Sabah, Borneo 2 - Danum Valley

Danum Valley, Sabah, Borneo - 2

The Danum Valley is one of the few remaining areas of pristine primary rainforest in Borneo. Although not large, at 438 square kilometres (169 square miles), it has existed for 130 million years. It has been protected from poachers and has never been logged. Some ancient trees reach up to 80 metres (262 feet) high and are home to endemic primates such as Bornean orangutans and proboscis monkeys, the clouded leopard and a vast array of birds and flying squirrels.

The biodiversity here is stunning: half a square kilometre of forest contains well over 1,000 tree species and is classified as lowland dipterocarp forest. This gorgeous place is home to:

340 bird species including trogons, bee-eaters, the great argus, sunbirds and broadbills
124 mammal species including red-leaf monkeys and Bornean pygmy elephants
72 reptile species including colourful lizards and large snakes
56 amphibian species including heaps of lovely frogs
200 plants per hectare, including several orchid species
milliions of insects including leeches, hairy spiders and rainbow-winged beetles.

Many of these thrilling creatures are on the video.

Why go?

There is heaps of wildlife, much of it endemic. Where else will you see Bornean orangutans come swinging towards you through the trees and pygmy elephants strolling along a trail in the evening?
Danum Valley is listed as an Important Birding Area (IBA MY24) as a site for international importance for conservation of birds.
The walking tracks are beautiful, winding through the bird-filled forest to tombs of ancient tribes or incredible viewpoints where you share the panorama with monkeys.
It's a photographer's paradise, with a wealth of colourful flowers, animals and birds as well as stunning scenes.
You get right off the beaten track and there is only you and your guide marvelling at the wildlife together
You see beautiful places not known to most tourists where you can get your feet nibbled by fish in pristine lakes.
The insects are out-of-this-world but will not harm you.
It's mega gorgeous, awe inspiring and a precious part of the world that has remained the same for thousands of years.

Getting there

It's a two-and-a-half hour or more drive in a four-wheel drive vehicle from the nearest centre of Lahud Datu where there are several reasonably-priced and clean hotels you can stay the night before you leave. There are only two places to stay in Danum Valley, and they will arrange your transport for you. The drive there is quite depressing as you pass through many palm oil plantations that used to be rainforest and you witness the amount of devastation that has occurred. However, you also get to see some local projects to restore the rainforest and these are encouraging.

Where to stay

There are two places to stay: the expensive but well-worth it Borneo Rainforest Lodge where we stayed and the Field Centre which has more basic accommodation but you get to study the wildlife with researchers and scientists. Both have excellent reviews and both are booked out quickly. Book either place six months or more in advance.

In both places:

guides take you on marked trails and show you the amazing wildlife of the valley
due to the remoteness of the area and the fact armed guards patrol against poachers and hunters, you will have this pristine ecosystem to yourself.

Due to the healthy ecosystems, leeches exist but are not a menace, especially if you wear leech socks.

About this video

This video is Part 2 of a three-part series and details our trip to Danum Valley. See Part 1 for an account of Kinabulu National Park, Sepilok Nature Reserve and Lankeyan Island. Part 3, dealing with Tarbin Wildlife Reserve and Kinbatagan River, is yet to come.

About the wildlife

Here is some information about just some of the amazing wildlife to be seen in Danum Valley.

Due to the healthy ecosystems, leeches exist but are not a menace, especially if you wear leech socks.

10 facts about Bornean orangutans

https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/bornean-orangutan

http://www.edgeofexistence.org/species/bornean-orangutan/

Bornean orangutans only live in Borneo.
Their nearest relative, the Sumatran orangutan, has a narrower face and longer beard, and is a bit lighter in colour.
Their populations have declined by half over the past 60 years, and their habitat has decreased by at least 55% over the past 20 years.
Danum Valley is one of the last refuges of wild populations of this critically endangered species.
Research has shown orangutans to be extremely intelligent, empathic and gentle: their gentleness is one reason why they are so endangered.
Orangutans are one of the few primates to use tools and communicate through a language of growls and hums.
Orangutans are mainly vegetarian so they are hugely threatened by habitat loss due to development, logging and conversion of rainforest to palm plantations. There is also some threat due to poaching of baby orangutans for the pet trade.
Orangutans are the slowest breeding of all mammal species, giving birth to a single young every 6-8 years.
Baby orangutans must stay with their mothers for seven years to learn all the life skills they need to live in the wild.
Bornean orangutans live in the wild for 35-45 years.

How to help

There are heaps of 'Adopt an orangutan' projects, opportunities to work in orangutan sanctuaries and donation programs. Just Google.

10 facts about Bornean pygmy elephants

https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/borneo-pygmy-elephant

https://www.worldlandtrust.org/species/mammals/bornean-elephant/

http://wwf.panda.org/?207749/The-Habitat-of-Borneo-Pygmy-Elephants-Threatened-by--Two-Industrial-Plantation-Companies

Bornean pygmy elephants are the smallest elephants in the world.
Unlike other elephant species, their tails are so long they sometimes drag on the ground as they walk and their tusks are straighter. They are also more gentle than other Asian elephants.
Bornean elephants are the largest Bornean mammal.
Unlike other elephant species, they generally move around rather than through forests and do not damage trees or other vegetation unless they feed on them.
Like other elephant species, they can swim very well.
The Borneo pygmy elephant has been classified as an endangered species by the IUCN.
The indigenous people of Dayak Agabag in Tulin Onsoi give this remarkable species a nickname, 'Nenek' (or ‘grandmother’).
These elephants live in lowland areas, and due to their numbers being under 1,500, it is important to conserve their remaining habitat.
Habitat loss due to redevelopment is the animal's main threat.
These world's smallest elephants are not exactly tiny: they grow up to 3 metres (10 feet) tall.

5 facts about Bornean red-leaf monkeys

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/r/red-leaf-monkey/

These primates are almost other-worldly: they have white heavily-marked faces that can, in certain light, make them look like circus clowns.
Red-leaf monkeys are endemic to Borneo.
These monkeys are mainly vegetarians. They have a large, chambered stomach, like that of a cow, which allows them to digest their fibrous food.
These sociable animals live in bands of 2 to 13 individuals, led by a dominant male, and spend nearly all their time in trees.
Although red-leaf monkeys are not currently threatened, their habitat is decreasing and there is concern about their future, given their limited range.

Do you have questions or comments about this article? Email maddestinations@gmail.com or leave a comment under the video.

Watch the video