TIMOR-LESTE REPTILE & AMPHIBIAN SURVEY
PHASE IV: A TASTE OF FIELDWORK cont.

We returned to the Timor Lodge Hotel with three species: Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko)—we found them in the outbuildings and the banana plantations in large numbers and realised that the local Timorese do not like them at all; Common house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus)—a common lizard in buildings but we found ours under rocks along the road, and the Common Asian toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus)— a toad locally called the Interfet toad, because it is widely believed to have been introduced (accidentally) by INTERFET peacekeepers in the early years after the end of the Indonesian occupation. Back at the TLH we had also recorded the common house gecko and the Mutilated gecko (Gehyra mutilata), so we have four species already for Phase IV. However, several of these species are perianthropic species (species that live alongside man) and all have been introduced or have invaded the island of Timor; none are native species. Those will come later.

See no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil, but nobody said anythin about not biting like hell. Tokay gecko, Gekko gecko

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Tokay geckos are the largest geckos in Southeast Asia, well known for their call, which sounds like tokay, or gecko, or (as one Australian peacekeeper reminded me get off —I think that was what he said anyway). They are also known for their tenacious and painful bite and require careful handling, so I took care posing these three for their portraits whilst operating the camera with the right hand. It was not necessary to ask them to smile!

After a shower and a change of clothing twelve of the expedition (Benny could not make it) gathered outside the US Embassy in Dili. We looked the smartest we are likely to look for some time, wearing the official project shirts organised by Robert Sewell from Victor Valley College.

Once we were admitted to the US Embassy we had an audience with Ambassador Judith Fergin, her Deputy Chief of Mission, Jonathan Henick, and the Second Secretary to the Consul, Christopher Crawford. We spent well over an hour explaining the project, its aims, its successes since 2009, and discussing related matters with these busy diplomats, who were genuinely interested in our project.

The team outside the Residence of the US Ambassador. (l-r) Robert Sewell, Paul Landry, Hinrich Kaiser, Ambassador Fergin, Zito Afranio, Kyle Olsen, Mark O'Shea, Agivdeo (Laca) Ribeiro, David Taylor, Caitlin Sanchez, Luis Lemos, Scott Heacox, Joanna Flores, Christopher Crawford of the US Embassy. Venancio (Benny) Carvalho is missing.

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It was a very pleasant way to end our time in Dili, for tomorrow we depart for the south coast for ten days of intensive herpetological fieldwork, in two remote coastal protected areas. I shall continue to prepare these field blogs but it is highly unlikely we will be anywhere near an internet connection to post them for some time.

Don't give up on us, we are still out there.... somewhere!

Tokay gecko Gekko gecko