TIMOR-LESTE 2009

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

 

Dili, Dili District


Map of Dili, Dili District.
(click to enlarge and view Dili) `

The expedition even herped in Dili, we captured a Rice paddy frog (Fejervarya sp.) at the Rentló car rental.

FROGS from DILI
click on an image to enlarge
Rice paddy frog, Fejervarya sp.

 

Also in Dili, our government contact and friend Claudia Abate had arranged an audience for us with President José Ramos-Horta at the Presidential Palace. This gave us a chance to summarise our results and thank the President for the huge amount of support and backing we had received from his government, without which we would not have been in Timor-Leste.
Herp team outside the Presidential Palace
after meeting President José Ramos-Horta:
(l-r) Luis Lemos, Scott Heacox, Jester Caballos, Caitlin Sanchez,
Mark O'Shea, Hinrich Kaiser, Claudio Abate (Special Advisor to the
Prime Minister of Timor-Leste), Zito Afranio, Agivedo Ribeiro (Laca) and Venacio Lopez Carvalho (Benny).
Mark meets President José Ramos-Horta, of Timor-Leste. Mark and Hinrich briefing
President José Ramos-Horta, of Timor-Leste
on the results of the herpetological survey.

On 1st August 2009 the expedition, minus our Timorese students (Benny and the Jets) flew to Singapore where we relaxed for a day, and visited the Singapore Zoo, following which the American contingent flew back to California and Mark flew back to the United Kingdom.