Hi guys,
About time that I provided my summary of an awesome adventure with the Bangladesh Python Project last month.
Being my girlfriend and I's first time out of Europe, our arrival in the capital Dhaka was a bit of a culture shock! To be herded like cattle through various queues in two airports and sitting on two planes for a total of 12 hours and then to be immediately confronted by the mayhem of Dhaka upon exiting the airport was interesting to say the least.
Dhaka is a place you really need to experience first hand, I could go into great detail about the insane traffic, colourful people and general anarchy but it wouldn't do justice to just how insanely awesome that place is!
Upon arrival at the airport we were greeted by Scott Trageser who was managing the foreign project workers, we were escorted to our hotel, chilled for a few hours and then back out into the madness for a few hours including some rickshaw riding on our way to dinner.
The following day, having met all of the other participants we headed out to Bhawal National Park on our way to our ultimate destination in the North East. We stayed there for a few hours but still managed to rustle up a few Herps there.
Asian Brown Tortoise (Manouria emys)
Asian Brown Tortoise (Manouria emys) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Berdmore's Microhylid Frog (Microhyla berdmorei)
Berdmore's Microhylid Frog (Microhyla berdmorei) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Bengal Monitor (Varanus bengalensis) - I realised later on that I'd had my telephoto in my bag, grrr!
Bengal Monitor Lizard (Varanus bengalensis) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Next up was a 5 hour drive to Lawachara National Park which was to be our home for the next 10 days. Upon arrival we were shown to our living quarters.
IMG_5706 by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
IMG_5769 by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
The following 10 days were full to the brim with numerous herps and various of native wildlife (all lifers for me!) so rather than writing about each one individually, I'll just chuck a loads of photos up and let them do the talking!
Short-Nosed Vine Snake (Ahaetulla prasina)
Short-Nosed Vine Snake (Ahaetulla prasina) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Two-Striped Pygmy Tree Frog (Chiromantis vittatus)
Two-Striped Pygmy Tree Frog (Chiromantis vittatus) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Capped Langur (Trachypithecus pileatus)
Capped Langur (Trachypithecus pileatus) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Point Nosed Frog (Clinotarsus alticola)
Point Nosed Frog (Clinotarsus alticola) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Common Asian Toad (Duttophrynus melanostictus)
Common Asian Toad (Duttophrynus melanostictus) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Vampire Frog (Leptobrachium smithi) ... These guys were awesome!!
Vampire Frog (Leptobrachium smithi) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Diard's Blind Snake (Argryophis diardii)
Diard's Blind Snake (Argryophis diardii) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Diard's Blind Snake (Argryophis diardii) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Emma Gray's Forest Lizard (Calotes emma)
Emma Gray's Forest Lizard (Calotes emma) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Orbweaver (Genus? Species?)
Orbweaver by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Indian Bull Frog (Hoplobatrachus tigrinis)
Indian Bull Frog (Hoplobatrachus tigrinis) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Mymensingh Microhylid Frog (Microhyla mymensingensis)
Mymensingh Microhylid Frog (Microhyla mymensingensis) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Zaw's Wolf Snake (Lycodon zawi) ... This was a DOR that Jonathan Hakim found on one of his nightly solo excursions
Zaw's Wolf Snake (Lycodon zawi) -DOR by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock)
Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
The Bangladesh Python Project is currently radio tracking Python bivitattus, Indotestudo elongata and recently Pangolins.
We got involved in taking morphometric data and affixing radio transmitters to three elongata's before their release.
Elongated Tortoise (Indotestudo elongata)
Elongated Tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Elongated Tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Elongated Tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Yellow Speckled Wolf Snake (Lycodon jara)
Yellow Speckled Wolf Snake (Lycodon jara) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Unidentified Microhylid Metamorph (Microhyla sp.)
Unidentified Microhylid Metamorph (Microhyla sp.) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Phayre's Leaf Monkey (Trachypithecus phayrei)
Phayre's Leaf Monkey (Trachypithecus phayrei) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
After a morning Monkey hunt, we came back to the dorms to find this hitchhiker on the truck!
Katydid by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
A few photographs later we were granted this really cool threat display!
Katydid by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Katydid by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Spotted Owlet (Athene brama)
Spotted Owlet (Athene brama) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Green Cat-Eye Snake (Boiga cyanea)
Green Cat-Eye Snake (Boiga cyanea) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Ayeyarwady Bow-Fingered Gecko (Cyrtodactylus ayeyarwadyensis)
Ayeyarwady Bow-Fingered Gecko (Cyrtodactylus ayeyarwadyensis) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Microletta sp.
Microletta sp by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
I got quite attached to this little Jumping Spider while photographing him outside our dorm
Jumping Spider by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
I went back inside, came back out 10 minutes later to find my new buddy being dismembered by a platoon of ants! Nature's nasty!
Jumping Spider by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
White-Barred Kukri Snake (Oligodon albocintus)
White-Barred Kukri Snake (Oligodon albocintus) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Shillong Bush Frog (Philatus shillongensis)
Shillong Bush Frog (Philatus shillongensis) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Twin-Spotted Tree Frog (Rhacophorus bipunctatus)
Twin-Spotted Tree Frog (Rhacophorus bipunctatus) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Mock Viper (Psammodynastes pulverulentus)
Mock Viper (Psammodynastes pulverulentus) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Green Fan-Throated Lizard (Ptycolaemus gularis)
Green Fan-Throated Lizard (Ptycolaemus gularis) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Nepal Cricket Frog (Zakarana nepalensis) ... The numerous Zakarana species found in the area became affectionately known as the "Shitload Frog" by our group as there were a shit load of them!!
Nepal Cricket Frog (Zakarana nepalensis) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Showing sexual dimorphism
Nepal Cricket Frog (Zakarana nepalensis) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Burmese Python (Python bivittatus) ... Not every day you get to see a wild example of this common captive, without the aid of radio tracking we would of never found this example in a million years!
Burmese Python (Python bivittatus) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Morphometrics being taken prior to release.
Python bivittatus Morphometrics by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Python bivittatus Morphometrics by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Python bivittatus Morphometrics by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Himalayan Keelback (Rhabdophis himalayanus)
Himalayan Keelback (Rhabdophis himalayanus) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta)
Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Net-Casting Spider (Deinopis sp.)
Net-Casting Spider (Deinopis sp.) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Spot-Tailed Pit Viper (Trimeresurus erythrurus) ... Although reasonably common in Bangladesh, this was still my favourite find of the trip. What can I say? I like Vipers!
Spot-Tailed Pit Viper (Trimeresurus erythrurus) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Terai Cricket Frog (Zakarana teraiensis)
Terai Cricket Frog (Zakarana teraiensis) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Gular region is an identifying characteristic of this species
Terai Cricket Frog (Zakarana teraiensis) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Also sexually dimorphic
Terai Cricket Frog (Zakarana teraiensis) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
We managed to get a night herping trip in at the end of the ten days at Ratargul Swamp Forest a few hours North of Lawachara.
I'm not a landscape photographer, it's something I really struggle with so I apologise in advance for these photos!
094 by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
095 by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
099 by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Bhamo Frog (Humerana humeralis)
Bhamo Frog (Humerana humeralis) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Painted Keelback (Xenocrophis cerasogaster)
Painted Keelback (Xenocrophis cerasogaster) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Checkered Keelback (Xenocrophis piscator)
Checkered Keelback (Xenocrophis piscator) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
The people of Ratargul are among the friendliest people I've ever met, although I did leave that place with a lot less tobacco than what I arrived with! Those guys really liked my smokes!
And so concluded our time at Lawachara, and the beginning of the long trip to the Sundarbans Mangrove System in the South West of Bangladesh.
On route, we stopped off in Dhaka for dinner (best Chinese food I've ever had!)
Driving through the night we arrived at the boat the following morning.
On the river to Kotka
On the river to Kotka by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
On the river to Kotka by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
419 by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Blue-Spotted Mudskipper (Boleophthalmus boddarti)
Blue-Spotted Mudskipper (Boleophthalmus boddarti) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)
Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Long-Nosed Vine Snake (Ahaetulla nasuta)
Long-Nosed Vine Snake (Ahaetulla nasuta) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Spotted Deer (Axis axis)
Spotted Deer (Axis axis) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Dog-Faced Water Snake (Cerberus rynchops)
Dog-Faced Water Snake (Cerberus rynchops) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Crab-Eating Water Snake (Fordonia leucobalia) ... Finding this specimen meant a range extension for this species!
Crab-Eating Water Snake (Fordonia leucobalia) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris)
Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Glossy Marsh Snake (Gerarda prevostiana)
Glossy Marsh Snake (Gerarda prevostiana) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Water Monitor (Varanus salvator)
Water Monitor Lizard (Varanus salvator) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
White-Bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)
White-Bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Spot-Tailed Pit Viper (Trimeresurus erythrurus)
Spot-Tailed Pit Viper (Trimeresurus erythrurus) by Jim Wetherall, on Flickr
Jodee and I had a great time in Bangladesh and we wouldn't hesitate to return at some point in the future. We made great friends over the 2 weeks and we can't wait to see all you guys soon!
(I've kept the "story telling" and descriptions to a minimum on this opening post so it didn't read too long, if anyone would like to know specifics on anything please let me know and I'll try my best to provide more detailed information!)
p.s. More photos of Bangladesh fauna (and other wildlife) can be found on my Flickr account
https://www.flickr.com/photos/130330812@N06/
Bangladesh Python Project July 2015
Moderator: Scott Waters
Re: Bangladesh Python Project July 2015
Jim,
None of your images are showing up for me (using Google Chrome or IE).
I can see them in your Flickr album, but you must be using the wrong img tag URL.
None of your images are showing up for me (using Google Chrome or IE).
I can see them in your Flickr album, but you must be using the wrong img tag URL.
-
- Posts: 19
- Joined: December 4th, 2014, 1:56 am
Re: Bangladesh Python Project July 2015
They're not showing up for me either. What code do I need to copy and paste from Flickr to get them to show up?
Re: Bangladesh Python Project July 2015
I don't use Flickr, so I don't know which one you need. Look in the FAQ section above and see if someone has answered this (I'm sure they have).Jim Wetherall wrote:They're not showing up for me either. What code do I need to copy and paste from Flickr to get them to show up?
-
- Posts: 19
- Joined: December 4th, 2014, 1:56 am
Re: Bangladesh Python Project July 2015
Issue has now been rectified, my apologies!!
- Paul Freed
- Posts: 130
- Joined: November 10th, 2013, 12:14 pm
- Location: Pacific Northwest (Oregon) U.S.
Re: Bangladesh Python Project July 2015
Jim,
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Great photos and great post! However, only 2 images showed up for me. Guess I'm doing something wrong since you said the issue has been rectified. Thanks for sharing!
Paul
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Great photos and great post! However, only 2 images showed up for me. Guess I'm doing something wrong since you said the issue has been rectified. Thanks for sharing!
Paul
- Paul Freed
- Posts: 130
- Joined: November 10th, 2013, 12:14 pm
- Location: Pacific Northwest (Oregon) U.S.
Re: Bangladesh Python Project July 2015
Never mind Jim, as soon as I posted my last comment all the photos came up. Great to see them!
-Paul
-Paul
- Jeroen Speybroeck
- Posts: 826
- Joined: June 29th, 2011, 1:56 am
- Location: Belgium
- Contact:
Re: Bangladesh Python Project July 2015
What a trip! Cool to see how some species are similar to what we found in Malaysia earlier this year. Love the hazy background in your first viper shot - gotta love those tree vipers!
-
- Posts: 19
- Joined: December 4th, 2014, 1:56 am
Re: Bangladesh Python Project July 2015
Thanks guys.
Paul,
Hope your trip down memory lane was a fond one! I'll message you in a few days, got some information for our potential 2016 trip.
Jeroen,
It was a really cool trip, the Vipers were the most memorable Herps of the trip for me, while boating in the Sundarbans we came across a huge adult female swimming along side us!
In regards to the hazy background in that Viper shot, Bokeh is something I try my best to implement in a lot of my photos (when I remember!)
Malaysia is another place I would love to visit, loads more Vipers there!
Paul,
Hope your trip down memory lane was a fond one! I'll message you in a few days, got some information for our potential 2016 trip.
Jeroen,
It was a really cool trip, the Vipers were the most memorable Herps of the trip for me, while boating in the Sundarbans we came across a huge adult female swimming along side us!
In regards to the hazy background in that Viper shot, Bokeh is something I try my best to implement in a lot of my photos (when I remember!)
Malaysia is another place I would love to visit, loads more Vipers there!
Re: Bangladesh Python Project July 2015
Great stuff! Love your photos!
Cheers
Kai
Cheers
Kai
- Bostaff of Asclepius
- Posts: 43
- Joined: January 29th, 2013, 9:21 am
- Location: Central Coast of California
Re: Bangladesh Python Project July 2015
Interesting species and excellent photos!
Re: Bangladesh Python Project July 2015
excellent finds, really jealous about the Lycodon jara and Oligodon albocinctus. looks like I will have to make a trip to N-E India soon.
- Muchobirdnerd
- Posts: 83
- Joined: March 1st, 2014, 7:11 pm
Re: Bangladesh Python Project July 2015
Very jealous of Leptobrachium smithi. Cool looking trip.
- NatureStills
- Posts: 42
- Joined: March 19th, 2012, 4:36 pm
- Location: Con Dao, Vietnam
- Contact:
Re: Bangladesh Python Project July 2015
Great shots Jim! Loved having you guys out there and seeing that all that effort photographing everything was worthwhile! Really impressed with your eye in a lot of these photos. You have some genuine talent man!!!
-
- Posts: 19
- Joined: December 4th, 2014, 1:56 am
Re: Bangladesh Python Project July 2015
Thanks for the feedback guys!
Thanks Scott, I really miss Bangladesh! Can't wait to get out to Asia again (or somewhere else equally awesome!)NatureStills wrote:Great shots Jim! Loved having you guys out there and seeing that all that effort photographing everything was worthwhile! Really impressed with your eye in a lot of these photos. You have some genuine talent man!!!
Re: Bangladesh Python Project July 2015
Amazing post and photos. Love the herps, but that mudskipper is the coolest.
Re: Bangladesh Python Project July 2015
Nice post Jim. That Lycodon jara was just so beautiful. Fantastic snake diversity that we ended up with there.
I like the little web-casting spider too.
I like the little web-casting spider too.