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Durians, a squirrel and a monkey

on 24th January 2018
video grab
video grab

Jeremiah Loei‘s video clip of a squirrel and a monkey eating durians (Durio zibethinus) high up in the tree was documented at Bukit Batok Nature Park in 2012. The squirrel had gnawed open the hard, thorny fruit to get at the succulent seeds (above). A Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis) was also around, eating from another durian (below). Squirrels are one of the few animals capable of dealing with durians before they fall onto the ground . Most probably the macaque came after the squirrel as the former would not be able to gnaw through the fruit.

video grab
video grab

Once an opening is made on the durian fruit, various species of birds will arrive to pick what remains in the exposed fruit LINK.

Durian fruits generally drop from the branches of the tree when ripe. The fall will invariably split open the segments to allow ground animals like elephants, wild pigs, rats and even monkeys to get access to the seeds inside.

Jeremiah Loel
Singapore
23rd January 2018

This post is a cooperative effort between Birds, Insects N Creatures Of Asia and BESG to bring the study of birds and their behavior through photography and videography to a wider audience.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

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