Standing fully geared at the start of a long journey to Mount Sulen, Benjamin Miles prepares to trek into rugged mountain terrain. Equipped with heavy field packs, specialized gear, and camera equipment, he's setting out on an ambitious scientific quest.
The mission is to climb into higher elevations to survey monitor lizards—including the formidable crocodile monitor—alongside other native reptiles and amphibians that inhabit these remote peaks.
We're particularly interested in the reptiles and amphibians that are on top of the mountain
Documenting wildlife at these altitudes is critical for understanding tropical biodiversity. Mountain ecosystems often act as biological islands, harboring unique species that have adapted to isolated environments. By surveying apex predators like crocodile monitors (the largest monitor lizard in the area) and mapping the species surviving high up the slopes, field researchers gain essential baseline data to track ecosystem health, evaluate territorial ranges, and understand how climate conditions influence wildlife distribution.
