Exploring a Hidden Cave In Labuan Bajo: A night-Herping Adventure

Discovering snakes in a little-known cave during a night-time wildlife exploration in Flores, Indonesia.

An Unexpected Night of Herping

Labuan Bajo is widely known as the gateway to Komodo National Park, but the natural wonders of Flores extend far beyond its famous islands. Away from the usual tourist routes, caves and forested landscapes offer opportunities to discover fascinating wildlife, including reptiles and other nocturnal species.

During a recent night-herping expedition, our team from Join Adventure Flores explored Liang Panas, a cave near Labuan Bajo that we believe has potential for wildlife observation and specialised herping experiences.

Our exploration began at 7:30 PM and lasted approximately one hour. What started as a short cave exploration soon became an exciting encounter with several snakes in their natural habitat.

Our First Encounter: A Juvenile Reticulated Python

Shortly after entering the cave, we encountered a juvenile reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus).

Finding a python so early in the exploration immediately made the night memorable. Reticulated pythons are among the remarkable reptiles found across Southeast Asia, and observing one in a natural cave environment offered an opportunity to appreciate the wildlife inhabiting Flores.

We continued exploring deeper into the cave, remaining attentive to the surrounding environment.

Five More Snakes Deeper Inside the Cave

Approximately ten metres from our first python encounter, we spotted a snake identified in the field as a ratsnake.

As we moved farther into the cave, additional encounters followed. By the end of the exploration, we had observed a total of five ratsnakes, in addition to the juvenile reticulated python.

These observations made Liang Panas particularly interesting from a herping perspective. Encountering several snakes within a relatively short period suggests that the cave may provide suitable conditions for certain reptiles, although further observations would be needed to understand their abundance, behaviour and use of the habitat.

Could Bats Be Attracting the Snakes?

One interesting feature of Liang Panas is the presence of bats inside the cave.

We considered whether the snakes might be visiting or inhabiting the cave in search of prey associated with this environment. However, we did not confirm what the observed snakes were feeding on, so a direct relationship between the snakes and the bat colony remains a hypothesis rather than an established finding.

Further observations could help clarify how these reptiles use the cave and whether prey availability influences their presence.

Caves can provide shelter and suitable microclimates for wildlife, but understanding the ecological relationships within Liang Panas would require more detailed study.

Liang Panas: Potential for Night Herping in Flores

Our one-hour exploration demonstrated why lesser-known natural areas around Labuan Bajo deserve attention from wildlife enthusiasts.

For herpers, reptile enthusiasts and nature-focused travellers, exploring suitable habitats after dark can reveal wildlife that might remain unnoticed during the day.

Liang Panas could offer an interesting setting for carefully managed, small-group night-herping experiences. Nevertheless, more visits and systematic observations would be needed to establish the diversity of species present and determine the site's suitability for regular wildlife excursions.

Any future exploration should prioritise safety, respect for the cave environment and minimal disturbance to wildlife, especially the bats and snakes living there.

Responsible Wildlife Exploration with Join Adventure Flores

At Join Adventure Flores, we are interested in exploring the natural diversity of Flores beyond conventional sightseeing routes. Our goal is to create meaningful nature-based experiences that encourage visitors to appreciate the island's wildlife and landscapes.

This encounter at Liang Panas was a reminder that Flores still offers opportunities for discovery, observation and learning.

We look forward to documenting more wildlife encounters and sharing our experiences with travellers and nature enthusiasts interested in the lesser-known side of Labuan Bajo.

Interested in nocturnal wildlife and reptiles in Flores?

Contact Join Adventure Flores to enquire about our specialised night-herping experiences around Labuan Bajo.

Wildlife encounters are unpredictable. Species sightings are not guaranteed, and all activities should be conducted responsibly with minimal disturbance to wildlife.