• About us
    • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Partners & Supporters
    • Contact Us
  • Our work
        • what we do
          • Saving the Rainforest
          • Scientific Research
          • Community Development
          • Environmental Education
          • Outreach
        • Where we work
          • Sebangau Landscape
          • Rungan Landscape
          • Barito Ulu
        • Our stories
          • Latest News
          • Features
          • Press Room
  • Take action
    • Support a Campaign
    • Be a Fundraiser
    • Our Rainforest Experiences
    • Shop & Support
    • Donate
  • Login
  • Donate Now

Wild Cats & Camera Traps

  • Projects
  • |
  • Scientific Research
  • |

Using infrared camera traps, we seek to answer key questions about the behaviour and ecology of Borneo's secretive wild cats. Our discoveries are helping us to mitigate the threats and protect these endangered species in their rainforest home.

We began camera trap surveys in 2008 in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) at the University of Oxford, UK. Our camera trap project in Sebangau National Park is the first long-term and intensive study of the clouded leopard and other felids in Borneo’s rainforests. We are committed to understanding  the density and abundance of these under-studied species.

We place camera traps in different areas of the forest, at ground level and high up in the canopy, to collect data on species present, time of day, and if possible sex, age class and individual identification. We have surveyed eight research sites across Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo, and confirmed the presence of clouded leopards in seven of these forests. 

Camera traps give us a glimpse into the lives of the elusive and rare wild cats of Borneo

Camera-trap-setup_Sabangau_2017-(2)
Adul-Fixing-Tree-Trap-3
Flat-headed cat
Camera-Trap---Animal-Behaviour_Susan-Cheyne_Clouded-Leopard-2

Although we have had camera traps in the Sebangau National Park forest for over a decade, there is still much more to discover. There are five wild cat species on Borneo, but we have only ever recorded four in this forest; the endemic and rarely seen bay cat does not appear to be present in peat-swamp forests such as Sebangau National Park. We have compiled data on clouded leopard densities, social and ranging behaviour, and long-term population trend data for the marbled, flat-headed and leopard cats. We are still learning about the smaller cats and we want to know more about the clouded leopards, particularly the females and their cubs which seem expert at avoiding our cameras.

In 2016, we initiated another long-term camera trap project at our field site in the Rungan Forest. That same year we captured the first ever photo of the bay cat in the area, thus establishing the presence of all five of Borneo’s wild cats in Rungan, the only site in Central Kalimantan known to have all five. Our press release on the presence of this rare and endangered cat attracted international media attention as there is so little known about this species.

Scientists have struggled to gather information on the biology, behaviour and distribution of Borneo’s wild cats, particularly the bay cat, due to their stealthy nature. Using innovative technology, such as camera traps, will help us unlock the mysteries of the secretive cats of Borneo.

achieving more

sun bear_camera trap_borneo

Gaining new insights

We have obtained new information about other wildlife, including sun bears and pangolins; providing crucial data on species presence and behaviour

Orangutan_camera trap_borneo

Coming down from the canopy

We have contributed to a Borneo-wide survey of orangutans and how often they travel and feed on the ground

Banteng_camera trap_borneo

Capturing rare forest cattle on camera

We have contributed to the first Borneo-wide survey for the banteng (a species of large wild cattle); an Endangered species

Camera trap_guidelines_borneo

Publishing our work

We have written Good Practice Guidelines for carrying out camera trap studies

Camera trap_borneo_data collection

Collaborating with partners

We collaborate with other NGO’s and universities to compare data

Workshops_seminars_camera traps_borneo

Sharing our experiences

We share our expertise at training workshops and seminars

About our camera traps

0
years of studying wild cats via camera traps
> 0 K
photos and video collected
0
animal species recorded
> 0
hours of video recorded

Camera trap is a crucial method for monitoring of populations and wildlife behavior in their habitat, which will be very important as a basis for our conservation efforts. Please take a part to sustain it!

Donate Now

related articles

220126-Komik-Si-Popy-Eps-05-02-2

Popy’s Adventure #3

POPY'S ADVENTURE #3 POPY MEETS OBO As sunlight fell through cracks in the trees and the morning’s dew began to evaporate, Popy and her mother prepared to leave the nest they had slept in last night. With Popy holding on tight to his mother's body,...
Read more
220120 - Komik Si Popy - Eps 04-04

Popy’s Adventure #2

POPY BUILDS A NEST As the sun continued its westward crawl and the day’s colours slowly began to fade, Popy and her mother picked out a tree to sleep in. "Popy, we have to choose a different tree every day to sleep," said Popy’s mother,...
Read more
Popy's Adventure Series

Popy’s Adventure #1

THE FOREST GARDENERS The sun's rays filter through gaps in the canopy, sporadically illuminating the forest floor. In a tall tree, Popy, a young orangutan, and her mother have just woken up and are getting ready to leave their nest. "Where are we going today,...
Read more
DCIM100MEDIADJI_0007.JPG

Menjalankan Konservasi Taman Nasional Sebangau Bersama Masyarakat

Taman Nasional Sebangau (TNS) merupakan salah satu kawasan konservasi dengan hutan rawa gambut tropika tersisa dan penting di Kalimantan, bahkan dunia. Keberadaan kawasan seluas ± 537.451 hektar ini mampu mempengaruhi fungsi ekologis-hidrologis di sekitarnya. Kawasan Gambut Sebangau merupakan penyangga bagi tiga daerah aliran sungai (DAS)...
Read more
Cam 3 Orangutan

2008-2018 The Cats of Kalimantan: 10 Years of Camera Trapping Research by Borneo Nature Foundation

Written by Dr. Susan Cheyne (BNF International Co-director) It started in late 2007 with a question: did clouded leopards live in peat-swamp forest? There was some anecdotal evidence: BNF forestry coordinator Santiano’s father said he had seen clouded leopards while collecting jelutong (Dyera polyphylla) rubber...
Read more
Orangutan, Icarus

An orangutan tries to make a selfie with camera trap!

Written by Adul (Camera trap project coordinator), Azis (Orangutan project coordinator), and Sophie Kirklin (Primate scientist) Our camera traps catch all kinds of photos and videos of the amazing animals that call the Sebangau National Park home. The camera traps are camouflaged in the forest,...
Read more
Cam-13-Bay-Cat-(1)

New population of the secretive bay cat discovered on Borneo

There is little known about the bay cat; one of the five wild cat species found on Borneo. Scientists have struggled to gather basic information on the animal’s biology, behaviour and distribution due to its elusive nature. But, researchers from Borneo Nature Foundation are one...
Read more
Sign up to our monthly newsletter and get updates on our activities.

"(Required)" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Borneo Nature Foundation is a not-for-profit conservation organisation. We work to protect some of the most important areas of tropical rainforest and to safeguard the wildlife, environment and indigenous culture on Borneo.

TAKE ACTION

  • Support a Campaign
  • Be a Fundraiser
  • Our Rainforest Experience
  • Shop & Support
  • Donate
  • Support a Campaign
  • Be a Fundraiser
  • Our Rainforest Experience
  • Shop & Support
  • Donate

ABOUT US

  • Our Story
  • Press Room
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Books
  • Our Story
  • Press Room
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Books
Copyright 2023 Borneo Nature Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
FOLLOW US:
Facebook-f Twitter Instagram Youtube