Welcome to the oldest rainforest in the world, the Island of Borneo. One of the largest island in the world 'shared' by 3 countries i.e. Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. The majestic rainforest habitats consists of almost 15,000 flowering plants species and 3,000 three species. Above all, 221 species mammal and 400 species of bird found.Sabah is located at most north part of Borneo with land area of 73,371 sq. km that presents about 10% of the entire island. At the Crocker Range situated Mount Kinabalu at 4,094 meters is the highest mountain in South East Asia. The Kinabatangan River, the longest river in Sabah is 560 kilometers long. Originate from Crocker Range drains eastward into the Sulu Sea. With Lower Kinabatangan Floodplain in eastern |
part of Sabah is less than 500 meters above sea level. An equatorial climate rarely rises above 32°C / 90°F except on very hot days. Rarely fall below 20°C / 68°F even at night. Annual rain falls received is about 150 cm / 60 inches and during wetter parts over 450 cm / 180 inches. Most intense period is during the north east monsoon i.e. from October to February but usually drier from March to September.
Major wildlife habitat types
Tropical forests are the home of the greatest biological diversity on the planet, supporting well over half the globe's species of plants and animals on only a little over five percent of the total land area. Sabah's forest is divided into four broad categories of vegetation type of habitat:
Coastal and Mangrove Forest
Coastal forest includes mangrove forest, freshwater swamp forest, riverine forest and beach vegetation. These types of habitats are found from zero to 100 feet above sea level. The distribution is all along the coast and on major rivers in Sabah.
Mangrove forests and swamp forests are important breeding grounds for fish and provide nesting and roosting sites for wetland birds such as egrets and herons. They are critical for the survival of Borneo's famous Proboscis Monkey.
Dipterocarp Forest
This type of habitat is sub-divided into three categories: The Lowland Dipterocarp Forest (100 - 500 feet above sea level), Upland Dipterocarp Forest (500 - 1,500 feet above sea level) and Highland Dipterocarp Forest (1,500 - 3,000 feet above sea level). Dipterocarp Forests are among the most diverse ecosystems on earth, and are home to most of Sabah's unique and famous wildlife species, such as orangutan and rhinoceros. Most commercial logging is carried out in these forests are special lowland forest types. These special forests may be low in stature, but are rich in unique plant species
Heath forests and limestone forests.
These are special lowland forest types. Although these forests may be low in stature, they are rich in unique plant species.
Montane Forest.
Montane forest is sub-divided into Lower Montane Forest (3,000 - 4,500 feet above sea level) and Upper Montane Forest (4,500 - 11,000) feet above sea level). Upper montane habitat type in Sabah is basically restricted to Kinabalu and Trus Madi mountains. Many rare and restricted range species occur in these unique habitats.
Wetlands
Sabah has a rich variety of wetland habitats besides mangrove forest, including swamp forests, peat swamp forest, marshes, rivers and lakes. In addition to many fishes and aquatic organisms, these wetlands are habitat for numerous species of wetland birds, including long distance migrants that may travel from as far as Australia or Siberia. They are also home to Crocodiles and the rare False Garial.
Marine Habitats
Among the most important marine habitats are sea grass beds and coral reefs. Sea grass beds are important as breeding grounds for many ocean fish, and are feeding grounds for Green Turtles and the rare Dugong (or sea cow). Like tropical forests, coral reefs are among the most diverse ecosystems on earth and Sabah's reefs are famous the world over. The open ocean is also rich in life, and is the home of many valuable fish and invertebrates, as well as marine mammals such as porpoises and whales.
Biodiversity
Most of the mammals and birds that occur in Borneo can be found in Sabah. There are 197 species of mammals in Borneo, and 167 of these have been recorded from Sabah. All of Borneo's ten primate species occur in Sabah. These include the Bornean orangutan -Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus and the proboscis monkey -Narsalis larvatus which both are endemic to Borneo. Borneo's three mega-herbivores - the Asian elephant -Elaphas maximus, Sumatran rhinoceros -Dicerorhinus sumatrensis harrisoni and Banteng -Bos banteng occur in various parts of Sabah. Other notable species present include the rare Malayan Sun Bear -Helarctus malayanus and the Clouded Leopard -Neofelis nebulosa.
Borneo also has about 622 species of birds, of which 434 are known or thought to breed, and 39 are endemic. Of these, Sabah has about 526 well-documented species, of which about 395 are residents, 35 are Bornean endemics, and four are Sabah endemics. Another 51 species have been recorded in Sabah, but are unconfirmed. The Sabah endemics are the White-Fronted Falconet - Microhierax latifrons, Black-and-Crimson Pitta -Pitta ussheri, White-Crowned Shama -Copsychus stricklandii and friendly Bush Warbler -Bradypterus accentor. Most of Sabah's mammals and birds occur in forest habitats. Various forms of dipterocarp forest are predominant and cover 41.9 percent of Sabah's land area. Commercially important timber species of the family Dipterocarpaceae of which 155 of the 390 species in Asia are endemic to Borneo, are found in the first type. The rest of the area is montane forest (9.5%), mangrove forest (3.7%), swamp forest (2.3%), plantation forest (2%), and brackish water forest/nipah forest (0.6%). The rest of the land area (39.7%) is basically agricultural land, urban areas etc.
Totally Protected Species
Totally protected species are those listed in Schedule 1 of the wildlife. No one may possess these species or any part or product from them without written authorisation from the Minister for Tourism Development, Environment, Science and Technology.
Totally Protected Mammals
Local Name: Badak Sumatra (My)
Common Name: Sumatran Rhinoceros
Scientific Name: Dicerorhinus sumatrensis Order: Perissodactyla Family: Rhinocerotidae
Status: WCE 1997 Schedule I Part I; CITES Appendix I; IUCN E
Threats to Survival:
Habitat loss and poaching for its horn, which is believed to have medical properties.
Conservation Measures: Protection by legislation. Establish protected areas network. Established interagency collaboration and new approaches in monitoring and research. Conducting captive breeding program. Translocation of doomed animals from areas where loss of habitat and poaching are threatening its survival. Government and NGOs working together in promoting public awareness for protection and conservation.
Local Name: Orang Hutan (My); Kogiu (Kd)
Common Name: Orang Utan
Scientific Name: Pongo pygmaeus
Order: Primates
Family: Pongidae
Status: WCE 1997 Schedule I Part I; CITES Appendix I; IUCN E
Threats To Survival: Habitat loss and poaching.
Conservation Measures: Protection by legislation. Establish protected areas network. Established interagency collaboration and new approaches in monitoring and research. Conducting natural rehabilitation and breeding programs. Translocation of doomed animals from areas where loss of habitat and poaching are threatening to its survival. Government and NGOs working together in promoting public awareness for protection and conservation.
Local Name: Beruang (My)
Common Name: Sun Bear/Malay Bear/Honey Bear
Scientific Name: Helarctus malayanus
Order: Carnivore
Family: Ursidae
Status: WCE 1997 Schedule I Part I; CITES Appendix I; IUCN V
Threats To Survival: Habitat loss and poaching.
Conservation Measures: Protection by legislation. Establish protected areas network. Established interagency collaboration and new approaches in monitoring and research. Government and NGOs working together in promoting public awareness for protection and conservation.
Local Name: Kera Belanda (My), Bangkatan (Kd)
Common Name: Proboscis Monkey
Scientific Name: Nasalis larvatus
Order: Primate
Family: Cercopitihecidae
Status: WCE 1997 Schedule I Part I; CITES Appendix I; IUCN V
Threats To Survival: Habitat loss and poaching.
Conservation Measures: Protection by legislation. Establish protected areas network. Established interagency collaboration and new approaches in monitoring and research. Government and NGOs working together in promoting public awareness for protection and conservation.
Local Name: Harimau Dahan (My)
Common Name: Clouded Leopard
Scientific Name: Neofelis nebolusa
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Status: WCE 1997 Schedule I Part I; CITES Appendix I; IUCN V
Threats To Survival: Habitat loss and poaching.
Conservation Measures: Protection by legislation. Establish protected areas network. Established interagency collaboration and new approaches in monitoring and research. Government and NGOs working together in promoting public awareness for protection and conservation.
Local Name: Duyung (My)
Common Name: Dugong
Scientific Name: Dugong dugon
Order: Sirenia
Family: Dugonidae
Status: WCE 1997 Schedule I Part I; CITES Appendix I; IUCN V
Threats To Survival: Habitat disturbance by fishing, poaching, accidental catch in fishing nets.
Conservation Measures: Protection by legislation. Establish marine protected areas network. Established interagency collaboration and new approaches in monitoring and research. Government and NGOs working together in promoting public awareness for protection and conservation.
Totally Protected Reptiles
Local Name: Buaya Julung-Julung (My)
Common Name: False Gharial
Scientific Name: Tomistoma schlegeli
Order: Crocodylia
Family: Crocodylidae
Status: WCE 1997 Schedule I Part I; CITES Appendix I; IUCN E
Threats To Survival: Habitat loss and poaching.
Conservation Measures: Protection by legislation. Establish protected areas network. Establish interagency collaboration and new approaches in monitoring and research. Government and NGOs working together in promoting public awareness for protection and conservation.
Local Name: Penyu Hijau (My)
Common Name: Green Turtle
Scientific Name: Chelonia mydas
Order: Testudinata
Family: Cheloniidae
Status: WCE 1997 Schedule I Part I; CITES Appendix I; IUCN E
Threats To Survival:
Habitat loss, accidental catch in fishing nets and poaching of eggs and adults.
Conservation Measures: Protection by legislation. Establish marine protected areas network. Established interagency collaboration and new approaches in monitoring and research. Government and NGOs working together in promoting public awareness for protection and conservation.
Local Name: Penyu Sisik (My)
Common Name: Hawksbill Turtle
Scientific Name: Eretmochelys imbricata
Order: Testudinata
Family: Cheloniidae
Status: WCE 1997 Schedule I Part I; CITES Appendix I; IUCN E
Threats To Survival: Habitat loss, accidental catch in fishing nets and poaching of eggs and adults.
Conservation Measures: Protection by legislation. Establish marine protected areas networking. Intensive monitoring and research. Established interagency collaboration and approaches in monitoring and research. Government and NGOs working together in promoting public awareness for protection and conservation.
Totally Protected Plants
Local Name: Periuk Kera (My)
Common Name: Pitcher Plant
Scientific Name: Nepenthes rajah
Family: Nepenthaceae
Status: WCE 1997 Schedule I Part II; CITES Appendix I
Description: A highland species found only on Mt. Kinabalu and Mt. Tambuyukon in Sabah, where it grows among grasses and shrubs on ultramafic soils. It is one of the largest (and certainly the most famous) species in the genus, and has captured the attention of botanists and explorers since it was first discovered in 1858. The huge purple lower pitchers can hold up to 3 litres of water, and have been recorded catching rats in the wild.
Threats To Survival: This species is highly localised and is therefore vulnerable to any negative impacts from habitat disturbance and collecting.
Conservation Measures: Protection by legislation. Government and NGOs working together in promoting public awareness for protection and conservation. Established interagency collaboration and new approaches in monitoring and research.
Local Name: Orkid (My)
Common Name: Orchid
Scientific Name: Paphiopedilum spp.
Family: Orchidaceae
Status: WCE 1997 Schedule I Part II; CITES Appendix I
Threats To Survival: Most species are highly localised and are therefore vulnerable to extinction because of habitat disturbance and collection.
Conservation Measures: Protection by legislation. Government and NGOs working together in promoting public awareness for protection and conservation. Established interagency collaboration and new approaches in monitoring and research.
Local Name: Bunga Padma (My)
Common Name: Rafflesia
Scientific Name: Rafflesia spp.
Family: Rafflesiaceae
Status: WCE 1997 Schedule I Part II; CITES Appendix II
Description: Seven out of fifteen species worldwide of Rafflesia can be found in Malaysia. R.cantleyi and R.kerrii are found in Peninsular Malaysia whereas R.arnoldii, R. pricei, R. keithii, R. tuan-mudae and R. tengku-adlinii in Sarawak and Sabah. R.kerrii, R. keithi, R. tuan-mudae and R. tengku-adlinii are endemic to Malaysia.
Threats To Survival: Most species are highly localised and are therefore vulnerable to extinction because of habitat disturbance and collection.
Conservation Measures: Protection by legislation. Established interagency collaboration and new approaches in monitoring and research. Collection for cultivation is threatening its survival. Government and NGOs working together in promoting public awareness for protection and conservation.
Local Name: Akar Tetrastigma (My)
Common Name: Tetrastigma (vine)
Scientific Name: Tetrastigma spp.
Family: Vitaceae
Status: WCE 1997 Schedule I Part II
Threats To Survival: Most species are highly localised and are therefore vulnerable to extinction because of habitat disturbance and collection.
Conservation Measures: Protection by legislation. Government and NGOs working together in promoting public awareness for protection and conservation. Established interagency collaboration and new approaches in monitoring and research.
Lower Kinabatangan Managed Elephant Range (58,809 ha)
This range (corresponding to Areas 1 and 2 in Table 3) consists of forest remaining in the Kinabatangan River floodplain, with freshwater swamp forests, secondary dryland forest, limestone outcrops and lakes. Most of the original forest in this region has been converted to oil palm plantations. About 95 – 115 elephants exist in the area, and the remaining forest land currently used by elephants incorporates the Pin-Supu, Gomantong, Pangi and Keruak Forest Reserves, and the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary. This elephant range has been cut from the extensive forest blocks and elephant ranges further inland by plantations and by a public road and human settlements along the road.
However, some prospects exist of regaining a corridor, perhaps through the development of timber plantations using a mixture of native tree species. Elephants may be observed near the villages of Sukau, Batu Puteh and Bilit, and have come to be a big tourism attraction. However, problems occur when elephants damage village farms. Many of the large plantations adjacent to the forest use electrified fencing to reduce elephant incursion.
If you have come to Borneo to see the amazing wildlife than the lower Kinabatangan River is an essential place for you to visit. The entire river is teeming with many rare and endangered animals, birds and reptiles. It can almost be guaranteed that you will see families of Proboscis monkeys, Macaque monkeys and hornbills. If you are lucky, you can also see Orang Utan, crocodiles, elephants, and a spectacular assembly of birdlife.
You will have the opportunity to join a river cruise which is the perfect way to spot animals. You will spend the night at a small, clean and eco-friendly resort nestled within the forest on the banks of the river.
In total facing the river Kinabatangan partially scenic hills viewed on its left. The usual misty filled during morning sunrise with dusky at sunset towards twilight. This amazing site situated on six acres piece of land belong to an Orang Sungai passed down from their ancestors. Surrounded by lowland forest of wild fruit and flowering trees and plants has invited primate and bird species closer and frequent the area. Two hundred meters inside from where land transport has stopped located the reception counter. At present, only six village styles wooden made accommodation built on stilt has been erected. Of each with a maximum area of 30' width X 25' length X 15' in height. One of the many little ways minimises the impact to it wildlife filled environment. The reception counter area is also our guest information centre, briefing area and a cafeteria. There are four 'huts' with eight rooms as guest's accommodation. Three either twin or double bed with clean attached bathroom. One other hut with two rooms is the dormitory with three Double-Decker beds to accommodate six guests and one Double-Decker and a twin bed to accommodate four persons. Just behind there's a clean common bath rooms with 2 toilets and two shower respectively.
We hope to accommodate less 20 persons at a time. With main aim minimise impact and conflict indirectly created towards environment and wildlife habitats.
We hope guests and visitors join us minimise unwanted none decay product into the area. Kindly, to carry out back to town own unwanted material.
We hope everyone join us in our 'bits' towards conservation related issues at the area for our future generation. 
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