Long-term Plan

Wild Sumatran coffee

We are not the first group to search for orang pendek, but no group before us has simultaneously had so many cameras in the jungle. Given the little extant knowledge of orang pendek's behavior, territory, and other habits, our best chance of finding it depends on maximizing our field-time and coverage. Therefore, our plan is to:

·	Seek out suitable camera locations based on remoteness, reports of sightings, and other evidence such as previous collection of footprints and hair samples
·	Place at least 50 cameras in these locations.
·	Check the cameras every six weeks, replacing batteries and swapping memory cards.

The plan sounds so simple on paper: get some cameras, put them in the jungle, wait for orang pendek to show up! But we are continually amazed at how the environment conspires to complicate every step of the way. Every new research site requires weeks of scouting, making personal contacts, and applying for research permits from several layers of government bureaucracy. In addition, each expedition into the jungle is a major task to plan and implement. Guides and porters, transportation, food, batteries, and other equipment combine into a hefty load and price tag. And with all our cameras operating out in the field, we'll be spending at least half our time soaked, scratched, and sullied out in jungle! But we don't regret a single wet night or leech bite--what an amazing chance this is to show our world what mysteries nature still holds for us, waiting to be discovered and learned from!