Another one of my little video insights, this time showing a wild boar (Sus scrofa) in the Eastern Forest Complex of Thailand enjoying himself, just doing his thing and enjoying his favourite forest clearing. I have photographed him in this spot before nearly a year ago and it is good to see him still there BUT is he "safe"? Is he alone in using his favourite sunning spot? Or are there other forest inhabitants using his favoured forest patch as well? Watch and see.

Well my plans to get out and about have been a bit curtailed by the very very hot weather at moment. Parts of Thailand are now well into 40 degree celcius territory and this is making getting anywhere quite a task and the viscous circle of carrying lots of water to stay hydrated in the heat and then having to use more energy to carry the water, resulting in fluid loss due to sweat has raised its head again. So my trips are just little ones with very little walking until we get some respite and shelter from the the soon to come clouds and rain. But it is getting damper in some of the forests and we have a little sporadic rain. With that dampness Its getting so that the sweat bees are taking much less interest in the walking human sweat factory that I am. 

Whilst in Pang Sida National Park a week ago I was having a lay down and a sleep (age!) at the Lanhindard river bed when I noticed a lone bee on the the river bed rocks that looked a little different from the usual collection of sweat and stingless bees so I got down on all fours for a closer look. I was a beautiful orange Megachile bee, so out came the camera and macro lens for a shot and lo and behold it was joined by another Megachile bee of a different species. A lucky day for me with bees but an unlucky day for cameras as my Nikon D7000 gave its last sigh as a result of being drenched by the sweat running off my head in the searing heat. This is the second D7000 that has given up its life to sweat in this way, its  a great little camera but the sealing around the hot shoe is an achilles heal for the tropical forest shooter.

Megachile bees (also known as Leaf Cutter bees and Mason bees) are of the genus Megachile and are a group of solitary bee species (i.e. they do not hive like more commonly known bees but live independently of each other) that do not produce honey but are very important pollinators of wild plants in the forest. They are not aggressive but can sting for defence,  they have a mild sting that is much less painful than that of a sweat bee although I have never been stung by one, this is something I do look at as I have become allergic to sweat bee stings. Most Megachile bee species nest in sheltered locations in pre-existing natural cavities such as burrows, crevices and hollow twigs. Females of most Megachile species have large mandibles for cutting leaves and flowers that they use to build their nests. This is the reason that many species of Megachile bees are commonly known as leafcutter bees. There is another group within the Megachile genus known as  dauber bees and they build their nests using mud instead of leaves. Megachile bees have no sticky pads (arolia) between their claws and their pollen-carrying structure (called a scopa) is restricted to the ventral surface of the abdomen, you can see both these factors clearly in the photographs below.

A Leaf cutter or Mason Bee of the Genus Megachile - unknown species

Megachile Bee - unknown species

The Sumatran Serow - Capricornis sumatraenis (also known as the Southern Serow and the Mainland Serow) is another threatened species due to habitat loss and hunting, and listed as vulnerable by the IUCN.

It belongs to a group known as the "goat-antelopes" and is a member of the sub-family of Caprinae along with the ibix, goral, musk ox, wild goat, bighorn and chamois. It is a rather small-bodied animal, about the size of a domestic goat, that inhabits rugged mountains and rocky outcrops, covered with thick vegetation or forest. The limestone karsts of Thailand provide a good home for wild serow. Unfortunately their numbers have been decimated in the past due to hunting for meat and supposed traditional medicine ingredients and as such they are now quite rare. One of the places you still have a good chance of seeing them is in Uthai Thani province, especially at this time of year when the serow come down off the karst's, at night, in search of water. Driving around the bottom of the karsts at night and in the early morning you have a real chance of seeing them. These pictures of wild serow are from high on top of the karst, a difficult and treacherous terrain for humans with jagged limestone rock faces and loose rocks underfoot not to mention hardship of the climb carrying the photographic gear. The first shot is on one of the few rainy nights we have had on the latrine site in March. We recorded a male and a female also.

The Sumatran serow is generally a solitary animal that inhabits a small area which is well marked with trails, latrine points, and scenting points. The small area of habitat selected provides all the needs of the serow, such as sufficient grasses, shoots and leaves on which to feed during the early morning and late evening, and suitable sheltered resting places in caves or under overhanging rocks and cliffs. 

Mammals of Thailand : Capricornis sumatraenis : Wild Sumatran Serow on a rainy night in Uthai Thani

 

Capricornis sumatraenis : Mainland or Southern or Sumatran Serow inspecting a latrine site