Wildlife – animals, birds and marine life
As there are virtually no people living in the Mergui
Archipelago it is a haven for wildlife. Needless to say, many of the creatures
have an inbuilt sense of survival and wariness towards humans. Paddling
quietly along the jungle rivers usually brings rich rewards for nature lovers,
particularly the rare and beautiful birds including Hornbills and many species
of brilliantly colourful Kingfishers, with Flying Foxes and troops of monkeys
in the trees and on the waters edge. Snakes curled up, sunning themselves on
tree branches are nearly always seen.
There are elephants on Lampi Island which were, in the
past, were used for logging. The logging ceased years ago and Lampi Island is
now a National Park. The elephants were left on the island, which provides them
with a bountiful supply of food and fresh water. We’ve seen these magnificent
creatures many times and have a healthy respect for them!
When darkness falls the sounds of the forest come alive;
all sorts of creatures are on the move, such as wild boar, Mouse Deer and
Civet cats. When dawn breaks, the monkeys and Gibbons start their calling and
the rest of the creatures join in the cacophony!
The Mergui Archipelago is one of the last areas in Asia where the
 Sea Turtle is still relatively safe to
come ashore and lay her eggs undisturbed. The fact that there is such a lack
of human presence means that the eggs will get an even chance of survival,
without being dug up and sold in local markets. The eggs of Sea Turtles are
considered a delicacy by locals throughout Asia and fetch a good price. The
Moken collect Turtle eggs and are a regular part of their diet, but this small
scale harvesting has a negligible effect on the local turtle population. The
Moken also eat the meat of turtles, which they catch by spearing whilst
free-diving or by harpooning them from their dug-out canoes.
The Sea Turtle is now an endangered species. The rare
Green Sea Turtle is present in the waters around the archipelago, as is the
even rarer Leather Back Turtle. Both of these species now face extinction.
May be the Mergui archipelago with its vastness, will be one of the last
bastions giving these and other rare and endangered creatures a fighting
chance for survival!
One evening just as the sun had disappeared over the
western horizon and a full moon was rising from the east - the time between
dusk and dark, a flock of Fruit Bats past over head, flying north. The flock
was, at a conservative estimate, ten thousand strong. An awe-inspiring and
unforgettable sight!
Some of the creatures that we have seen on our Burma
adventure trips have seen wild elephants, Flying Foxes, Civet Cats, Gibbons,
crab-eating Maquaks, wild boar, Monitor Lizards, Turtles, Armadillos, Mouse
Deer, the odd Crocodile and Fruit Bats, whilst bird-life includes flocks of
parrots, Hornbills, owls and Sea Eagles.
These are just some of the resident birds of the Mergui
Archipelago: Chinese pond Heron, Pacific Reef Egret, Brahminy Kite, Besra,
White Bellied sea Eagle, Red Wattled Lapwing, Eurasian Curlew, Common
Sandpiper, Beach Thick Knees, Common Turn, Large green Pigeon,Green Imperial
Pigeon, Brown winged Kingfisher, Black capped Kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher,
Chestnut Headed Bee-eater, Wreathed Hornbill, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Great
Hornbill, Pacific Swallow, Blue Winged Leaf Bird, Greater Racket tailed Drongo,
Large billed Crow, Blue whistling Thrush, Brow-throated Sunbird, Eurasian Tree
sparrow, Blacked napped Oriole, Tickells Blue Flycatcher, Scarlet backed Flower
Pecker, Crimson Sunbird.
Marine life
Dolphins sometimes accompany our yacht and are seen
frolicking in the bays.
Reefs with beautiful soft corals are
home to Nurse Sharks, lobsters, Sting-rays, Ghost Pipefish, Lionfish, Octopi
and Sea Horses. Plus excellent macro life such a colourful nudibranchs.
Other colourful coral reefs in deeper water plays host to
schooling Jacks and Trevally, Marble Rays, White Tip, Black Tip and Leopard
sharks.
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