Latest news with #Matang
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
'Frogging' takes off in Borneo's jungle
Dodging fire-ants, snakes and millions of nighttime creepy-crawlies, a group of trekkers advances through the humid Bornean rainforest, scanning with torches for some of the jungle's most unlikely stars: frogs. "There's another one! And it's massive," British tourist Lauren Heywood exclaimed as she spotted the telltale reflective glint off a pair of blinking eyes, seemingly waiting to be photographed by admirers. "Frogging", or the hunt for the exotic amphibians that call the rainforest home, is taking off in Malaysia's Sarawak state in Borneo. And herpetologists say few places rival Kubah National Park, around half an hour's drive from state capital Kuching. It is home to some of the world's smallest and most unusual frog species. While many visitors flock to Borneo's jungle to see charismatic large species like orangutans or elephants, some of its tiniest residents are increasingly getting their turn in the spotlight, according to Kubah park ranger Muhammed Tajuddin. "More and more people are coming to see our frogs," he told AFP. - Frog central - The tour begins at dusk, with Indigenous Dayak guide Dominic Jikie leading a 45-minute hike up Mount Serapi, the highest peak in the area, to frog central. Here, surrounded by ancient jungle trees is a shallow pond around the size of two swimming pools. Scientists say it serves as the primary breeding ground for many of the 180 frog and toad species found on Borneo -- the world's third-largest island, divided between Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. Dozens of species dot almost every surface, submerged in the torchlit water, or perched on leaves, branches or tree trunks, placid and unbothered by their human fans. "There is something special here," said Jikie, 64, a retired park ranger who now specialises as a frogging guide. "People come to the park because they don't have the species that we have here back at home." Among the stars of the show on this visit are pinkish harlequin flying frogs with mottled underbellies, file-eared tree frogs with distinctive sharp noses and white-lipped frogs whose lurid green backs give way to a stripe of white along their bottom jaw. One of Borneo's most famous species, the giant river toad nicknamed "frogzilla" for its dinner-plate size, is not seen in Kubah. But there are other more delicate types, according to Jikie. "We have one of the world's smallest frog species, that breed inside pitcher plants," he said, training his sharp spotlight on a pair of amphibian eyes just up the steep mountain road. The Matang narrow-mouthed frog was officially described by Malaysian and German herpetologists in 2010 after its discovery in Kubah. It grows to a maximum of just 11 millimetres (less than half an inch) as an adult. British tourist Thom Harris and his fellow visitors spotted 11 species on their nighttime trek. "This was an amazing experience," he told AFP. "They are just stunning creatures." "There are a few fire ants and a few other things to be careful of -- and a lot of bugs," he laughed. "But it's definitely worth it. And it's a lot of fun!" - 'I love nature' - The rising popularity of the forest frogs is a chance for environmentalists to highlight the serious threats they face. Deforestation, climate change and overhunting are all putting pressure on the tropical island's frog population, scientists say. "Even slight changes in the temperature and climate may affect the survival of the frog species in a particular habitat," University of Malaysia, Sarawak researchers Nur Hidayah Zulkefli and Ramlah Zainudin wrote in 2022. Deforestation in Sarawak remains significant and ongoing, statistics by environmental group Global Forest Watch showed, including for timber and to make way for palm oil plantations. Sarawak's government said it backed community conservation movements to preserve the amphibians and it ran well-protected game and nature reserves like Kubah National Park. Awareness events include the annual International Bornean Frog Race, which sees scientists and the public compete to spot and photograph as many frog species as possible within a set timeframe and area. For park ranger Tajuddin, the more people are able to engage with the unique creatures, the more they will understand the need to protect them and their habitats. "I love nature," he said. "Frogging is a unique way for me to share that love with all our visitors." jhe/sah/lb/sco
The Star
10 hours ago
- The Star
Ribbit! 'Frogging' is taking off in Sarawak's Kubah National Park
Dodging fire-ants, snakes and millions of nighttime creepy-crawlies, a group of trekkers advances through the humid Bornean rainforest, scanning with torches for some of the jungle's most unlikely stars: frogs. "There's another one! And it's massive," British tourist Lauren Heywood exclaimed as she spotted the telltale reflective glint off a pair of blinking eyes, seemingly waiting to be photographed by admirers. "Frogging", or the hunt for the exotic amphibians that call the rainforest home, is taking off in Sarawak. And herpetologists say few places rival Kubah National Park, around half an hour's drive from state capital Kuching. It is home to some of the world's smallest and most unusual frog species. A Torrent frog seen at Kubah National Park in Kuching. While many visitors flock to Borneo's jungle to see charismatic large species like orangutans or elephants, some of its tiniest residents are increasingly getting their turn in the spotlight, according to Kubah park ranger Muhammed Tajuddin. "More and more people are coming to see our frogs," he told AFP. Frog central The tour begins at dusk, with Indigenous Dayak guide Dominic Jikie leading a 45-minute hike up Mount Serapi, the highest peak in the area, to frog central. Here, surrounded by ancient jungle trees is a shallow pond around the size of two swimming pools. A Brown Marsh frog seen at Kubah National Park in Kuching. Scientists say it serves as the primary breeding ground for many of the 180 frog and toad species found on Borneo – the world's third-largest island, divided between Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. Dozens of species dot almost every surface, submerged in the torchlit water, or perched on leaves, branches or tree trunks, placid and unbothered by their human fans. British tourists Thom Harris and Lauren Heywood taking part in frogging activity at Kubah National Park in Kuching. "There is something special here," said Jikie, 64, a retired park ranger who now specialises as a frogging guide. "People come to the park because they don't have the species that we have here back at home." Among the stars of the show on this visit are pinkish harlequin flying frogs with mottled underbellies, file-eared tree frogs with distinctive sharp noses and white-lipped frogs whose lurid green backs give way to a stripe of white along their bottom jaw. One of Borneo's most famous species, the giant river toad nicknamed "frogzilla" for its dinner-plate size, is not seen in Kubah. But there are other more delicate types, according to Jikie. "We have one of the world's smallest frog species, that breed inside pitcher plants," he said, training his sharp spotlight on a pair of amphibian eyes just up the steep mountain road. A Copper-cheeked frog seen at Kubah National Park in Kuching. The Matang narrow-mouthed frog was officially described by Malaysian and German herpetologists in 2010 after its discovery in Kubah. It grows to a maximum of just 11 millimetres (less than half an inch) as an adult. British tourist Thom Harris and his fellow visitors spotted 11 species on their nighttime trek. "This was an amazing experience," he told AFP. "They are just stunning creatures." "There are a few fire ants and a few other things to be careful of – and a lot of bugs," he laughed. "But it's definitely worth it. And it's a lot of fun!" A Harlequin Tree frog seen at Kubah National Park in Kuching. 'I love nature' The rising popularity of the forest frogs is a chance for environmentalists to highlight the serious threats they face. Deforestation, climate change and overhunting are all putting pressure on the tropical island's frog population, scientists say. "Even slight changes in the temperature and climate may affect the survival of the frog species in a particular habitat," University of Malaysia, Sarawak researchers Nur Hidayah Zulkefli and Ramlah Zainudin wrote in 2022. Deforestation in Sarawak remains significant and ongoing, statistics by environmental group Global Forest Watch showed, including for timber and to make way for palm oil plantations. A Giant River frog seen at Kubah National Park in Kuching. Sarawak's government said it backed community conservation movements to preserve the amphibians and it ran well-protected game and nature reserves like Kubah National Park. Awareness events include the annual International Bornean Frog Race, which sees scientists and the public compete to spot and photograph as many frog species as possible within a set timeframe and area. For park ranger Tajuddin, the more people are able to engage with the unique creatures, the more they will understand the need to protect them and their habitats. "I love nature," he said. "Frogging is a unique way for me to share that love with all our visitors." — by Jan HENNOP/AFP
Borneo Post
12 hours ago
- Borneo Post
'Frogging' takes off in Sarawak's jungle
This picture taken on June 19, 2025 shows British tourists Thom Harris and Heywood taking part in frogging at Kubah National Park. — AFP photo KUCHING (July 4): Dodging fire-ants, snakes and millions of nighttime creepy-crawlies, a group of trekkers advances through the humid Bornean rainforest, scanning with torches for some of the jungle's most unlikely stars: frogs. 'There's another one! And it's massive,' British tourist Lauren Heywood exclaimed as she spotted the telltale reflective glint off a pair of blinking eyes, seemingly waiting to be photographed by admirers. 'Frogging', or the hunt for the exotic amphibians that call the rainforest home, is taking off in Sarawak And herpetologists say few places rival Kubah National Park, around half an hour's drive from state capital Kuching. It is home to some of the world's smallest and most unusual frog species. While many visitors flock to Borneo's jungle to see charismatic large species like orangutans or elephants, some of its tiniest residents are increasingly getting their turn in the spotlight, according to Kubah park ranger Muhammed Tajuddin. 'More and more people are coming to see our frogs,' he told AFP. This picture taken on June 19, 2025 shows a Copper-cheeked frog seen at Kubah National Park. — AFP photo – Frog central – The tour begins at dusk, with Indigenous Dayak guide Dominic Jikie leading a 45-minute hike up Mount Serapi, the highest peak in the area, to frog central. Here, surrounded by ancient jungle trees is a shallow pond around the size of two swimming pools. Scientists say it serves as the primary breeding ground for many of the 180 frog and toad species found on Borneo — the world's third-largest island, divided between Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei. Dozens of species dot almost every surface, submerged in the torchlit water, or perched on leaves, branches or tree trunks, placid and unbothered by their human fans. 'There is something special here,' said Jikie, 64, a retired park ranger who now specialises as a frogging guide. 'People come to the park because they don't have the species that we have here back at home.' Among the stars of the show on this visit are pinkish harlequin flying frogs with mottled underbellies, file-eared tree frogs with distinctive sharp noses and white-lipped frogs whose lurid green backs give way to a stripe of white along their bottom jaw. One of Borneo's most famous species, the giant river toad nicknamed 'frogzilla' for its dinner-plate size, is not seen in Kubah. But there are other more delicate types, according to Jikie. 'We have one of the world's smallest frog species, that breed inside pitcher plants,' he said, training his sharp spotlight on a pair of amphibian eyes just up the steep mountain road. The Matang narrow-mouthed frog was officially described by Malaysian and German herpetologists in 2010 after its discovery in Kubah. It grows to a maximum of just 11 millimetres (less than half an inch) as an adult. British tourist Thom Harris and his fellow visitors spotted 11 species on their nighttime trek. 'This was an amazing experience,' he told AFP. 'They are just stunning creatures.' 'There are a few fire ants and a few other things to be careful of — and a lot of bugs,' he laughed. 'But it's definitely worth it. And it's a lot of fun!' This picture taken on June 19, 2025 shows a Brown Marsh frog seen at Kubah National Park. — AFP photo – 'I love nature' – The rising popularity of the forest frogs is a chance for environmentalists to highlight the serious threats they face. Deforestation, climate change and overhunting are all putting pressure on the tropical island's frog population, scientists say. 'Even slight changes in the temperature and climate may affect the survival of the frog species in a particular habitat,' Universiti Malaysia Sarawak researchers Nur Hidayah Zulkefli and Ramlah Zainudin wrote in 2022. Deforestation in Sarawak remains significant and ongoing, statistics by environmental group Global Forest Watch showed, including for timber and to make way for palm oil plantations. Sarawak's government said it backed community conservation movements to preserve the amphibians and it ran well-protected game and nature reserves like Kubah National Park. Awareness events include the annual International Bornean Frog Race, which sees scientists and the public compete to spot and photograph as many frog species as possible within a set timeframe and area. For park ranger Tajuddin, the more people are able to engage with the unique creatures, the more they will understand the need to protect them and their habitats. 'I love nature,' he said. 'Frogging is a unique way for me to share that love with all our visitors.' — AFP Bornean Frog Race frogging Kubah National Park lead Mount Serapi
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Serious consideration needed on money spent for PhD students,' Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar Thursday said there needs to be serious consideration of the amount spent by the state government on PhD students. Pawar made this comment in the House while responding to a question raised by MLCs Sanjay Khodke of NCP and Abhijit Wanjarri of Congress regarding the disbursement of rental allowance and contingency funds by Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Research, Training, and Human Development Institute (SARTHI). The deputy chief minister informed the Legislative Council that a uniform policy regarding the number of students, general scholarships, foreign scholarships, and admission procedures is being planned for academic institutes. Along with SARTHI, which extends aid to Maratha students, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Research and Training Institute (BARTI) provides aid to Scheduled Caste students, Anna Bhau Sathe Research and Training Institute (ARTI) extends help to Matang community students, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Research & Training Institute (MAHAJYOTI) to OBC students, and Tribal Research & Training Institute (TRTI) to Scheduled Tribe students. 'Between 2018 and 2025, around 3 lakh students benefited from government scholarships, tuition fee assistance, and other schemes across 83 courses under SARTHI. However, 3,000 students (just 1 per cent) pursued PhD programs, for which Rs 280 crore out of Rs 750 crore was spent. This implies an average of Rs 30 lakh per student over five years, a figure that warrants serious consideration,' said Pawar. He said that a limited number of students will be given admission in the PhD course in institutions such as BARTI, SARTHI, MahaJyoti, and ARTI. 'We have not yet planned the exact number, but that will be decided soon,' said Pawar. Going forward, Pawar stated, admissions will be limited to courses that have proven employment potential, ensuring public resources are directed towards skill-based and career-oriented programs. 'A committee headed by the chief secretary was earlier appointed to review and recommend a common framework regarding student intake, admissions, scholarships, and academic quality in BARTI, SARTHI, MahaJyoti, and ART institutions. The report from this committee has now been received, and decisions based on it will be announced shortly,' Pawar added.
Hindustan Times
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Govt with you: Bawankule assures Matangs seeking sub-quota benefits
Mumbai: Members of the Matang community, one of the prominent castes under the Scheduled Caste (SC) category in Maharashtra, on Tuesday staged a demonstration at Azad Maidan seeking sub-categorisation benefits that would entail them to reservation within the SC quota based on their level of backwardness. State revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule assured the protestors that the government was with them and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis would meet them within a fortnight to discuss their demands. As per the 2011 census, the SC population in Maharashtra was 13.2 million of which around 62% were Mahars and neo-Buddhists while the remaining 38% belonged to castes within the Hindu fold. Matangs comprised the largest group in the second category with a population of around 3.5 million. The Mahayuti government had, in the runup to the assembly polls in November 2024, appointed a committee under retired high court judge Anant Badar to examine sub-classification within the SC quota. The move was opposed by Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar on grounds that it could affect existing reservation for neo-Buddhists and Mahars. Unrest among Matangs in Maharashtra had been rising in recent weeks with states like Telangana notifying and implementing sub-quotas. Tuesday's 'Matang Samaj Jan Akrosh Morcha' organised by the Sakal Matang Samaj, a community organisation, in Azad Maidan marked a culmination of sorts, as demands were raised halt government recruitment pending sub-categorisation. The protest was backed by leaders from the ruling alliance as well as the opposition. It was led by BJP legislators Amit Gorkhe, Sunil Kamble and Jitesh Antapurkar and former Congress legislator Ramesh Bagwe. Bawankule, who met the protestors on the behalf of the state government, said the Mahayuti government supported the demands. He assured that Fadnavis would hold a meeting regarding issues of the Matang community within 15 days. 'The Matang community is united now and the state government is committed to resolve your issues,' Bawankule told the gathering. Parbhani resident Ganpat Bhise, who attended Tuesday's protest, said sub-classification would enable Matangs to pursue education and secure government jobs.
