Tag Archives: Indonesia

Most recently identified carnivore

Environmental researchers are hoping to capture what some believe may be a new species of carnivore on Borneo, which if correct would be the first such discovery on the island since that of the Borneo ferret-badger in 1895. The animal, which looks like a cross between a cat and a fox was photographed in the mountainous rainforests of the Kayan Mentarang National Park in 2003, but was kept unpublished as research continued. Some researchers suggested that it might be a viverrid – the family which Continue reading →

Newest species of wild cat

The newest species of wild cat is the Bornean clouded leopard Neofelis diardi. In 2006 scientists officially recognised this species as being significantly different enough to the Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) for it to be elevated to a species in its own right. Its preference for tropical and subtropical forest and high altitudes of up to about 2,000 metres (6,500 ft), mean that it can be found in Borneo and Sumatra.

Rarest egg-laying mammal

The world´s rarest species of monotreme, or egg-laying mammal, is Attenborough´s long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus attenborough). Named after veteran TV naturalist Sir David Attenborough (UK), it is currently known from just a single specimen, found dead on a mountain peak in Irian Jaya (Indonesian New Guinea) in 1961. Local hunters claim to have seen other, living specimens, but none has been recorded so far.

Smallest hominid

The smallest known member of the hominid family is Homo floresiensis, discovered by Indonesian and Australian scientists in a cave at Liang Bua on the island of Flores, Indonesia. Standing just 1m (3 ft 3 in) tall, it inhabited Flores as recently as 13,000 years ago. This means it existed at the same time as modern humans, and probably interacted with them. This new species, nicknamed ‘the hobbit’ by dig workers, was announced in the journal Nature on 28 October 2004.

Tallest cake

The tallest cake measured 33 m (108.27 ft) and was made by Hakasima-Nilasari Culinary School for the event Amazing Christmas and exhibited in Senayan City, Jakarta, Indonesia, from 28 November to 8 December 2008. The dimensions of the cake are: height 33 m (108.27 ft), width 9 m (29.53ft) and weight 20 tons (18143.69 kg) the ingredients included: 1750 kg of powdered sugar (3858.09 lbs) 1620 kg of sugar (3571.49 lbs) 1620 kg of margarine (3571.49 lbs) 162 kg of powdered milk (357.15 lbs) 243 Continue reading →

Worst kleptocrat of modern times

President Suharto, President of Indonesia from 1967 until 1998 when his regime was overthrown, was the world’s biggest kleptocrat, that is a person who thieves from his government. Transparency International, in a 2004 report, estimated that he had stolen US$15-35 billion. In 2006, doctors testified Suharto had been brain damaged by a series of strokes and that he was not fit to face prosecution. He thus escaped justice and died in 2008.