Birds and Wildlife

Borneo is the third largest island in the world and home to one of the richest biodiversity on Earth.  This fascinating island was an inspiration for Alfred Russell Wallace, who studied natural selection here which then led to his discovery of evolution.  So, what could be better than follow his footprints?

Bornean best asset is its rainforest, which is the greatest complex of unspoiled rainforest outside Amazon, and is this habitat that provides conditions for a wide variety of species to thrive.  The island is home to 669 bird species, of which 52 are endemic.  The most sought-after is the stunning Bornean Bristlehead, a species that is generally regarded as being in a family of its own. The island’s lowland forests alone support eight species of hornbills, 18 woodpeckers, 13 pittas and a staggering variety malkohas, barbets, broadbills, bulbuls, babblers, trogons, spiderhunters as well as birds of prey, including the magnificent Serpent Eagles.    

Other unique wildlife finds home here too, including 222 species of mammals, of which 44 are endemic, and many rare and endangered.   The sheer variety of forms and adaptations in this group is amazing and range from the tiny Pygmy Squirrel to the unique Borneo Pygmy Elephant. Flying squirrels are particularly well represented with 12 known species to date.  The island though is perhaps mostly known for sheltering the most precious population of Orang-utans in the world, and alongside other 12 species of primates, hosts the endangered Proboscis Monkey.  Several small-medium carnivores dominate the forests, including the endangered Clouded Leopard, Sun Bear and Borneo Bay Cat.   The latter, endemic to Borneo, is considered one of the rarest cats in the world.

Let’s not forget the reptiles, amphibians and insects which are well represented here and will charm and astound us every day. 

To top this, an estimated 15,000 plant species have been recorded in Borneo, with 5,000 being endemic.  Perhaps the most fascinating of them all are the orchids, with over 1,700 species recorded to date and over 50 carnivorous pitcher plants.  What’s more, Borneo houses the largest carnivorous plant in the world, Nepenthes rajah, and the largest flower in the world, Rafflesia. 

Our tour is designed to cover the best birding and wildlife hot-spots in the country, which coincidently are confined to the north eastern part of the island and the Malaysian state of Sabah. 

We begin at Kinabalu National Park, where the towering slopes of Mount Kinabalu form one of the richest ecosystems and harbour most of the Borneo’s endemic birds, mammals and plants.   We will have another chance to top up our bird list at Sepilok, whereas at Lahad Datu, Sabah's largest protected area of lowland forest, we will encounter some of Borneo's rarest wildlife from Proboscis Monkeys and hornbills to wild Pygmy Elephants and Orang-utans.   And, finally Danum Valley Conservation Area protects the largest and most pristine rainforests with a dazzling cast of babblers, trogons, barbets, broadbills, hornbills, and pittas.