Adventure Borneo - Borneo - page 56

Common Leech Varieties
There are two main varieties of leech in Borneo: the ground-dwelling brown leech and the striped yellow-reddish
tiger leech, which often lives higher up on foliage. Leeches, which are attracted by the vibrations and carbon diox-
ide you produce, are probably the jungle's quietest creatures. Since you can't feel the bite of the brown leech,
you'll only realise what's going on when you actually spot him-and-her (leeches are hermaphrodites), or when
you notice blood seeping through your clothing. But you can feel the bite of a tiger leech - it's similar to an ant
sting - which means that if you're quick, you can take action before making an involuntary blood donation.
While leeches are horrible creatures, they are almost completely harmless. In Borneo they don't generally carry
parasites, bacteria or viruses that can infect humans. However, a bite may itch and bleed profusely for a few hours
due to the anticoagulant juices (hirudin) the leech injects. The spot may itch for another week, and then it will
scab over and resolve into a small dark spot that completely disappears after several weeks. The only danger is
that the bite may get infected, which is why it's important to disinfect the bite and keep it dry.
Self-Defence Against Leeches
Like hangover cures, everyone has a favourite method of protecting themselves from leeches. Problem is, most
don't work. Putting tobacco in your socks or on your shoes is an old standby. We tried this one and it only seemed
to encourage the little bastards. Many Kelabit people swear that spraying your shoes with a powerful insecticide
works (that's insecticide, not insect repellent); we didn't try this one for fear of unwelcome side effects, nor did
we use Dettol disinfectant, which can be toxic. Yet other people wear pantyhose or spandex cycling pants, slather
on the baby oil (said to cause leeches to slide off your skin) or use tropical-strength mosquito repellent - though
since this last item is water-soluble, it's likely to wash off if you ford a river or sweat.
There is only one really effective method of keeping leeches at bay: wearing an impenetrable fabric barrier.
Knee-length leech socks, made from tightly knit calico, work, as does Spandex. The best leech socks are light col-
oured so you can see the leeches ascending your legs and pick them off. You can find these online; guesthouses in
Miri may also sell them.
If you do discover a leech making a pass at you, don't panic. Yanking off a leech can leave part of its jaws in
the wound, and burning it or dousing it with vinegar, lemon juice or alcohol can cause it to regurgitate its stomach
contents, increasing the likelihood of infection. Instead, slide your fingernail along your skin at the point where
the leech is attached to break the suction. The leech will try to grab your finger with its other end so roll it around
to prevent it from getting a grip and flick it away. If there are other people around, it's good form to chop the leech
in half with your parang (Bornean machete). Don't squirt DEET directly on sucking leeches as the chemical may
get in your wound.
One more thing to remember: salt is to leeches as kryptonite is to Superman. Some people put a teaspoon of salt
inside some thin cloth and tie it to the top of a stick - touch a leech with something salty and it will recoil like the
Wicked Witch of the West.
If you find a few leech bites on your feet, console yourself with the thought that you have had the privilege and
the honour of making a very real contribution to sustaining Borneo's endangered ecosystem.