Victor Valley College Tropical Research Initiative
Herpetofauna of Timor-Leste
Phase I

Pantai Walu, Tutuala, Lautem District

Map of eastern Lautem District.
(click to enlarge and view Pantai Walu locations)

Lodge at Pantai Walu, Tutuala beach.

The road down to Pantai Walu is very poor and only possible with a 4x4 vehicle. Apart from the rocky nature of the road we also encountered a treefall which it was necessary to skirt-around.

Expedition base camp was the lodge at Pantai Walu. We had considered travelling across short distance to nearby Jaco Island, the eastern-most part of Timor-Leste but decided to concentrate our attentions on Lake Ira Lalaro 45minutes back and beyond Tutuala.

Looking north from Pantai Walu.	Dawn due east of Pantai Walu, the Indonesian island of Leti is visible in the distance.	Looking south from Pantai Walu, towards Jaco Island, Timor-Leste's second island and eastern-most point.

At Pantai Walu we encountered Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko gecko), Common house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) and Timor monitor lizards (Varanus timorensis).

MONITOR from PANTAI WALU click on an image to enlarge
Timor monitor lizard, Varanus timorensis