see more Tibetan Foxes than they care, as well as pikas, Tibetan Gazelles and Kiang.

 

[rockfowl]

Congrats Lincsbirder on the Snow leopard sightings (he says jeolously) I never realised that they could be "Watched" as such.
I would love to see Lynx in the uk someday.

Just thinking about how many types of Mammal you can see regularly in England.

Rabbits, wood mouse, Grey squirrel.
then has to think for a while.
I can go out and see Roe deer whithin a mile from my house.
Fox (more often in town than in the countryside)
Badger (if you know where to look)
I do see bats pipistrelle and long eared

I dream of a Pine Marten (locally)

Mammals are not easy to see are they?

Steve

A good point Steve, you know I've been lucky enough to see Jaguars regularly, but fieldwise, I've seen more Jags than Mole, our Mole in my experience (out everyday) is not an easy species to see.