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Smooth Otters at the Ulu Ulu Resort, Temburong, Brunei

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ABOVE:  Smooth Otter Lutrogale perspicillata fishing in the Temburong River next to the Ulu Ulu Resort, Temburong, Brunei.

All otter photos by Cynthia Lobato

Two species of otters  can be encountered  when travelling by boat along the Temburong River  (1) Small Clawed Otters Aonyx cinerea and  and (2) the larger Smooth Otters Lutrogale perspicillata. Both species are “social otters”  which fish and hunt in family groups. Small Clawed Otters are seen more often than Smooth Otters.
A view downstream of the Temburong river from the Ulu Ulu Resort
The Ulu Ulu Resort is on the banks of the Temburong River  just outside the Ulu Temburong National Park in Brunei.
Temburong River. The tall tree with a white trunk in the middle of the photo growing next to the river just below the Ulu Ulu Resort  is a Koompasia excelsa (Local name: Mengaris) in the bean family Leguminosae. Koompaisa trees are often used by Giant HoneyBees Apis dorsata  to hang their nests because Sun Bears find the smooth trunk difficult to climb.
Another  Mengaris tree growing next to the the river further downstream near Batang Duri.
On closer inspection of this Mengaris tree notice the makeshift ladder used to harvest the honey combs of the Giant Honey Bees by the local Kampung folk from Kg. Batang Duri.
Travel along the river is by small locally built boats  with an outboard engine. The journey from the jetty at Batang Duri  upriver to the Ulu Ulu Resort takes approximately 40 minutes.

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