Gecko, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Taken with Nikon D60, dated May 2009


When I about to touch the carving stone, I found a gecko underneath its outcrop. The body colour of this creature is totally blend in with the rock colour, if I did not noticed and for sure I will miss it.

Geckos are small-medium sized lizards belonging to the family Gekkonidae and found in warm climates throughout the world. Geckos are unique among lizards in their vocalizations, making chirping sounds in social interactions with other geckos. Males also use the voice to establish dominance of a particular area or to attract females.

Geckos live on rocky outcrops or in trees. They are superb climbers, and many species have small toe pads made up of tiny hairlike scales that enables them to climb vertically or upside down. Most species are nocturnal and have eyes with vertical, slitlike pupils that can be expanded to accommodate darkness and let in more light. Geckos come in various colours and patterns. Some are subtly patterned and somewhat rubbery looking, while others can be brightly colored. Some species can change color to blend in with their environment or with particular temperatures.

African Lion, Lion Park, South Africa

Taken with Canon powershot A75, dated Jun 2007


The Lion (Panthera Leo) is one of the Big Five of Africa. The term "Big Five" refers to five of Africa's greatest wild animals. The rest of them are Leopard, Rhinoceros, Elephant and African Buffalo.

This, the so-called King of Beasts has short and massive legs, with large feet and heavy, sharp claws. The male lion is highly distinctive and is easily recognized by its mane. The coat is tawny yellow, with accents of black on the manes, ears, and tail tips of mature animals. The lions congregate in groups knows as prides. A pride consists of a group of related females and their cubs with a small number of males. They typically inhabit savanna and grassland, although they may take to bush and forest.

Long-tailed Macaque, Bako National Park, Sarawak

Taken with Canon powershot A75, dated Sep 2007


The long-tailed Macaque is to be found in a wide range of habitats including primary and secondary forest, mangroves, plantations and the outskirts of towns and villages in Southern Indochina, Philippines, Indonesia, Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo. These monkeys sport gray to reddish brown body hair, which is lighter on their undersides. They has a noisy, aggressive temperament and travels in large group of up to 30.

African Penguin, Boulders Beach, South Africa

Taken with Canon powershot A75, dated Jun 2007


African penguins (also known as jackass penguins or black-footed penguins), about 60cm in length, have a black back and a white belly with a black chin, and make a braying noise like a donkey. This species can be found on the mainland near Cape Town at Boulders Beach near Simon's Town in South Africa. Boulders Beach is a popular tourist stop because of a colony of African Penguins which settled there in 1982. Boulders Beach forms part of the Table Mountain National Park.

Red-billed Gull, Lake Rotorua, New Zealand

Taken with Canon powershot A75, dated Nov 2004


The red-billed gull has a white body with grey wings tipped with black then white. Their beak and legs are red. The gulls are 37 centimentres long, and mainly coastal and offshore island birds, with the exception of a few at Lake Rotorua in the North Island. They are found on the coast near food sources of plankton, small fish and marine invertebrates. They also scavenge around city parks and rubbish bins.

Green Crested Lizard, Niah Cave, Malaysia

Taken with Canon powershot A75, dated Sep 2007


I saw this emerald green lizard with a long tail sat on the broadway. A stunning species, the Green Crested Lizard (Bronchocela cristatella) inhabits primary and secondary forest as well as in rural areas and parklands. The body colour is bright green, with sometimes a blue tint on the head. The body colour will turn darker brown when threatened. Males have an attractive neck crest. The tail makes up over 75 percent of its total length. They can be found throughout West Malaysia, and on the island of Borneo.

Semmengoh Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center, Sarawak, Malaysia

Taken with Canon powershot A75, dated Sep 2007 (light photoshop touch-up)

Located about 32km away from Kuching, the Semmengoh Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center is a sanctuary for the endangered Orang Utans, the reddish-brown great apes species that are gentle and shy in disposition. Native to Indonesia and Malaysia, they are currently found only in rainforests on the island of Borneo and Sumatra.

Most of the time, these primates foraged for food in the jungle but do come out during the feeding times in the park. Visitors can observe the behaviours of these "Men in the Forest" which is what their name means in English.

Shell-dwelling Hermit Crab, Bako, Malaysia

Taken with Canon powershot A75, dated Sep 2007

Hermit crabs use empty snail shells or other hollow objects as a shelter for partial containment and protection of the body. Their bodies are lack of a hard, protected carapace. If without a shell they are extremely vulnerable to predators. They inhabit sandy- or muddy-bottomed waters and occasionally on land. They can be found worldwide, except the Arctic and Antarctic. However, they are not closely related to true crabs.

Yellow-eyed Penguin, Oamaru, New Zealand

Taken with Canon powershot A75, dated Nov 2004


The Yellow-eyed Penguins were called Hoiho ("noise-shouter") by the Maori. Standing about 65-70cm tall and weighing 5-8kg. They gain their names from their yellow iris and the characteristic yellow head band. They can be found on the south-east coast of South Island in New Zealand, as well as Stewart, Auckland and Campbell Islands. Rarest of all the penguins, the Yellow-eyed penguin is unique in appearance and behaviour. They are forest or shrubland nesting birds.

Ostrich Farm, Cape Town, South Africa

Taken with Canon powershot A75, dated Jun 2007 (light photoshop touch-up)


The Ostrich is a large fightless bird and lays the largest egg of any bird species. Standing tall on long, bare legs, the Ostrich has a long, curving, predominantly white neck. The humped body of the male is covered in black patches and the wings and tail are tipped with white, whereas, the female is brown and white. These huge birds cannot fly, but are very fast runners.

In the farm where one can experience a ride on the worlds’ largest bird. There is also the largest variety of ostrich leather products and a wide choice of plain, decorated and carved ostrich eggshells.

Kea, Fox Glacier, New Zealand

Taken with Canon powershot A75, dated Nov 2004


Kea (Nestor notabillis) are the mountain parrot of South Island, New Zealand. They are omnivorous crow-sized bird, have olive green plumage with dark-edged feathers, scarlet underwings with yellow stripes, grey legs. bill and eyes are dark grey. Their habitat ranges from lowland river valleys up to the alpine environment such as Arthur's Pass and Mt. Cook National Park. Raucous cries of "keeaa", hence its name called, and an inquisitive bird.