Hi, my name is Endah, I came from the Department of Biology, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia. Although Jakarta is close to Garut (just need about 4-6 hours to get there), I’ve only been back home once while volunteering here because the Green House (Rumah Hijau) feels like my home and is very comfortable. Then, let me tell you some super cool and awesome experiences from my time volunteering at LFP, Cipaganti, Garut.

Actually, this is my first experience in nocturnal observation using the focal animal instantaneous sampling and radio tracking methods. Loris observation is awesome! It is so cool because I can see the loris behaviour directly using my eyes, but sometimes I can’t see them because they usually hide in bamboo trees. I came here with Elsa – my friend from University – to finish my project, the topic of which is agroforestry mapping, correlated with the presence of the lorises, to complete my undergraduate study.

Slow lorises are adorable animals. I have observed 10 lorises out of the 20 lorises that LFP follows in Cipaganti. The tracker and I often fall and stumble when we observe the loris. But I never give up because it has become one of the funniest things of observations. When I was training, I felt so tired because it is my first time doing this and walking with these people. I think that when they walk one foot, I have to walk two feet Hahaha. But over time, I got used to it. Then, when we find the loris, the tracker usually brings the portable stove to make some coffee or tea because the weather is so cold. It can reach until 10⁰ Celsius.

I have been learning many things here. Everyone in the green house is very kind and teach me many things, such as training malaise trap with Albie, learn how to set camera traps with Aconk and many things from Laura, Marie and Sharon. Sometimes we also hang out, karaoke, aerobic with the children in MI Al- Hidayah and play UNO card with house people. Volunteers often get training to analyse observation data, such as R statistic, Q GIS by Marie-LFP new research coordinator. She usually gives us exercises to upgrade our skills and she teaches us patiently during training. It is very helpful and priceless.

I’ve been here for two months and I’ll stay for one month longer. But, I guess I would not mind if at the end of December I’ll come back here to continue my project and certainly to find another experience. Moreover, LFP people are very good, there is the trackers, coordinators and local staff- Dendi, Aconk, Adin, Yiyi, Rahmat, Suci, Wita, Marie, and Sharon. Then I would like to invite you to join LFP at Cipaganti, because volunteering is one way to help the lorises.

Thanks for reading! See you in Cipaganti!

• Endah Septi Fauzi, Volunteer