Environmental projects in Western Kalimantan?

[Gregor Mecklenburg]

Hi 🙂

My name is Gregor, I am living in Germany and I am actually keeping the “wrong” fish here – Betta rutilans 🙂

I was encouraged to give blackwater fish a try sometime in 2010, by reading an article on how to provide the best conditions to breed Parosphromenus. But back then I decided in favour of “my” Betta rutilans.

I hope it is okay to still be registered here. The areas of Borneo where B. rutilans can be found, do also host different species of the genus Parosphromenus if I am not mistaken. So in this way I feel connected to this project somehow.
Environmental changes concerning the paro biotopes in Western Kalimantan may also have an influence on the Betta populations there. Not to mention the effects on every other living being in those habitats.

Besides keeping the fish, I’d like to find out about ways to support the preservation of their natural habitats. So far, I haven’t found an organisation being active in the respective areas. Actually, I have not found anything about the protection of certain small fish anywhere really.
There are international organisations that engage in the protection of the Orang Utang or the Clouded Leopard on the island of Borneo for example – but their projects all seem to focus on the Center, the South or the North and East of Borneo.

Since the Parosphromenus-Project is having an international approach, maybe someone here, respectively “there” knows about any local initiatives or activities in the regions around “Anjungan” or “Tayan” (which is where my fish are from. Yet, it is not a confirmed collecting location though)?

If those places are in any way threatened, that is. I have read about Bauxite mines and an Aluminum plant in Tayan…

Thanks a lot and kind regards,
Gregor

[Gregor Mecklenburg]

Hello again,

maybe there is no information available or maybe such activity is not necessary in the mentioned areas. Is it possible that the natural environment there is still intact?

I was just wondering, since according to this website for example the overall situation on Borneo doesn’t appear entirely positive. But maybe that is not a reliable source…

I’d be glad to learn.

Thank you very much and all the best,
Gregor

[Bill Little]

Welcome Greg – yes the Paro Project is truly and international organization and of course you are welcome to join us. I am an American living in Florida and yes you are correct this organizations goals and objectives go well beyond just the keeping and breeding of the Parosphromenus species. The organization has a fundamental interest on global environmental issues, but we focus special emphasis on that area of the world where are little friend reside. Visit us often and perhaps you will find some Licorice gouramis in one of your tanks soon.

[Gregor Mecklenburg]

Hi Bill,

thanks a lot for the welcome.
I have been thinking about keeping a Parosphromenus species. My betta tanks might be fine for that purpose but I’m not quite sure if the combination of B. rutilans and licorice guramis in the same tank would be a good idea and at the time being, I don’t want to set up any additional tanks.

All the best,
Gregor 🙂

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