The Bukit Gemok Dragonfly faun needs to be conserved for its own sake. They are indicators of the health of our eco systems. They are also a part of Sabah priceless natural heritage. Whether it is for scientific, genetic, aesthetic or environmental reasons, they must be conserved for future generations.

Popularizing dragonfly watching is one way to raise awareness and to create the motivation to conserve some of Sabah's less known fauna. Dragonflies and damselflies are also important for eco tourism of Tawau. These enigmatic winged insects  is a genuine and growing interest in Dragonflies around the world. This interest has close parallels with the development of bird watching. The last few decades have seen a proliferation of field guide to birds followed by book on where to watch them. Many birders have expanded their interest in the field to dragonflies.

In the years to come, there will be eco-tourist who will be more concerned with whether the hotel's wetland has dragonflies  than whether it has 5 star comforts.

Finding dragonflies

Dragonflies and damselflies occur in all types of freshwater habitats. Generally habitats with a good clear water, aquatic and bank side vegetation (e.g. water lilies, rushes, weeds) and a natural morphology (e.g. not canalized or dammed) have more species. An important habitat aspect is sun: adults like to sit in the sun, but in the tropics there are many species that prefer the shade.

The easiest localities to observe dragonflies are often open unshaded habitats like ditches beside the road and ponds. These habitats often hold only common and widespread species.

More interesting species are found in forest and almost all endemic species (species with a small range) are confined to forest habitats. Good habitats to look are small running waters in the forest, especially those with some sunny spots. Such waters are usually largely shaded, have clear shallow water, and no aquatic and bank-side vegetation. Also very interesting are rivers, especially forested ones. Here there is more sun and vegetation, allowing a different spectrum of species.

Small special habitats can contain some very specialized, rare species. Examples are places where water oozes from the ground (seepage), the spray-zone of waterfalls, wet trickles along rock faces, torrents, small pockets of water in tree holes (phytotelmata) or small pools and swamps in forest. On first impression these habitats often seem poor in dragonflies; take your time to wander around and get a feeling of where the dragonflies are. Species occurring in these habitats often appear inconspicuous (less colorful) and inactive, only moving from their perch when approached.

Open artificial habitats are the easiest places to find dragonflies. The species encountered at these type of open spaces are often common and widespread.

Small running waters in the forest, especially those with some sunny spots, are often rich in dragonflies. Such waters are usually largely shaded, have clear shallow water, and no aquatic and bank-side vegetation.

Forested Rivers with  more sunlight  and vegetation are good dragonflies habitats, allowing a different spectrum of species.

Rivers bordered by degraded forest are often less rich in species.  This river flood during monsoon season.

Swamps in forest often have a rich dragonfly-fauna with many species that do not occur in other habitats. On first impression these habitats often seem poor in dragonflies; take time to wander around and find where the dragonflies are. Species occurring in these habitats are often inconspicuous and inactive.

Above : a natural pond on the Northern side of  Bukit Gemok foothill. A dragonfly-rich small natural lakes. A breeding ground of many species of tropical dragonflies and damselflies. A pond with dense growths of water hyacinths support larger diverse invertebrate populations. The hyacinths provide a refuge from predation and a food source for a wide variety of organisms.

We found a significant connection between the number of aquatic plants and the number of dragonfly species present.

Dragonfly species richness  associated with species richness of vascular plants.