PNHS planned activities March 2010

Planned PNHS activities in March :

See below our March program. Look forward to see many of you.

1. Fishing on the Rasau beach + search for sea/beach life, Wednesday March 3, 17.00-19.00 Be prepared to get wet. Further info: Etienne Loubens or PNHS.Brunei@gmail.com

2. Beach Clean-up E1 Sunday March 7, 08.00-09.30 Meet at Panaga E1 Beach @ 08.00 Please join us to clean our “local” beach! (wear safe footwear and gloves) Further info: Suryani Kamis or PNHS.Brunei@gmail.com

3. Teraja waterfall walk, Sunday March 14, 07.00 Meet 7am @ Supasave On popular demand, a re-walk of this beautiful but relatively easy walk through some good primary rainforest along the river.It is suitable for adventurous families with older children (six and up). You will be rewarded with beautiful forest views and a nice swim at the waterfall. Be prepared to get wet feet and/or your clothes dirty. Length: 2 km/1 hr (1 way) Start: Depart Supa save at 7am sharp to drive to Teraja longhouse, end of Labi road (1.5 hrs drive from Panaga). Back around 12.00. Equipment: Mosquito repellent; Sturdy, no slip footwear that will get wet. Swimming trunks & towel; A set of dry clothes to leave at the vehicle. See attached poster for more info.Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come come first served basis. Please register your name with david.mendes@shell.com or D.deVries@shell.com or iwan_delugt@yahoo.co.uk

4. PNHS AGM Wednesday March 17, 7:00-7:45 pm , Panaga club Annex Agenda of the meeting:a) Approval of Minutes of 2009 AGMb) Approval of 2009 Financial Report c) Chairperson Reportd) Election of New Committee Memberse) Any Other Business.If you wish to be nominated or would like to nominate someone for any of the Committee positions, please email to pnhs.brunei@gmail.com by Thursday, 10 March 2010.

5. PNHS Film: ‘The Borneo Pygmy Elephant’ Wednesday March 17, 8:00-9:00 pm, Panaga club Pelangi room
A 50 min unique film by M.P. Wong, 2008. Following Bert Dausip in his daily expeditions deep into the jungle along the Kinabatangan River, in north-eastern Sabah, we witness some incredible footage revealing the most intimate secrets of the elephants’ family life. Occasionally these animals are seen bathing in the river - a magnificent sight where 50 elephants come together for a spectacular water show. Adults, juveniles and infants all spraying water, rolling in mud, and socializing. The film culminates in Bert’s successful mission to save the elephants from poachers, and have their forest home protected.For many years Borneo’s pygmy elephants were believed to be derived from domesticated imported Asian elephants. Now DNA testing has confirmed they are a unique subspecies, who’s lived on Borneo for at least 300 000 years.

Coastal Dolphins of Sarawak - Research and conservation issues

Talk by Dr. Gianna Minton

Monday - February 08 at 20.00. Pelangi room – Panaga club,

After a year of coastal boat surveys in Miri, Bintulu and Kuching, the researchers have gained insight into the habitat preferences and conservation needs of the 4 species of dolphins in the study. The talk will cover basic aspects of dolphin biology and ecology & more detailed information on the coastal dolphins of Sarawak, it will include photographs, video footage, and preliminary survey results.

Bio Gianna Minton:

After graduating from Stanford University in California, Gianna Minton started her professional life as an teacher and curriculum developer, working and living in Spain and Holland, as well as the US. She was reinvented as a cetacean researcher during her 8 and 1/2 years in Oman. Between 1999 and 2005 she raised funds, engaged in PR activities, and conducted boat and beach surveys for whales and dolphins all along the coast of Oman . Her PhD thesis, which was completed in 2004, focused on the amazing non-migratory humpback whales of the Arabian Sea. Since July 2005 she has been living with her husband and two young daughters in Sarawak, Malaysia. In May 2008 she was appointed as a Research Fellow at University Malaysia Sarawak to fulfill the role of Principal researcher on on the Sarawak Dolphin Project, and continues to work with Cindy Peter, MsC candidate to study coastal dolphins in the Kuching, Bintulu and Miri regions. When not bouncing around on a boat looking for dolphins or looking after her daughters, aged almost 3 and almost 5, Gianna is swimming, running, or enjoying Borneo's terrestrial wildlife.

ps. non panaga club members please notify PNHS@gmail.com to apply for a day pass