Sergio and I set out at 6:30 AM to set out baits for our friendly monitor lizards. By the time we had finished setting and were hiking back, we’d already caught a big boy (who ended up being huge, at 15 kgs). We took a short boat ride back to meet Koko at the jetty, and then the three of us took the long boat ride to Batangan.

We passed Doyo and our compatriots as we headed back upriver, and he gave us a hearty salute, while everyone else smiled and waived. I saluted back and yelled out to him “You’re amazing!” The saying has become somewhat of a favorite phrase that Doyo uses while we work together.

Finally, Sergio, Koko, and I were able to get the clouded leopard equipment at Batangan fixed. Once our labors in the hot sun and clouds of mosquitoes were finished, we sped back downriver. At some point along the ride, I had fallen asleep, and woke up when the boat lurched suddenly. It has been a very busy day already, and it’s not even 11 AM.