CHIBE RONGKOL 2

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 25/03/2016

Two successive collapse chambers are suspected to have formed when the underlying –>Chibe Rongkol 1 collapsed. The rectangular, almost square entrance (2.6 m wide, 2.4 m high) leads to a descend across steeply inclined loose sand into an oval shaped collapse chamber (up to 6 m wide, 4 m high, 24 m long) exclusively developed in marly Kopili Alternations. In the north-eastern end, 24 m from the entrance, a 'gate' (3 m wide and 1 m high) gives access to a second steep descent (-7 m) into a lower chamber (up to 6 m high) characterised by an ocean of bat piss, sorry: lake (up to 8 m wide, of swimming depth, perhaps 20 m long) with a possible (unexplored) rift passage arriving from the north-east (030°). SITUATION: In the back of the amphitheater shaped cliff on the eastern (orographically left) bank of the Chibe River, and about 10 m vertically above –>Chibe Rongkol. POSITION: The cave entrance lies approximately 60m on a bearing of 035° from N25°21'15.7": E090°38'05.7" corresponding to about N25°21'18”: E090°38'07”. PROSPECTS: Bat guano and urine need to be negotiated to check possible continuations beyond the pool. CAVE LIFE: Near the entrance bird of prey (in Garo something like "siar") and beyond the 'gate' about 8 square metres of densely packed fruit bats (Chiroptera) —several thousands.