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| Wildlife & Marine Life of Borneo | |||
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This experience combines some of the best elements of Borneo's wildlife and wilderness locations including rainforest and coastal habitats, mountains, rivers and islands. We also recommend that you include an element of water-based exploration to fully absorb the richness and diversity of this island's fascinating and complex ecosystems. This experience provides the opportunity for divers and non-divers alike to discover one of Borneo's spectacular marine locations. Your journey starts with the exploration of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park - the thickly forested Gaya and Manukan islands that are fringed with sandy beaches. You then venture into the forest home of the orang utan for close encounters with this endangered great ape. Here, you will witness one of the world's most famous wildlife rehabilitation and conservation programmes at the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve and Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre. Young captive or abandoned orang utans, orphans of deforestation, are being helped by highly trained and motivated staff to readjust to a life in the wild. Sea turtles although listed as endangered by the World Conservation Union, are thankfully abundant in this part of the world and we will take you to see them laying eggs at an island sea turtle sanctuary. Here you have the opportunity to see conservation in action and witness the transplanting of eggs to a hatchery and releasing baby turtles back to the sea. You will experience the intensity and diversity of the wildlife and habitats of Borneo exploring the forest covered floodplains of the Kinabatangan - Sabah's longest river - within the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary. The lower reaches of this river form an ecosystem of almost unparallelled richness and is perhaps the best place to see troops of Proboscis Monkeys leaping in the riparian forest canopy. Nearby we head for the unique and balanced ecology of the deep limestone Gomantong Cave systems. Within these caves, an estimated two million bats reside emerging each evening in their search for food. Our visit takes you either to the Tabin Wildlife Reserve or the Danum Valley - the choice is yours. Tabin was declared a wildlife reserve on account of the large number of animals present in its forests. These include nine species of primate, the Asian Elephant, Sumatran Rhinocerous and the Tembadau - a native species of buffalo. Tabin is also the largest protected lowland forest area in Sabah (120,000 hectares), comprising some huge dipterocarp trees, swamps ecosystems and mud volcanoes. This is the reserve where orang utans from the rehabilitation sanctuary are eventually reintroduced to into their natural habitat. The Danum Valley Conservation Area lies deeper to the west and comprses 438 square kilometres of undisturbed lowland forest. It is one of the most important conservation areas in southeast Asia, rich in Borneo's bird and mammal species including the elusive Bornean Clouded Leopard. Some 275 species of bird exist here and other fauna includes the Bornean Gibbon, Leopard Cat, Palm Civet, Mouse-deer and Orangutans. A unique perspective is gained as you explore the rainforest from a canopy walkway high in the treetops amidst the calls of hornbills and gibbons. Your land based Borneo safari culminates in the national park surrounding Mount Kinabalu, the highest peak in southeast Asia where you can explore the outstanding array of flora and fauna in the mountain garden of Malaysia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. The more intrepid can attempt the 4000m climb to the summit and take in the magnificent views of Borneo far below as the sun rises. We follow the Mesilau Trail, an alternative route to the summit with orchids and huge pitcher plants in abundance. Located at 2,000 metres on the eastern side of Kinabalu National Park, the trail is both wilder and more beautiful than the route most commonly taken. The trail is excellent for those who are as enthusiastic about plants and wildlife as they are about the actual climb. Your experience of Borneo and its wildlife and wild places is enhanced by a series of talks given by your expert naturalist guides. This gives you a deeper insight into the places you visit and the wildlife that can be found there providing you with a heightened understanding of the environment and its conservation. Beneath the waves, whether by scuba or by snorkelling, there is a tremendous range of world-class sites around northern Borneo including the prolific corals and pelagic life of Pulau Sipadan. In contrast, the islands of Mabul and Kapalai are havens for their diversity of tiny marine life such as frogfish which literally walk their way through the water. Pulau Lankayan is located within 47,000 hectares of a Marine Conservation Area and has some 42 dive sites with the triple pleasures of pristine coral reefs, deliberately scuttled wooden wrecks and superb ‘muck-diving’ and bizarre smaller benthic organisms. Diving here offers encounters with larger pelagic species such as scads, barracuda, jacks and if you go in April & May, the possibility of whale shark sightings. We will place you in one of our selected waterside lodges at the location you choose ideal for divers, snorkellers and those who simply want to spend some time out relaxing on an island alike. Please click HERE for a description of the diving and snorkelling locations of Sipadan, Mabul, Kapalai and Lankayan For a sample itinerary please click HERE
Malaysian Borneo's islands are jewels in South-East Asia's rich tapestry of marine habitat - and long may they remain that way. The diversity of life within them is of global importance, but like many reefs around the world, they are beautiful but fragile environments that are under pressure. We therefore urge all divers to dive responsibly and safely, avoiding any contact with the reef. For full details of our Responsible Diving Code of Conduct, please click HERE Photographs kindly provided by Ralph Pannell, Charlotte Caffrey, Alan Oh, Nick Bramley, SMART, Albert Teo, Lawrence Lee & PSR |
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