Country Data

Pico Island mammal records (Azores, 2025)

Posted by Paul Carter

Summary
A one-week trip to Pico Island in July 2025 produced 14 mammal species; including 12 cetaceans seen during five days of whale-watching (on a group tour) from Lajes do Pico harbour. Highlights were a Dwarf Sperm Whale (the sixth record for the Azores) and a pod of six Pygmy Sperm Whales (one of the largest pods recorded, if not the largest). A paper by the group (Benak et al, 2025) on these Kogia sightings was published in Nov 2025. Other highlights were Sowerby’s Beaked Whale, Northern Bottlenose Whale and False Killer Whale. The endemic Azores Noctule was common in Lajes do Pico.

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Azores

Summary: My only visit to the Azores was to Pico Island for one week in July 2025, with 14 species seen. This included 12 species of cetaceans seen during 30 hours of whale-watching (a five-day group tour with two trips per day each about three hours long). The highlights were a Dwarf Sperm Whale (the sixth? record for the Azores) and a pod of six Pygmy Sperm Whale (one of the largest pods recorded), as described here.

Paul Carter: paulcarter@pacapix.com.
First Posted: 2025 Sep 22

CONTENTS
a) Reports
b) Mammal list
c) Reptile list
d) Logistics
g) References

Notes and Abbreviations:
PH – Photographed. NP – Not photographed.
Content on this page is not fixed. Additional species reports and site reports might be added.

A.   REPORTS

  • Pico Island mammal records (2025): My detailed site report with fauna lists, images and local logistics was posted here on 22 Sep 2025.
  • Benak et al (submitted for publication) is a paper by our group describing the Kogia sightings [link HERE when published].

B.   MAMMAL LIST

The following species were seen on or offshore of Pico Island:

  1. European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). NP.
  2. Azores Noctule (Nyctalus azoreum). PH.
  3. Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus). PH.
  4. Dwarf Sperm Whale (Kogia simus). PH.
  5. Pygmy Sperm Whale (Kogia breviceps). PH.
  6. Short-finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus). PH.
  7. False Killer Whale (Pseudorca crassidens). PH.
  8. Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis). PH.
  9. Striped Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba). PH.
  10. Atlantic Spotted Dolphin (Stenella frontalis). PH.
  11. Risso’s Dolphin (Grampus griseus). PH.
  12. Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). PH.
  13. Sowerby’s Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon bidens). PH.
  14. Northern Bottlenose Whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus). PH.

C.   REPTILE LIST

Only two species were recorded on our July 2025 trip:
1. Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta). PH.
2. Madeira Lizard (Teira dugesii). PH.

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D.   LOGISTICS

1) Flights to the Azores
In July 2025 we flew from Lisbon direct to Pico Island on SATA Azores. Flights were affected by regional strikes; I would avoid booking tight connections. A Futurismo post gives information on other airline options.

2) Whale-watching Operators in the Azores

This section covers an online review of various whale-watching options besides the company that we used (Espaço Talassa on Pico Island). Most of these options listed below were looked at after my Azores trip (in anticipation of a future trip); so their inclusion here is by no means a recommendation, just a starting point for further research, and there are some links to information that would have been of interest before our recent visit.
Not many whale-watching operations seem to provide detailed past records. Some operators offer “half-day” tours but they are only 2.5 hours long. Some “full day” tours seem to refer to a package of morning and afternoon standard tours (2.5 to 3 hours long each) with a shore-based lunch break (as opposed to a single trip lasting 8 hours as done at various sites in California). Most of the boats used by the various operators are RIBs without toilets and for most tourists these are not practical beyond 3-4 hour trips.
The Ocean Azores Foundation list some whale-watching operators on each island here. Their pdf guide (dated 2024) for recommended companies on Pico Island lists only Espaco Talassa. This document also shows, for Sao Miguel, a useful frequency chart for cetaceans but it covers only the more commonly seen species.

2a). Pico Island
Companies on Pico include the following:
– Espaço Talassa operate out of Lajes do Pico harbour on Pico Island. Depending on demand they have multiple boats on morning and afternoon trips that generally last about three hours. Our morning and afternoon tours generally started at 9 AM and 2 PM. They sometimes have evening boats as well. The smaller RIBs are 8.5 meters long and manned by a skipper and a guide with capacity for 12 passengers; there is also a larger boat. The company has its own land-based observers on shore and the crew is in constant radio contact with them. The spotters use the Queimado watch-tower (vigia) which is one of the original towers used in the whale-hunting era (whale hunting in the Azores ended in 1987). Recent and past sightings are shown at their Sightings and Statistics web pages. Their list of 28 cetaceans known in the Azores is shown here. Rates (2025): They have low, medium and high season rates. The high season rates (2025) are 75 Euro each (individual) but 65 Euro each for groups of at least 4. Chartering the smaller RIB (max 12 pax) cost 620 Euro (51 euro each if 12 pax). They are highly recommended – based on our 10 trips and other reviews.
– Futurismo Azores Adventures operate out of Lajes do Pico.
– Aqua Açores appear to operate out of Lajes do Pico.
– Bela Vista Travel have an office next door to Espaço Talassa; they have accommodation options.
– CW Azores is based out of Madalena; their sightings are reported here.
– Pico Island Adventures operate out of Madalena.
Transport on Pico Island: Cars can be rented at Pico airport. Pico Rentacar rent cars and scooters out of Madalena.

2b). Sao Miguel Island
Sao Miguel is 200 km ESE of Pico Island. Operators include:
– Terra Azul have whale-watching as well as land-based activities. I did not find a page showing daily records but they report seasonal variation here and do produce annual reports (in pdf) e.g. that for 2024.
– Picos de Aventura have larger catamarans besides the RIB boats; they do not show daily reports. They also have land-based activities.
– Terra do Pico. No daily reports.

2c). Terceira Island
Terceira is about 80 km NE of Pico Island. Operators include:
– Ocean Emotion located in the Angra do Heroismo Marina. They have a useful cetacean poster here.
– Water4fun have whale-watching and car-rental.

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E.   References

  • Benak D, Carter P, Ebr J, Ebrova I, Van Gaever K, Kao B, Meyer A, Rudyi V, Ben Simon J, Tamar K, Vardi R, Moser V (2025/6). Sighting of a large group of pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps) and a new record of dwarf sperm whale (K. sima) in the Azores. Manuscript submitted for publication.
  • Bullock A (2024). Your Sustainable Whale Watching Guide to the Azores – 2024. By the Ocean Azores Foundation. https://solarbranco.com/-FOA-docs/Whale-watching.pdf
  • Hall J (2024). Pico Island, the Azores, August 2024.A trip report posted 16 Sep 2024 on mammalwatching.com. Link.
  • Livet, J (2024 Sep). Some notes on the Azores Noctule (Nyctalus azoreum). A report posted on mammalwatching.com.
  • Ollers S (2020). Azores (Pico and Sao Miguel) – September 2020. A trip report posted on mammalwatching.com.
  • Still R, Harrop H, Dias L, Stenton T (2019). Europe’s Sea Mammals Including the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands and Cape Verde. A Field Guide to the Whales, Dolphins, Porpoises and Seals. WILD Guides. Published by Princeton University Press. ISBN: 9780691182162

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Doli Lodge mammal records (Central African Republic, 2025). DRAFT

Posted by Paul Carter

Site Summary: On a visit to Doli Lodge for two weeks in March 2025 (with Ian Thompson) I saw +24 mammal species in the lodge area. Mammal highlights were Cameroon Scaly-tail, Derby’s Anomalure, Beecroft’s Anomalure and Yellow-winged False Vampire (apparently rare in forests). Only two snakes were seen, Western Forest Centipede-Eater and Blue-tailed Nocturnal Tree Snake. My reptile sightings are described in a separate report here.
DRAFT version – more images will be posted shortly

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Dzanga National Park mammal records (Central African Republic, 2025)

Posted by Paul Carter

Site Summary: In March 2025 I visited Dzanga Bai and Bai Hokou, both in Dzanga National Park, with Ian Thompson. The +20 mammal species seen on four days in the park (excluding the buffer zone) included Forest Elephant, Bongo, Giant Forest Hog, Agile Mangabey and Noack’s Round-leaf Bat. My reptile records for Dzanga-Sangha are reported separately HERE and included Gonwouo’s Mabuya (Trachylepis gonwouoi).

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Dzanga-Sangha reptile records (Central African Republic, 2025)

Posted by Paul Carter

Summary: In March 2025, I saw eight reptile species in the Dzanga National Park and Doli Lodge area. This included what appears to be the first record in the Central African Republic of Gonwouo’s Mabuya (Trachylepis gonwouoi).

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Central African Republic

Country Summary: My only visit to the Central African Republic was in 2025 (with Ian Thompson) and was focused on Dzanga National Park and its buffer zone. I saw +40 mammal species, the highlights being Bongo, Giant Forest Hog, African Forest Elephant, Derby’s Anomalure, Beecroft’s Anomalure, Cameroon Scaly-tail and Noack’s Round-leaf Bat. I also saw eight reptile species including Gonwouo’s Mabuya (Trachylepis gonwouoi), not previously reported in the CAR.

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Chitwan NP and Sauraha (Nepal): mammal records

Posted by Paul Carter

Summary: In 2022 and 2023 I saw 16 mammal species in the Chitwan NP area (including Sauraha town and nearby community forests). The highlights were Indian Rhinoceros, Hog Deer, Large Indian Civet (at the extreme west of its range) and Dhurbe, the rarely seen bull elephant who killed at least 15 people in 2009-2012. Reptiles included Gharial and Ganges Softshell Turtle.

Paul Carter: paulcarter@pacapix.com.
Posted: 2025 April 7.   Revisions due: Images are not yet added.

Contents
a) Trip Information
b) Mammals
c) Mammal Images
d) Reptile List
e) Logistics
f) References and Links

A.  Trip Information

Dates: 2022 Oct 2-6 (alone), 2023 Nov 4-8 (with Chi Phan).
Sites mentioned in this report:
Sauraha Town: river-front area.
Kumroj Community Forest: on the north side of Rapti River and east of Sauraha town.
Tiger Tower: in Tikauli Jungle; we walked there from Green Mansions Resort.
Chitwan NP: south side of Rapti River; from Sauraha we were canoed across the river to the jeep.
Gharial Breeding Center: inside Chitwan NP; visited as part of a jeep tour.
Baghmara Tower: in the Baghmara Buffer Zone Community Forest.

B.  Mammals

List of mammals seen (page numbers refer to the South Asia checklist by Lynx):

  1. Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus). p013.1. Chitwan NP. On 2023 Nov 5 we saw Dhurbe, a legendary bull elephant, at N27.53910° E84.30641° (6.0 km WSW of Chitwan NP HQ). iNat. See the summary on Dhurbe below.
  2. Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta). p018.3. Chitwan NP; Kumroj Community Forest.
  3. Terai Sacred Langur (Semnopithecus hector). p019.2. Chitwan NP.
  4. Indomalayan Long-tailed Climbing Mouse (Vandeleuria oleraceous). p038.1. Tiger Tower. iNat.
  5. Northern Palm Squirrel (Funambulus pennantii). p057.1. Chitwan NP.
  6. Particoloured Flying Squirrel (Hylopetes alboniger). p060.4. Baghmara tower (2023 Nov 6).
  7. Greater Short-nosed Fruit Bat (Cynopterus sphinx). p078.3. Sauraha (Chitwan Riverside Resort).
  8. Greater Asiatic Yellow Bat (Scotophilus heathii). p107.3. Tiger Tower; Baghmara Tower.
  9. Eurasian Wild Pig (Sus scrofa). p128.3. Chitwan NP (near the Gharial breeding center).
  10. Northern Red Muntjac (Muntiacus vaginalis). p131.3. Kumroj Community Forest; Baghmara Community Forest.
  11. Chital Deer (Axis axis). p131.4. Kumroj Community Forest; Chitwan NP.
  12. Hog Deer (Axis porcinus). p132.1. Kumroj Community Forest.
  13. Sambar Deer (Rusa unicolor). p132.2. Chitwan NP. Kumroj Community Forest.
  14. Indian Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis). p144.3. Kumroj Community Forest; Tiger Tower, Chitwan NP.
  15. Large Indian Civet (Viverra zibetha). p151.3. Baghmara tower (2023 Nov 6). iNat. This record is at the extreme west of its range.
  16. Indian Grey Mongoose (Urva edwardsii). p153.3. Sauraha (river bank).

Mounds were seen in Chitwan NP that were probably of Lesser Bamboo Rat (Cannomys badius).

Notes on Dhurbe, a male Asian Elephant, summarised from online articles:
From 2009 to 2012 Dhurbe killed at least 15 people and destroyed more than 50 houses (Wiki). In 2012/3: “93 soldiers from the Nepal Army and Chitwan National Parks were mobilized to kill the elephant” but they could not locate him (Wiki). He was rarely seen for five years (2013-2018). In 2018 the Kathmandu Post reported that he broke into the Sukhibhar army post in Chitwan NP and left with a female elephant Tirthamankali. He was collared again in 2020 but no longer has that collar. At some point he was darted and the tips of his tusks cut off. I was told this is done to wild bull elephants in Chitwan NP because they enter pens of domesticated elephant pens to breed with females (often shackled) and tip removal is done to protect the females from damage. In 2021 April Dhurbe attacked a rhino survey team (Wiki). In 2021 October he was seen accompanied by a female elephant. There are some sightings between 2022 and mid-2023 including some on YouTube. At least three iNat posts from 2023 Feb-March appear to be Dhurbe.
On 2023 Nov 5 we photographed him 6 km WSW of the Chitwan NP HQ; guides confirmed his identity. He seems to have a small distinctive notch just above the base of his right ear.
Links on Dhurbe:
Wikipedia page that covers 2009- 2020: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhurbe
A 2012 blog post: https://all-likeit.blogspot.com/2012/12/dhurbe-true-story-of-elephant.html
Kathmandu Post article on 2018 reappearance: https://kathmandupost.com/national/2018/04/16/dhurbe-spotted-in-chitwan-national-park
Nepal Minute post 2022 Dec 12: Nepal Minute.
iNaturalist photos from Chitwan NP that appear to be Dhurbe:
Feb 2023: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/150135043
March 2023: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/152219939
March 2023: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/152045220
2023 May YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9zDJd5g3t8

C.  Mammal Images

Mammal images not yet added

D. Reptile List

  1. Ganges Softshell Turtle (Nilssonia gangetica). Kumroj Community Forest (2023 Nov 4); Sauraha river-front (2023 Nov 6). iNat. This post was added to the iNat group “Reptiles and Amphibians with Spinal Malformations” here.
  2. Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus). Kumroj Community Forest (2022); Sauraha riverbank (2022; 2023 Nov 6).
  3. Mugger Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris). Kumroj Community Forest; Tiger Tower.
  4. Oriental Garden Lizard (Calotes versicolor). Sauraha.
  5. Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus). Sauraha Town (2022); Baghmara tower (2023 Nov 6). iNat.

E.  Logistics

I organised jeep trips and overnight tower stays through the various hotels that I used.
Hotels used: Green Mansions Resort (2022); Chitwan Riverside Resort (2022); Hotel Aikawa (2023).

Notes on costs etc:
Chitwan NP Entry Fees: 2000 NPR for Foreigners – valid for that day only (2023).
Chitwan NP is open from 6 AM to 5:30 PM.
Full day jeep safaris in the NP are run from 7 AM to 5 PM. Our private jeep for a full-day (7 AM – 5 PM) for 2 pax cost $230 (including park entry permits and lunch).
A shared jeep in Chitwan NP for 4 hours excluding park fees is around $20/p.
Tiger Tower (27.574700°N 84.454700° E): my overnight stay for 1 person was $60 (2022), based on $30/p minimum of two.
Baghmara Tower (27.594806°N 84.469736°E): My overnight stay for 1 person (2023) was $107. Tiger Tower was better value.
A private car trip from Kathmandu to Sauraha (Oct 2022) cost NPR 14,000 ($105).
Flew Buddha Airways from Pokhara to Bharatpur at $73 each (2023 Nov).
Flew Buddha Airways from Bharatpur to Kathmandu at $120 each (2023 Nov).

Exchange rate 2022 Oct: $1 = NPR-132
Exchange rate 2023 Nov: $1 = NPR-133.
See my Nepal page for further regional information.

F.  References and Links

Lynx (2020a) / Lynx Edicions (2020 June). Lynx Illustrated Checklist of the Mammals of South Asia. Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.

Chitwan National Park and National Trust for Nature Conservation Biodiversity Conservation Center (2020). A Checklist of Fauna and Flora in and around Chitwan National Park. https://mail.ntnc.org.np/sites/default/files/doc_publication/2020-09/Checklist_of_Fauna_Flora_Chitwan_National_Park_2020.pdf

A checklist of mammals recorded at Chitwan NP can be found here.

Ghatgain Tower: $30/n/p for minimum two guests + daily permit fee. This link is no longer valid (2025): https://www.hotelnationalparksauraha.com.np/night-tower-stay-tree-house

See my Nepal page for other regional information and links to other site reports.

Egyptian Slit-faced Bat (Nycteris thebaica) in Oman (2024), version 2.

Posted by Paul Carter

SUMMARY: In October 2024 I photographed Egyptian Slit-faced Bat (Nycteris thebaica) at Wadi Darbat east of Salalah in the Dhofar Governate, Oman. This is ninth and most eastern record in Oman. Mammal Diversity Database (MDD), iNaturalist (iNat) and IUCN Red List (2017 assessment) do not show it as being present in Oman and should be updated to include Oman.

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Tahuayo River mammal records (Iquitos area, Peru; 2023).

Posted by Paul Carter

SUMMARY: I saw 40 mammal species on a ten-day trip (20-29 June 2023) in the Tahuayo River Area. The highlight was Streaked Dwarf Porcupine (Coendou ichillus) which were the first in-situ records published for the Iquitos area; the species at the time was reported only from about ten other sites in South America. Peruvian Tree Rat and Long-tailed Spiny Tree Rat were common. Amazon Bamboo Rat was common locally. Eastern Pygmy Marmoset was easily seen at known study sites. Bishop’s Slender Opossum and White-bellied Slender Opossum was seen in the ARC area. Bats seen included Thumbless Bat. I organized the trip through Amazonia Expeditions and stayed at their Tahuayo Lodge and Amazon Research Center (ARC); my lodge-supplied guide was Juan Pacaya.

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