Ficus aurata is a very common fig along roadsides in Brunei and obviously evolved as a forest gap specialist to rapidly occupy tree fall sites and the bare earth created by landslides. Feeding tests with captive Sumatran Rhinos indicate that fruiting branches of Ficus aurata are one of their most favourite foods. No doubt when Sumatran Rhinos were abundant in Borneo they were important dispersers of Ficus aurata and other small fig trees of forest gaps. All photos by Arlene Walshe.
