Young people from Sabah and the UK working together to understand and conserve the rainforest and other ecosystems.
Anchovy fishing platforms off Sandakan
Sandakan fish market
Fish dealer in Sandakan!
Palm oil tanker near Lahad Datu, an area of endless Oil Palm plantations
The team searching for wildlife
Pig-tailed Macaque Monkey
Long-tailed Macaque Monkey
Baby proboscis monkey
Family of proboscis monkeys
Tree emerging from dawn mist above river
Today started with a walk on the beach at Turtle Island to watch the sun rise. After an early breakfast we caught the7am boat back to Sandakan. Over the previous day Sholto had become ill with a fever so on arrival in Sandakan, Sam (our Medical officer) and Lee took him to the Doctor who then referred him to the Duchess of Devonshire Hospital for tests. He was tested for everything imaginable including Denge fever. All the tests were negative and Sam and Sholto were able to join us 4 hours late on Kinabatangan River. Sam’s report back on the Doctor and Hospital was very positive and how reassuring they had been.
It is said that the Chinese Imperial merchants sailed up the Kinabatang River in search of the precious bird’s nests. Its floodplain is one of the most exceptional areas in Malaysia and so a must for us in studying conservation. Over the centuries 5 distinct habitats have evolved- waterlogged and dry forests, saline and freshwater swamps and limestone forests each contributing towards the most diverse concentrations of wildlife in Borneo.
The river is 560kms long and this river is estimated to have the largest concentration of wildlife in all of Malaysia. The river cruise on the Kinabatangan river was outstanding and we were able to observe Proboscis, Long tailed macaque, pig tailed macaque and silver langur monkeys in detail. The author despite 7 trips to Borneo previously had never seen all these in such abundance in the wild and we were able to gather a vast number of photographs and details. We also saw a wide variety of birds including Wallace’s Hawk –Eagle, Wrinkled Hornbill, Oriental Pie Hornbill, Rhinoceros Hornbill and Crested serpent Eagle. A full list of all observations will be made at end of expedition and put on this site.
The photographs taken will also be available but they are an outstanding selection.
Paul Baker: ‘We are staying at the Nature Lodge KInabatangan at Kampong Bilit. The Rainforest experience for the group has really started although some work in Sepilok Rainforest Reserve helped to prepare them for looking carefully and quietly to see as much as possible in the Rainforest.
Sam ‘An unforgettable experience as nightfall creeps over the river ‘
