SHRIEH, Khaidong (Krem)
25.359400,92.512600
Description
Approximately five unspecified cave entrances, which all lie an inexplicable spatial relation to each other (note 1), give access to interconnected cave passages, which are enterable not only via the two entrances of Krem poh –>Jingtep but also via the three entrances of Krem Shrieh, Khaidong: A closed depression (collapse doline), which is more or less circular shaped in ground plan, approx. 50 m diameter (Bayley 2002.02.24 Mss) and ranging in depths varying between approx. 10 m (Anonymous Brown 2008.02.17 Mss) to estimated approx. -25 m (Bayley 2002.02.24 Mss), allows, with the help of a handline, to drop 6 m down (Anonymous Brown 2008.02.17 Mss) in full day light to an overgrown, bouldery floor with approximately two, three or many potential (Anonymous Brown 2008.02.17 Mss) ways on: For one, there is an ongoing bouldery descent at bottom (Bayley 2002.02.24 Mss), the un-dropped hole of Anonymous (Brown 2008.02.17 Mss), which is known to lead to descends into the main cave, while a cunter-clockwise traverse leads sometimes to one single horizontal proper entrance (Anonymous Brown 2008.02.17 Mss) but at other times to two horizontal entrances at higher level … approximately 10 m from bottom of Bayley (2002.02.24 Mss) in addition to many potential cave entrances (Anonymous Brown 2008.02.17 Mss). Somehow, a small stream trickles down (Bayley 2002.02.24 Mss) without identified relation to the interior design of the doline. ETYMOLOGY: The Khasi -u shrieh- is a jackanapes (SINGH, N 1920: 275) as -ki shrieh- is either a monkey or an ape (SINGH, N 1906: 199) but both Bayley (2002.02.24 Mss) and Anonymous (Brown 2008.02.17 Mss) were sure that Krem Shrieh means Monkey Cave simply because they overlooked the difference. SITUATION 1 (Bayley 2002.02.24 Mss) From Khaidong village at GPS N25°21'23.3”: E092°30'45.2” head along road 040° for 5 mins and then take track downhill bearing 300° to 320° until limestone pinnacles are visible to left. Head towards these, and large doine on left is Krem Shrieh. SITUATION 2 (Anonymous Brown, M.W. 2008.02.17 Mss): From white and green house [note 2] in Kaidong [note 3] descend track [note 4] through pine trees. As ground levels out, bear left without orientation. POSITION 1: WGS84 (precision error ±6.5 m) N25°21'34.3”: E92°30'45.2” / N25.35952778° : E92.51255556°: 1120 m asl recorded M. Groves (2002.02.24, with M.W. Brown's GPS Garmin Etrex) at a GPS reading point without identified relation to the whereabouts of the doline. At a distance of (deleted: 6.8 m SSE) 9.3 m in a direct line further south is POSITION 2: Deleted WGS84 (precision ±4.7 m) N25°21'34.1”: E92°30'45.3” / N25.35947222° : E92.51258333° (without elevation) replaced by POSITION 3: WGS84 (precision error ±4.3 m) N25°21'34.0”: E92°30'45.2” / N25,35944445° : E92,51255556° (without elevation) recorded Anonymous (Brown 2008.02.17, without identified GPS receiver) at a GPS reading point that possibly lies on the north-western rim of the dolin's edge in the vicinity of a certain tall, straight tree in clearing, overlooking depressions to left [without orientation] & right without orientation. CAVE DESCRIPTION 1: Bayley (2002.02.24 Mss), literally quoted: Doline approx. 50 m diameter —climable over boulders down to bottom (approx. -25 m) descent continues down into cave for another -30 m to head of pitch which needs tackle (approx. 20 m). 2 horizontal entrances at higher level join to approx. 50 m of passage ending in [sic! for: giving acces to] a 5 second drop pitch. CAVE DESCRIPTION 2: Dr. Martin Groves (2002.05.11 Mss), member of the Bristol Exploration Club, fully points out that No Shrieh 1 in Khaidong just Shrieh 2 named so as not to conflict with the Krem Shrieh alreay in the atlas (explored by Mark in 2000(?). If this label is not required then feel free to drop it (literally quoted). CAVE DESCRIPTION 3: Anonymous (Brown 2008.02.17 Mss): Doline is decended [sic! qua: descended?] & traversing down the left-hand sid [without orientation]. Cave is located on right [without orientation] via traverse.PROSPECTS (Bayley 2002.02.24 Mss): Two open pitches 20 m and 100 m? V. good (Martin Groves, 2002.02.23: Passage at pitch base unexplored. SPELEOMETRY (JARRATT 2003): Krem Shrieh reached 1.048 m. Brooks, S.J. (2008 undated Mss: Longest Table 2008.doc): Krem Shrieh … 8.862 m. Brooks, S.J. (2008 undated Mss: Deepest Table 2008.doc): Krem Shrieh … Vertical Range 169 m; Depth -169 m. CAVE LIFE - bats (Chiroptera): Bayley (2002.02.24 Mss) recorded lots of bats in horizontal bits. Anonymous (Brown 2008.02.17 Mss) noticed a large bat colony and birds (Aves) in addition to bats + swifts (note 5). Anthony 'Tony' R Jarratt collected in February 2008 a small bat skeleton / mummy which Antony 'Tony' Boycott (2008.03.07 Mss) forwarded to Paul J.J. Bates, who identified (2008.03.14 Mss, 2008.03.20), after preparation, the specimen as Miniopterus magnater, (Western long-fingered bat) [note 6] which is a very nce record, since it has only recently been recorded from NE India. This species is larger than M. schreibersii [note 7] with a much more robust skull. Antony 'Tony' Boycott (2008.03.20 personal correspondence: Bat droppings) tells me he collected in Krem Shrieh N 25deg 21’ 34- E 092deg 30’ 45- in the area above pitch into Krem Pohjingtep on 2008.02.16 a bat guano sample (no. 6) that may be mixed with Swiftlet faeces and on 2008.02.20 sample no. 9 (note 8). [without orientation]. Cave is located on right [without orientation] via traverse.PROSPECTS (Bayley 2002.02.24 Mss): Two open pitches 20 m and 100 m? V. good (Martin Groves, 2002.02.23: Passage at pitch base unexplored. SPELEOMETRY (JARRATT 2003): Krem Shrieh reached 1.048 m. Brooks, S.J. (2008 undated Mss: Longest Table 2008.doc): Krem Shrieh … 8.862 m. Brooks, S.J. (2008 undated Mss: Deepest Table 2008.doc): Krem Shrieh … Vertical Range 169 m; Depth -169 m. CAVE LIFE - bats (Chiroptera): Bayley (2002.02.24 Mss) recorded lots of bats in horizontal bits. Anonymous (Brown 2008.02.17 Mss) noticed a large bat colony and birds (Aves) in addition to bats + swifts (note 5). Anthony 'Tony' R Jarratt collected in February 2008 a small bat skeleton / mummy which Antony 'Tony' Boycott (2008.03.07 Mss) forwarded to Paul J.J. Bates, who identified (2008.03.14 Mss, 2008.03.20), after preparation, the specimen as Miniopterus magnater, (Western long-fingered bat) [note 6] which is a very n [without orientation]. Cave is located on right [without orientation] via traverse.PROSPECTS (Bayley 2002.02.24 Mss): Two open pitches 20 m and 100 m? V. good (Martin Groves, 2002.02.23: Passage at pitch base unexplored. SPELEOMETRY (JARRATT 2003): Krem Shrieh reached 1.048 m. Brooks, S.J. (2008 undated Mss: Longest Table 2008.doc): Krem Shrieh … 8.862 m. Brooks, S.J. (2008 undated Mss: Deepest Table 2008.doc): Krem Shrieh … Vertical Range 169 m; Depth -169 m. CAVE LIFE - bats (Chiroptera): Bayley (2002.02.24 Mss) recorded lots of bats in horizontal bits. Anonymous (Brown 2008.02.17 Mss) noticed a large bat colony and birds (Aves) in addition to bats + swifts (note 5). Anthony 'Tony' R Jarratt collected in February 2008 a small bat skeleton / mummy which Antony 'Tony' Boycott (2008.03.07 Mss) forwarded to Paul J.J. Bates, who identified (2008.03.14 Mss, 2008.03.20), after preparation, the specimen as Miniopterus magnater, (Western long-fingered bat) [note 6] which is a very n [without orientation]. Cave is located on right [without orientation] via traverse.PROSPECTS (Bayley 2002.02.24 Mss): Two open pitches 20 m and 100 m? V. good (Martin Groves, 2002.02.23: Passage at pitch base unexplored. SPELEOMETRY (JARRATT 2003): Krem Shrieh reached 1.048 m. Brooks, S.J. (2008 undated Mss: Longest Table 2008.doc): Krem Shrieh … 8.862 m. Brooks, S.J. (2008 undated Mss: Deepest Table 2008.doc): Krem Shrieh … Vertical Range 169 m; Depth -169 m. CAVE LIFE - bats (Chiroptera): Bayley (2002.02.24 Mss) recorded lots of bats in horizontal bits. Anonymous (Brown 2008.02.17 Mss) noticed a large bat colony and birds (Aves) in addition to bats + swifts (note 5). Anthony 'Tony' R Jarratt collected in February 2008 a small bat skeleton / mummy which Antony 'Tony' Boycott (2008.03.07 Mss) forwarded to Paul J.J. Bates, who identified (2008.03.14 Mss, 2008.03.20), after preparation, the specimen as Miniopterus magnater, (Western long-fingered bat) [note 6] which is a very nce record, since it has only recently been recorded from NE India. This species is larger than M. schreibersii [note 7] with a much more robust skull. Antony 'Tony' Boycott (2008.03.20 personal correspondence: Bat droppings) tells me he collected in Krem Shrieh N 25deg 21’ 34- E 092deg 30’ 45- in the area above pitch into Krem Pohjingtep on 2008.02.16 a bat guano sample (no. 6) that may be mixed with Swiftlet faeces and on 2008.02.20 sample no. 9 (note 8).
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 2002.02.24: Karmel Lyngdoh, Samson Lyngdoh, Wing Pajuh, Batskhem Rupon, Hanli Sukhlain, Skhem Sukhlain and Lynnad Sutnga guided Nicola 'Nicky' Bayley and Martin Groves, assisted by Babha Kupar 'Dale' Mawlong acting as their interpreter, to the entrance of one Krem Shrieh near Khaidong. 2002.02.25: Dr. (sic!) Martin Groves and Shelley A Diengdoh descended 57 m in . 2003.02.11: Nicola 'Nicky' Bayley, Rhys Williams and S.A. Diengdoh surveyed (?) 227.61 m (total: 284.61 m). 2003.02.12: N. Bayley, R. Williams and S.A. Diengdoh surveyed (?) 309.12 m (total: 593.73 m).2003.02.13: N. Bayley, R. Williams and S.A. Diengdoh surveyed (?) 454.26 m (total: 1047.99 m). 2008.02.15, team 1: Axel, Terry, Ronnie and Torben went reccying to the Lumthari area. They found 6 holes, only to discover, on return, that some had already been mapped (Brown, Mark W. et al. 2008 Mss 'Meghalaya 2008 diary' Friday 15th February). 2008.02.15, team 2: Imo, Jrat, Louise plus Joel foud 2 possible new sites near Krem Urle 4, both needing a GPS, one draughting very strongly but with a very tight entrance. A 20 m pot was found. Then they went on to Krem Shrieh (Upper Cliff Series) where Imo abseiled from the highest point of the doline to reach open cave passage at 8 m. They surveyed as far as 2 pitches that need rigging (Brown, Mark W. et al. 2008 Mss: 'Meghalaya 2008 diary' Friday 15th February). 2008.02.16, team 1: Tony Jarratt, Imogen,Joel, and Ronnie went to Krem Shrieh (Upper Cliff Series) and rigged a 20 m pot, which entered Krem Pohjingtep, thus connecting it to Krem Shrieh properly (Brown, Mark W. et al. 2008 Mss: 'Meghalaya 2008 diary' Saturday 16th February). Anthony 'Tony' R Jarratt collected a small bat skeleton / mummy which Boycott, Antony 'Tony' (2008.03.07 Mss) forwarded to Paul J.J. Bates, who identified the vespertillionid specimen at a first glance as Miniopterus schreibersi Kuhl 1819 (Bates 2008.03.14 Mss) but after preparation asM. magnater Sanborn 1931 (Bates 2008.03.20 Mss). 2008.02.16, team 2: Louise, Torben and Terry also went to Krem Shrieh using an alternative entrance at the top of the doline and rigged a small series of pitches (silicosis series) to join in with the passage from Krem Shrieh above the 60 m pitch. (Brown, Mark W. et al. 2008 Mss: 'Meghalaya 2008 diary' Saturday 16th February). 2008.02.16: Boycott, Antony 'Tony' (2008.03.20 personal correspondence: Bat droppings) collected a bat guano sample that may be mixed with swiftlet faeces. 2008.02.17: Fraser and Guillaume filmed some of the Krem Shrieh doline antics. Imo, Jrat and Anne abseiled into the Krem Shrieh doline. They checked the bottom of the doline, but found no way on. Imo traversed around the doline to the square cut window – no other entrances were found there. They found two pots below the entrance to Krem Shrieh (Brown, Mark W. et al. 2008 Mss: 'Meghalaya 2008 diary' Sunday 17th February). 2008.02.18: Imogen, Jrat andLouise went to Krem Shrieh doline and rigged one of the pots found yesterday. It dropped 60 m into a known passage leading to the big chamber in Krem Shrieh. A small rift blowing warm air was found in the doline. They surveyed the doline (Brown, Mark W. et al. 2008 Mss: 'Meghalaya 2008 diary' Monday 18th February). 2008.02.19: Kate and Louise went to the high level passage in Upper Cliff Krem Shrieh, rigged a traverse and got to a 5 m drop (Brown, Mark W. et al. 2008 Mss: 'Meghalaya 2008 diary' Tuesday 19th February). 2008.02.20: Joel, Ross, Imogen and Jrat descended the big doline and went in to a new entrance for Krem Shrieh. They succeeded in collecting a sample of fish fin, some bat guano and a dead bat. They also did some filming and dropped fluorescein in the stream way in an attempt to make a connection to Krem Labbit Khaidong. On the way out they surveyed the passage and derigged (Brown, Mark W. et al. 2008 Mss: 'Meghalaya 2008 diary' Wednesday 20th February). 200802.20: Boycott, Antony 'Tony' (2008.03.20 personal correspondence: Bat droppings) collected another bat guano sample. 2008.02.21: Jean-Pierre Bartholeyns alias J-P … joined Imo, Jrat and Ronnie, who went to the doline and upper passage in Upper Cliff Krem Shrieh and surveyed up to a dig (Brown, Mark W. et al. 2008 Mss: 'Meghalaya 2008 diary' Thursday 21th February).