Chien C. Lee

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  • Few habitat transitions are as abrupt as that of the Sierra Madre de Chiapas: when approached from the inland side, one rises quickly through a parched savannah of deciduous trees and cacti into a rich evergreen forest. Finally, at the crest of the mountains where the cool moist air from the Pacific rises up the windward slopes, the forest is suddenly drenched in dense cloud; here, the tree branches are heavily laden with mosses, orchids, and other delicate epiphytes. This enchanting habitat is home to the Horned Guan, Resplendent Quetzal, and many other remarkable creatures that are dependent on the cool moist forests. El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, Chiapas, Mexico.
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  • Peat bogs are a rare occurence in Borneo, and are only occasionally formed at the center of very old peat swamp domes. The vegetation here resembles that of kerangas heath forest but the soil consists of deep (often floating) peat rather than white sand. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • This pond amid lowland forest is a prime breeding habitat for many species of amphibians. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Hills covered with Traveller's Palm (Ravenala madagascariensis), habitat for Madagascar Sucker-footed Bat (Myzopoda aurita) which roost in the young unfurled leaves. Fianarantsoa, Madagascar.
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  • The steep upper slopes of Mt. Guiting-guiting on Sibuyan Island are composed of ultramafic peridotite rocks. Trees are scarce and the habitat is home to numerous specialized plants including two endemic Nepenthes. Romblon, Philippines.
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  • A tannin-colored stream meanders through freshwater swamp forest in Sarawak. Trees with stilt roots, pneumatophores, and buttresses, are more abundant in this waterlogged habitat, which is frequently flooded by rains. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Established in 1991, Ranomafana National Park protects over 160 sq. mi. of tropical rainforest, a habitat which has been reduced to less than 10% of its original extent in Madagascar.
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  • This freshwater swamp on Halmahera is dominated by enormous tree-like Pandanus (Pandanus papuanus). Stilt roots enable the plants to anchor themselves in the unstable and anaerobic mud. This is habitat for the  rare Invisible Rail (Habroptila wallacii). North Maluku, Indonesia.
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  • Morning sun illuminates emergent baobab trees (Adansonia rubrostipa) in Madagascar's dry deciduous forest, one of the island's most endangered habitats. Despite receiving no rain for up to nine months each year, these forests are home to an astonishing diversity of wildlife, including Madam Berthe's Mouse Lemur, the world's smallest primate. Sadly, due to logging and land clearing, these forests have been reduced to less than 3% of their original extent, and now remain in only a few reserves along the western coast. Kirindy Reserve, Madagascar.
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  • An increasingly rare sight, clear rocky streams are an important and indicative component of pristine habitats in Borneo rainforests. Sarawak, Malaysia.
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  • Spanning nearly 8 million hectares, the Mamberamo Basin is a sparsely populated floodplain surrounded by mountains in central Papua. The vast expanses of swamp forest remain almost completely undisturbed, providing one of the last extensive habitats for many lowland species. Papua, Indonesia.
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  • Mossy cloud forest occurs at higher elevations on nearly all of Borneo's mountains. These habitats are characterized by high rainfall, frequent fog, cooler temperatures, and small trees which are covered with moss and a myriad of epiphytic plants. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A crystal-clear stream flows through the forest at Khao Nor Chuchi Wildlife Sanctuary.  These spring-fed waters which emerge from limestone rock are highly alkaline and contain high amounts of dissolved calcium carbonate. Krabi, Thailand.
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  • Batang Ai National Park. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • A labyrinth of wind-carved rock formations covers the tabletop plateau of Mount Roraima, one of Venezuela's most famous tepuis. Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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  • Udzungwa Scarp Nature Reserve. Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania.
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  • Stained with the acidic tannins of heath forest, a dark colored stream drains from the ever-wet mountains above the Bada Valley in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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  • Cloud forest. Mashpi Amagusa Reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador.
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  • Deforested savannah in the central highlands of Madagascar. Fianarantsoa, Madagascar.
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  • Cushion plant (Plantago rigida) among alpine Páramo vegetation. Pichincha, Ecuador.
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  • Rock gorges covered in False Spinifex (Triodia sp.). Karijini National Park, Western Australia.
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  • Lowland rainforest in Masoala National Park. Antsiranana, Madagascar.
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  • Summit vegetation on Mount Roraima, one of Venezuela's most famous tepuis. The isolated plateaus  on tepui summits host their own biota of endemic species of plants and animals. Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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  • Jasper Falls. Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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  • Uplifted by the collision of continents, the jagged limestone peaks of New Guinea’s Central Range rise to nearly 5000 meters in height. The alpine vegetation of these remote mountain ridges and valleys are home to a rich assortment of endemic plants and animals, many of which are new to science. Highland Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • In one of the most magnificent remaining stands of virgin rainforest in northern Borneo, the Temburong River winds its way into the interior of the 500 sq. km. Ulu Temburong National Park in Brunei. With most of this tiny nation’s wealth coming from offshore oil, its forests have largely been spared from logging and oil palm plantations. Temburong, Brunei Darussalam.
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  • Exposed ultramafic rocks dominate the landscape of the summit of Victoria Peak in south-central Palawan. This mountain contains the most extensive ultramafic forest on the island and is an important site for many endemic species. Palawan, Philippines.
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  • Ptari Tepui, one of a large number of sandstone tabletop mountains in Venezuela. The isolated summit plateaus host their own biota of endemic species of plants and animals. Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
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  • Lowland rainforest in Masoala National Park. Antsiranana, Madagascar.
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  • A clear stream cascades down layered beds of sandstone amidst lowland rainforest. Samarakan, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Mixed Deciduous Forest during the beginning of the rainy season in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary.
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  • Stone forest at dawn: the first light of day brushes the limestone pinnacles of Madagascar’s Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park. Spanning 600-square miles, this vast and impenetrable labyrinth of knife-edged towers and slot canyons is an invaluable wilderness reserve; 90% of all species occurring here are found nowhere else on Earth.
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  • The seasonally dry savanna landscape of Rinca Island is dominated by Lontar Palms (Borassus flabellifer). East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.
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  • A wide swath of virgin rainforest cloaks the foothills of the Kobowre Mountains in western Papua. Indonesian New Guinea hosts some of the largest remaining tracts of primary tropical rainforest in the world.
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  • Rising mist spills over the forested plateau of Maliau Basin, a large conservation area in the remote interior of northern Borneo. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Slow-moving streams with tea-colored water are characteristic of tropical peat swamp forests such as this one in northwestern Borneo. Binyo-Penyilam, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Dense bamboo forest along edges of Huai Kha Khaeng River, consisting mostly of huge stands of Giant Thorny Bamboo (Bambusa bambos). Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand.
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  • Swamp forest dominated by Moriche Palm (Mauritia flexuosa) covers vast areas of the Amazon Basin. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • This lowland rainforest in New Guinea is dominated by large Licuala fan palms. Papua, Indonesia.
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  • One of the most southerly islands in Indonesia, Sumba is subject to a seasonally dry climate.  The rugged terrain of the interior is composed largely of grassy highlands and steep forested valleys. East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.
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  • Large sandstone blocks litter a hillside at Payeh Maga in northern Borneo. Sarawak, Malaysia.
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  • Dinding Waterfall. Lambir Hills National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo)
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  • Large tree pandans (Pandanus sp.) dominate an open landslip on a mountain slope in Sumatra. West Sumatra, Indonesia.
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  • This tiny orchid (Crepidium damusicum) grows only on the rocky banks of streams in northern Borneo.  Like other rheophytic plants, the slender leaves of this species are adapted to tolerate occasional floods of swiftly running water. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • The spectacular karst complex of the Sangkulirang Peninsula is the most extensive limestone area in Borneo.  This region is poorly explored but is believed to harbour a rich diversity of endemic plants. East Kalimantan, Indonesia.
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  • Sandstone cliffs on the slopes of Table Mountain. Western Cape, South Africa.
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  • Large sandstone boulders and stunted elfin forest the summit plateau of Gunung Murud, Sarawak's highest mountain. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • One of the many waterfalls draining the remote highland Payeh Maga plateau. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Giant Groundsel (Dendrosenecio eric-rosenii ssp. alticola) and Lobelia growing at edge of Bisoke Volcano crater lake. Ruhengeri, Rwanda.
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  • At nearly 3000m elevation, this cold and wet montane cloud forest is completely draped with thick mosses. South Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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  • Nepenthes tenax, a newly distinguished pitcher plant endemic to northern Queensland, Australia.
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  • Tea Mangrove (Pelliciera rhizophorae) showing buttress roots for stability in the intertidal zone. Utría National Natural Park, Chocó, Colombia.
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  • Weathering from rain and wind has given rise to these razor-sharp limestone pinnacles, which can be found on the upper slopes of Mount Api in Mulu National Park. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Uplifted by the collision of continents, the jagged limestone peaks of New Guinea’s Central Range rise to nearly 5000 meters in height. Here, at the edge of the island’s divide, thick clouds rise from the rainforest plains of the south and push up against towering cliffs. Papua, Indonesia.
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  • Lowland rainforest in Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • Alpine grasslands with tree ferns (Cyathea tomentosissima) below Mount Trikora, the second highest peak in New Guinea
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  • Forest stream in Sinharaja National Park, Sri Lanka.
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  • Lowland rainforest in Masoala National Park. Antsiranana, Madagascar.
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  • A juvenile Parson's Chameleon (Calumma parsoni). More frequently occurring in shades of green, this is one of the world's largest chameleons, with adult specimens sometimes reaching the size of a house cat. They are endemic to rainforest habitats on Madagascar and are threatened by both habitat loss and collection for the international pet trade. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • The endemic Sulawesi Warty Pig (Sus celebensis) occurs in a variety of habitats ranging from lowland to montane rainforest. Although its only natural predator is the Reticulated Python (Python reticulatus), its populations across the island have been in decline due to habitat loss. Gorontalo, Indonesia.
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  • A jewel of Ecuador’s high-elevation cloud forests is the spectacular Plate-billed Mountain Toucan (Andigena laminirostris). Unlike the more familiar toucans of lowland rainforests, these birds inhabit the coldest and wettest mountains of the Andes. Despite their predilection for these remote habitats, they are threatened by both habitat loss and capture for the pet trade. Mindo, Ecuador.
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  • Threatened by habitat loss and hunting pressure, the Crested Black Macaque (Macaca nigra nigra) is now listed as Critically Endangered. This species lives only in forested areas at the northernmost tip of the island of Sulawesi. North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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  • Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur (Varecia variegata), a Critically Endangered species and undoubtedly one of the most beautiful of all lemurs. Entirely dependent on tall undisturbed rainforests, these lemurs are threatened by habitat loss and are suffering from an island-wide population decline. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • This predaceous ground beetle (Lioptera plato) exhibits a distinctive warning color pattern which is commonly repeated among many different species of beetles (including a commonly associated fungus beetle Epicaustes) that all share a similar habitat niche. Because all species appear to share a distasteful chemical defense this may be a possible example of Mullerian mimicry. Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Endemic to the Bird's Head Peninsula of western New Guinea, the Vogelkop Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus ursinus) has become increasingly threatened by habitat loss and hunting. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • Nearly a thousand kilometers from the nearest landmass, the islands of the Seychelles are distantly isolated at the western end of the Indian Ocean. Much of these granitic islands were once cloaked in dense rainforest, harboring a unique array of flora and fauna found nowhere else. Here, a grove of the Seychelles Stilt Palm (Verschaffeltia splendida) dominates the lower forest canopy with its enormous undivided leaves. Like many of the endemic plants it is under threat from both invasive species and habitat loss.
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  • Distinguished by its green/yellow eyes, Hose's Bush Frog (Philautus hosii) is endemic to Borneo and considered Near Threatened due to severe habitat loss. Adults are usually found perched on vegetation over streams in lowland rainforest. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Although occurring widely in Borneo, Sumatra, and Peninsular Malaysia, the Striped Wren-babbler (Kenopia striata) is nowhere abundant and is considered Near Threatened due to habitat loss. Inhabiting lowland forests, its presence is often first confirmed by its loud clear and persistent whistling calls. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Grandidier's Baobab (Adansonia grandidieri). The baobab trees of Madagascar are such an iconic sight that it's easy to overlook the fact that some species are highly endangered. In addition to habitat loss, Madagascar baobabs have very poor seedling survival rates and young trees are a rare find. It is theorized that their large pulpy fruits were only consumed by now extinct animals such as giant tortoises, baboon-like lemurs, and the enormous elephant birds, which served to disperse the tree's seeds. Since some of these animals only disappeared in the past thousand years it is quite possible that the oldest trees existing today germinated from the dung of Madagascar's lost megafauna. Morondava, Madagascar.
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  • Mountain Treeshrew (Tupaia montana) feeding at Nepenthes rajah.  Recent research has shown the the world's largest pitcher plant Nepenthes rajah is not exclusively carnivorous. Like the related N. lowii, this species attracts treeshrews by secreting nectar on the undersurface of the lid. These animals frequently leave their droppings in the pitcher, which serves as a valuable nitrogen source in their impoverished mountain habitat. Mount Kinabalu National Park, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Only distantly related to other mongooses, the Narrow-striped Mongoose (Mungotictis decemlineata) is actually a member of the family Eupleridae and descendant from the same lineage as the much larger Fossa. Active by day, these small predators are endemic to the dry deciduous forests of western Madagascar where they live in small matriarchal family groups. Having only a patchy distribution, they are severely threatened by habitat loss. Kirindy Reserve, Madagascar.
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  • Dendrobium cuthbertsonii. This tiny epiphytic orchid sports flowers which are much larger than the entire plant itself. It offers no nectar and is theorized to attract pollinating birds by its mimicry of similarly-sized and colored Rhododendron flowers which occur in the same habitat in the montane forests of New Guinea. Papua, Indonesia.
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  • Feared by some, revered by others, the Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) is surely one of Madagascar's most bizarre lemurs. Unique among primates, the Aye-aye's front incisors grow continuously like a rodent, leading to the early belief that they were some sort of gigantic nocturnal squirrel. Equally unusual are its long bony middle fingers which are used by the animal to tap tree trunks for the sound of insect grubs inside and then extract them like a fish hook. Unfortunately, Aye-ayes have become gravely endangered from habitat loss and persecution by people: they are often killed on sight due to the superstition that they are an omen of death. Tomasina, Madagascar.
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  • Although the vast Australian outback is famous for its aridity, poor soils, and tortuous heat in summer, a surprising number of colorful creatures make this habitat their home. One of these is the aptly named Splendid Fairy-wren (Malurus splendens), a dainty yet bold bird that lives in small groups that hunt insects among the desert scrub. Despite the male’s gaudy plumage (as shown here), he will supplement his courtship efforts by wooing the female with pink or purple flower petals he has carefully plucked. Shark's Bay, Western Australia.
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  • This seed bug (Metochus schultheissi) is the same size and color as the stinging Diacamma ant it shares its habitat with. Kubah National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Similar to the Dendrobatid poison frogs, harlequin toads (Atelopus spp.) are also brightly colored, day-active, and highly toxic. They also comprise one of the most endangered groups of amphibians in the neotropics, with many species listed as Critically Endangered and others presumed extinct in the wild. Aside from habitat loss and threats from introduced species, they appear particularly susceptible to the amphibian-killing chytrid fungus, which has completely wiped out many wild populations. This Atelopus spurrelli is endemic to the Chocóan rainforest of coastal Colombia.
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  • In a habitat that would be deadly to most other insects, the freezing temperatures high on the slopes of Cotopaxi volcano in Ecuador are home to a very unusual walkingstick: Monticomorpha flavolimbata. Feeding on páramo vegetation that is frequently crusted over with frost, this species has been recorded at altitudes of up to 5000m, making it the highest elevation known for any stick insect. Presumably its dark coloration helps it to more efficiently absorb the sun’s fleeting warmth.
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  • Although masterful visual predators by day, chameleons lack light-sensitive rods in their eyes and thus have poor night vision. Because of this they typically retire at dusk to a sleeping perch, often returning to a favorite exposed branch which ideally puts them out of the reach of nocturnal snakes. This dozing Two-banded Chameleon (Furcifer balteatus) can be identified as a mature male by the two large rostral horns on his head, ornaments which are used to compete for mates. Endemic to only a small region of Madagascar’s southeastern rainforests, this species has become increasingly endangered and rare due to habitat loss and collection for the pet trade. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Large blooms of the orchid Bulbophyllum dearei, photographed in its natural habitat in the montane forests of Sayap, northern Mt. Kinabalu, Borneo.
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  • Grandidier's Baobab (Adansonia grandidieri). The baobab trees of Madagascar are such an iconic sight that it's easy to overlook the fact that some species are highly endangered. In addition to habitat loss, Madagascar baobabs have very poor seedling survival rates and young trees are a rare find. It is theorized that their large pulpy fruits were only consumed by now extinct animals such as giant tortoises, baboon-like lemurs, and the enormous elephant birds, which served to disperse the tree's seeds. Since some of these animals only disappeared in the past thousand years it is quite possible that the oldest trees existing today germinated from the dung of Madagascar's lost megafauna. Morondava, Madagascar.
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  • A non-climbing species, this pitcher plant (Nepenthes campanulata) grows only on the vertical faces of tall limestone cliffs in Borneo. It is so difficult to observe in habitat that it was once thought to be extinct. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Threatened with encroaching cultivation and forest loss, a Southern Purple-Faced Langur (Trachypithecus vetulus vetulus) enters a tea plantation to feed on the fresh young leaves. These endangered monkeys are endemic to Sri Lanka’s southern wet forests, and although once widespread, are now facing severe habitat fragmentation due to roads and settlements. This can lead to human conflicts where the monkeys are inevitably forced to exploit agricultural areas for food. Sinharaja National Park. Sri Lanka.
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  • Looking like it might have flown straight out of the Jurassic, the rare and reclusive Horned Guan (Oreophasis derbianus) possesses one of the most remarkable head ornaments of all birds. They live only high in the cloud forests of Chiapas and Guatemala and over the past hundred years have suffered greatly from habitat loss and hunting, with some current surveys estimating at fewer than 1000 birds remaining in the wild. El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, Chiapas, Mexico.
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  • Among the most cryptically camouflaged of all invertebrates, leaf insects (Phyllium spp.) are difficult to find in their natural habitat. Many new species have been described from Southeast Asia in recent years. This is a subadult female (P. arthurchungi) from the rainforest of northern Borneo.
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  • Endemic to the spiny forests of southern Madagascar, the dainty Spider Tortoise (Pyxis arachnoides) is the smallest of the island’s five tortoise species – with shell lengths of only 10-12 cm it can comfortably sit in the palm of your hand. Like most of its close relatives it is Critically Endangered, having suffered greatly in recent years from habitat loss (clearing, wildfires, and invasive plants), hunting for food, and poaching for the pet trade. One reason they are so vulnerable to threats is because of their extremely slow reproduction rate: despite a lifespan of up to 70 years a female will usually lay only a single egg at a time which can take over 8 months of incubating before hatching. Amboasary, Madagascar.
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  • Cane Toad (Bufo marinus), in natural habitat. Yasuní National Park, Ecuador.
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  • A pair of the largest dung beetles in Borneo (Catharsius dayacus) clean up after the droppings of a Sambar Deer in the rainforest of Danum Valley, Sabah. Although this species does not roll balls like its more well-known relatives, it nevertheless is responsible for burying large amounts of animal scat and provides a vital ecological service. Nearly a hundred species of dung beetles have been recorded from Danum alone; studies have shown that their diversity not only directly reflects the wide assortment of vertebrates in an area but also can serve as a valuable indicator of habitat heterogeneity and forest disturbance. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Verreaux's Sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi), crossing road. Popularly known as the ‘Dancing Sifakas’ for their remarkable hopping agility, few visitors realize that the dancing spectacle is in part due to the loss of these animals’ habitat: they naturally dwell in dry and spiny forests and only descend to the ground when they must cross a cleared area. Amboasary, Madagascar.
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  • Endemic to the Bird's Head Peninsula of western New Guinea, the Vogelkop Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus ursinus) has become increasingly threatened by habitat loss and hunting. West Papua, Indonesia (New Guinea).
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  • One of the world's most endangered primates, the Bornean Banded Langur (Presbytis chrysomelas chrysomelas) has been threatened by both habitat loss and hunting. Now, only a few isolated populations remain in coastal Sarawak, with an estimated total of just a few hundred individuals. They feed on foliage and fruits in lowland rainforest. Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo).
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  • Without seeing it move, you could almost mistake the Golden Mantella (Mantella aurantiaca) for a bright orange plastic toy. This is one of Madagascar’s most endangered amphibians and is an icon for conservation of the island’s threatened wildlife. Efforts targeted at protecting this frog’s habitat, coupled with ex-situ breeding programs and reintroduction have helped to protect it from extinction in the wild, but it remains highly threatened and is still known to exist at only two small isolated patches of rainforest. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • Without seeing it move, you could almost mistake the Golden Mantella (Mantella aurantiaca) for a bright orange plastic toy. This is one of Madagascar’s most endangered amphibians and is an icon for conservation of the island’s threatened wildlife. Efforts targeted at protecting this frog’s habitat, coupled with ex-situ breeding programs and reintroduction have helped to protect it from extinction in the wild, but it remains highly threatened and is still known to exist at only two small isolated patches of rainforest. Andasibe, Madagascar.
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  • The Mindanao Horned Frog (Pelobatrachus stejnegeri) is endemic to the rainforests of the south-eastern Philippines where it is threatened by habitat loss. Mindanao, Philippines.
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  • The rare and elusive Gurney's Pitta (Pitta gurneyi) is regarded as one of the world's most endangered birds.  Until recently this species was known from less than 20 individuals all occurring in a single reserve in southern Thailand.  Following the discovery of additional populations in southern Myanmar in 2003, the status Gurney's Pitta was downgraded from Critically Endangered to Endangered.  This species occurs only in flat lowland rainforest, a rapidly disappearing habitat in this region due to logging and oil-palm plantations. The adult male bird pictured here sports a leg band from a recent population survey. Krabi, Thailand.
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  • A Lined Gecko (Gekko vittatus) perches in its rainforest habitat on the island of Halmahera, central Indonesia. Sometimes referred to as the "Skunk Gecko" because of its distinctive coloration, these are popular animals in the pet trade and large numbers are collected and exported yearly from Indonesia and the Solomon Islands. North Maluku, Indonesia.
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  • Two-banded Chameleon (Furcifer balteatus), male. A rare species, F. balteatus is known with certainty to occur at only a few locations in southeast Madagascar, and is classified as Endangered due to threats from habitat loss and collecting for the pet trade. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • The ghostly outline of a glass frog (Hyalinobatrachium aureoguttatum) shines through a leaf, the shadow of its heart and internal organs clearly visible. These small frogs are found near clear streams where the males typically call from the undersides of leaves. Threatened with habitat loss, H. aureoguttatum is restricted to the disappearing Chocó rainforest. Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
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  • Being as discreet as possible, a tiny Elongate Leaf Chameleon (Palleon nasus) makes its way across the forest floor at a snail’s pace, freezing whenever it feels someone watching. The adults of this species measure less than 9cm long and are at the small end of Madagascar’s chameleon spectrum. Their camouflage is a perfect adaptation for their specific habitat: the leaf litter of the rainforest floor. Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.
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  • Like an ancient carven sculpture, the incredible buttress roots of this huge rainforest tree (Tachigali panamensis) belie its fleeting nature. Sometime called the ‘Suicide Tree’, it is truly monocarpic: after reaching maturity it will flower and set fruit only once and then die. Although monocarpy is a common adaptation among small herbaceous plants in seasonal habitats, it is extremely rare among large tropical trees, especially since rainforests are generally quite stable environments. This strategy may have evolved because it provides several possible advantages for the tree’s seedlings. For one, the infrequency of fruiting means that fewer seed predators can specialize on this species. Also, as the mother tree withers and eventually falls over, it creates an open gap in the forest canopy which is vital for the development of its young saplings underneath. Colón, Panama.
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  • The poor soils of many of Borneo’s natural habitats are home to many unusual plants, the most famous of which are undoubtedly the carnivorous pitcher plants (Nepenthes). The slippery-rimmed traps are designed to lure and consume insects and even small animals to supplement the plant’s nutrition. One of the most extraordinary is Nepenthes veitchii, seen here growing up the side of a small tree, it’s pitchers open and ready for unsuspecting visitors. Maliau Basin Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo).
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