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The Pil We Have to Take Mks
Jan - March 2007 Vol. 4, Issue 1 The Quarterly Newsletter of the Malaysian Karst Society For members only THE PIL WE HAVE TO TAKE Inside this issue: Yin Ee Kiong We are not a litigious society. It amuses ignored. Crystal Theft! 3 as much as baffles us when we read of Investigated Current Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi people suing companies, each other, or said much the same but less eloquently. Mulu Expedetion 2007 3 even the government at the drop of a hat Those in power seem to have taken a leaf in the United States. Our culture is one of out of Mahathir’s trade mark response to ‘give and take’, being ‘chin chai’ and public concerns. But where has RECENT TRIPS 4 resolving issues quietly and privately. We ‘whispering’ got us? Many have tried and Six-mile Tunnel are taught not to be confrontational. By come away with nothing. Political parties Gua Ta’Boleh and large we do not question authority - Gua Angin in the ruling coalition have sought to especially the government. To challenge convince their grassroot supporters that COMING TRIPS 6 authority goes against the grain of what is more can be achieved ‘whispering’ behind still a very feudalistic society. It’s all well closed doors. Yet they have little to show and good in an ideal society where the for their trouble. Besides, where does all Karst Discovery 7 government is receptive to the society’s concerns. But what when the government this stand in the face of the promise by the is not? When it refuses to dialogue with government for more transparency and those who have expressed concerns for accountability? the issues that affect them. -
Wild Travel June 2013 Borneo
N PLAYGROUNDATURE’S A place of mystery that has long nourished the imagination of naturalists and travellers alike, the island of Borneo cannot fail to captivate with its incredible array of flora and fauna, writes Nick Garbutt 66 WILD TRAVEL WILDLIFEEXTRA.COM DESTINATION BORNEO REGIONAL GUIDE ew places conjure images of darkness and mystery like the island of Borneo. Charles Darwin once described it as “one great wild untidy luxuriant hothouse made by nature for herself”, which is an incredibly apt description given the wealth and variety of fauna and flora on the island. There are mammals, lizards, snakes and frogs that ‘fly’, fish that ‘walk’ on mud, monkeys that dive and swim, plants that eat insects and flowers the size of dustbin lids. Borneo may not have the reputation and glamorous image of other top wildlife destinations around the world, but it offers the ecotourist a wealth of opportunities to experience the thrill of the island’s forests and the Fremarkable species that live there. Far left: orangutan offspring are weaned at four, sometimes later. Left: descending Mt. Kinabalu. Below: a mossy tree frog SABAH Essential Borneo WHO: SARAH WIGHT, Without question Sabah has some of the richest, visitors go to enjoy its biological riches. As DIVE WORLdwIDE WHERE: LAYANG LAYANG, most diverse and best developed parks and many as 6,000 plant species occur on the SabaH reserves in Borneo. This is not coincidence, but mountain, including over 1,000 different There are a number of rather a consequence of the towering presence of orchids and more than one third of all the world-class dive sites in Mount Kinabalu, the roof of Borneo. -
Iucn Technical Evaluation Gunung Mulu National Park (Sarawak
WORLD HERITAGE NOMINATION – IUCN TECHNICAL EVALUATION GUNUNG MULU NATIONAL PARK (SARAWAK, MALAYSIA) 1. DOCUMENTATION i) IUCN/WCMC Data Sheet: (18 references) ii) Additional Literature Consulted: Meridith M. and J. Wooldridge. 1992. Giant Caves of Borneo. Tropical Press. Kuala Lumpur; IUCN-SSC 1998 Global Action Plan for Microchiroptean Bats. Final Draft; Vermeulen J. and T. Whitten. 1999. Biodiversity and Cultural Property in the Management of Limestone Resources. Lessons from East Asia. World Bank/IUCN; Braatz. S 1992. Conserving Biological Diversity: A Strategy for Protected Areas in Asia – Pacific Region. World Bank Technical Paper 193; Collins M. et al eds. The Conservation Atlas of Tropical Forests – Asia and Pacific; IUCN McNeely J. 1999. Mobilising Broader Support for Asia’s Biodiversity. ADB; MacKinnon J. ed. 1997 Protected Area Systems Review of the Indomalayan Realm. ABC/WCMC; Hitchcock P. 1998. Post World Heritage Seminar Report on Mission to Malaysia; CIFOR/UNESCO 1999. World Heritage Forests – The World Heritage Convention as a Mechanism for Conserving Tropical Forest Biodiversity; Cubitt G. 1996. Wild Malaysia. New Holland; MacKinnon, K. et. al. 1996. The Ecology of Kalimantan Periplus; Mandis Roberts Consultants. 2000. Integrated Development and Management Plan. Inception Report; Waltham, T. 1997. Mulu. The Ultimate in Cavernous Karst. Geology Today. Nov/Dec; Waltham, T. 1995. The Pinnacle Karst of Gunung Api, Mulu, Sarawak. Cave and Karst Science 22(3); Brookfield, H. et. al. 1996. In Place of the Forest: Environmental and Socio-Economic Transformation in Borneo. UNU Press; MacKinnon, J. 1975. Borneo. Time-Life Books; Cleary M. and P. Eaton. 1992. Borneo – Change and Development, OUP; Hanbury-Tenison, R. -
SO WHAT LIVES at MULU?
RESEARCH SO WHAT LIVES at MULU? PRELIMINARY SURVEY of CAVE FAUNA in the GUNUNG MULU WORLD HERITAGE AREA, SARAWAK, MALAYSIA PART 2 – THE RESULTS Timothy Moulds, Jay Anderson and Ross Anderson This article is a follow on from the introduction to the The spider Heteropoda sp. (Sparassidae) was the most Australian biospeleological expedition to the Mulu Caves widespread species found in all caves sampled, followed in Sarawak, Malaysia previously published in the by the millipede sp. A, Opilione Phalangodidae? sp.A, ACKMA Journal no. 90. This second part of the article Lepidoptera: Tinea? sp. and Araneae: Pholcidae sp. A presents the results of the survey and interpretation of that were recorded in six of the seven caves the results. comprehensively surveyed (excluding Clearwater Cave and Deer Water Caves). The majority of species (44.6%) Survey Results were recorded from a single cave, with very few species The survey recorded over 19,000 specimens using a recorded from five or more of the caves surveyed (Figure combination of collection and observation of species 1). abundance that presently represents 93 different The most diverse order was Coleoptera with 13 species morpho-species, from 25 orders and 8 classes. The recorded, followed by Araneae (10 spp.), Isopoda (10 number of morpho-species is expected to increase with spp.), Diptera and Hemiptera (9 spp. each) and additional sampling and further identification effort. Diplopoda (8 spp.). Eleven orders are represented by Forty different species have been photo-inventoried thus single species. far. Figure 1 Percentage of species recorded from multiple caves. RESEARCH Deer Cave also present in high abundance including a species of staphylinidae. -
Sarawak—A Neglected Birding Destination in Malaysia RONALD ORENSTEIN, ANTHONY WONG, NAZERI ABGHANI, DAVID BAKEWELL, JAMES EATON, YEO SIEW TECK & YONG DING LI
30 BirdingASIA 13 (2010): 30–41 LITTLE-KNOWN AREA Sarawak—a neglected birding destination in Malaysia RONALD ORENSTEIN, ANTHONY WONG, NAZERI ABGHANI, DAVID BAKEWELL, JAMES EATON, YEO SIEW TECK & YONG DING LI Introduction It is our hope that this article will be a catalyst One of the ironies of birding in Asia is that despite for change. Alhough much of Sarawak has been the fact that Malaysia is one of the most popular logged and developed, the state still contains destinations for birdwatchers visiting the region, extensive tracts of rainforest habitat; it is still one very few visit the largest state in the country. of the least developed states in Malaysia once away Peninsular Malaysia, and the state of Sabah in east from the four main coastal cities. Given its extensive Malaysia, are well-known and are visited several coastline, Sarawak contains excellent wintering times a year by international bird tour operators grounds for waders and other waterbirds. BirdLife as well as by many independent birdwatchers. But International has designated 22 Important Bird Areas Malaysia’s largest state, Sarawak, which sits (IBAs) in Sarawak, the highest number for any state between the two and occupies one fifth of eastern in Malaysia and more than in all the states of west Borneo, is unfortunately often overlooked by Malaysia combined (18), whilst Sabah has 15 IBAs birdwatchers. The lack of attention given to (Yeap et al. 2007). Sarawak is not only a loss for birders, but also to the state, as the revenue that overseas birdwatchers Why do birders neglect Sarawak? bring in can be a powerful stimulus for protecting That Sarawak is neglected is clear from an examination forests, wetlands and other important bird habitats. -
The Underground World of Mulu
The Underground World of Mulu by Kevin Dixon through rattan and vines; climbing through roots, dense undergrowth, and limestone pinnacles; wad- When the Internet seems to have all the answers ing through streams and mud; and frequent tropical and the earth is revealed in ever more detail, it storms. Most people stay fully covered, despite the is refreshing to find a part of the planet that is heat and humidity, so as to avoid cuts and scratches still being discovered, even after thirty years that can quickly become infected. It also provides of exploratory expeditions. In Mulu, Sarawak, some protection against the leeches, horseflies, and Malaysia, what was created over millennia by mosquitoes. water pushing through the limestone bedding and faults to find the quickest route to the sea The success of early expeditions conducted by the is now a crystal underground world inhabited “Mulu Caves Project” depended to a large extent by bats and swifts. Surveying has been essen- upon good surveying. The surveys were needed not tial to the continuing discovery, providing maps only to illustrate the amazing discoveries being made to guide the explorers back to their starting but also because much of the scientific program point; showing potential new entrances as they relied upon accurate surveying. Nearly all the cave approach the surface; and hinting at new discov- passages were surveyed as they were discovered by eries as cave passages follow major faults, bed- small teams of two or three surveyors. The instru- ding planes, and drainage horizons. But what sur- ments typically used were compasses and clinom- veying technology and methods have survived eters with 30 m (100 ft) fibron tapes. -
THE GUNUNG MULU NATIONAL PARK and the WORLD HERITAGE NOMINATION - SARAWAK, MALAYSIA - Dave Gill
THE GUNUNG MULU NATIONAL PARK AND THE WORLD HERITAGE NOMINATION - SARAWAK, MALAYSIA - Dave Gill This article was submitted for publication mid Bat emergence from Deer Cave, Mulu 2001, and subsequently processed by the Photo: David Gillieson ACKMA Editorial Committee. It appears here in an amended form following the Committee’s suggestions to the author. Background Although Malaysia ratified the 1972 UNESCO Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 1988, no nominations for either cultural or natural heritage were put forward. Profs. Derek Ford and Paul Williams (1989) commented, that the establishment of a series of karst world heritage sites is both justified and due. Gunung Mulu was specifically mentioned as of immense significance as a tropical karst ecosystem, both above and below ground. Shortly after the 1994 Geomorphological Conference in Singapore I had the opportunity to conduct Paul, Derek and many of the worlds foremost karst geomorphologists on a tour of the park. At that time I was employed as development officer, a short time later to form and head the Karst Management Unit of the Sarawak Forest The new Ordinance was regarded as exemplary Department. All expressed the same opinion that conservation law, the envy of many conservation the Gunung Mulu National Park was a sure fire workers in other countries. The integrity of Gunung candidate to complement other karst regions Mulu was therefore adequately satisfied as regards throughout the world on the world heritage list and to the conservation of its biodiversity, karst and others in the process of nomination. caves and the involvement of the local community. -
Borneo / Sarawak
BORNEO / SARAWAK 4 DAYS MULU – ADVENTURE ON THE FORMER HEADHUNTER’S TRAIL (FORMERLY: 4 DAYS HEADHUNTING TO MULU) TOURCODE: MZV4DHHS / MZV4DHHP JOINT TOUR (MIN. 2 PERSONS) / PRIVATE TOUR WITH DAILY DEPARTURES MULU NATIONAL PARK Days Tour Meals Overnight Mulu Arrival – Mulu Caves Tour Day 1 Arrival in Mulu and transfer to Mulu National Park -/ L /- Mulu Half-day Deer Cave & Lang‟s Cave Tour Mulu Caves Tour – Camp 5 Day 2 Half-day Wind Cave & Clearwater Cave Tour B/ L /D Mulu Boat ride to Kuala Litut and trek to Camp 5 Camp 5 – Medalam Day 3 Trek along the Headhunter‟s Trail B/ L /D Medalam Boat ride to Iban longhouse Medalam Limbang Departure Day 4 – B/ - /- -- Trek back to Kuala Litut and boat ride to airport B = Breakfast / L = Lunch / D = Dinner City Budget Category MULU Mulu National Park, Run of House (ROH) MULU Mulu National Park, Camp 5 MEDALAM Iban longhouse P a g e | 79 BORNEO / SARAWAK City Deluxe Category MULU Mulu Marriott Resort & Spa, Deluxe Room MULU Mulu National Park, Camp 5 MEDALAM Iban longhouse P a g e | 80 BORNEO / SARAWAK DETAILED ITINERARY MULU CAVES & HEADHUNTER’S TRAIL Mulu National Park lies in the interior of Sarawak's rainforest, about 100 km east of Miri. This UNESCO World Heritage site is home to the world-famous Mulu Caves, like Deer Cave or Clearwater Cave. Different adventurous jungle treks lead visitors through this stunning national park, with a chance of observing wildlife and exploring Mulu's amazing flora. One of these treks is the famous Headhunter's Trail. -
Gunung Mulu National Park - 2017 Conservation Outlook Assessment (Archived)
IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Gunung Mulu National Park - 2017 Conservation Outlook Assessment (archived) IUCN Conservation Outlook Assessment 2017 (archived) Finalised on 09 November 2017 Please note: this is an archived Conservation Outlook Assessment for Gunung Mulu National Park. To access the most up-to-date Conservation Outlook Assessment for this site, please visit https://www.worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org. Gunung Mulu National Park INFORMACIÓN DEL SITIO Country: Malaysia Inscribed in: 2000 Criteria: (vii) (viii) (ix) (x) Important both for its high biodiversity and for its karst features, Gunung Mulu National Park, on the island of Borneo in the State of Sarawak, is the most studied tropical karst area in the world. The 52,864-ha park contains seventeen vegetation zones, exhibiting some 3,500 species of vascular plants. Its palm species are exceptionally rich, with 109 species in twenty genera noted. The park is dominated by Gunung Mulu, a 2,377 m-high sandstone pinnacle. At least 295 km of explored caves provide a spectacular sight and are home to millions of cave swiftlets and bats. The Sarawak Chamber, 600 m by 415 m and 80 m high, is the largest known cave chamber in the world. © UNESCO RESUMEN 2017 Conservation Outlook Good The conservation outlook for Gunung Mulu National Park is overall very positive. The combination of the remoteness (no public road access), rugged terrain, legislative basis of protection, existence and implementation of an Integrated Development and Management Plan, 5 year plan, very effective professional management and dependence of a valuable tourism industry on the park augers well forall contribute to on-going effective protection and management. -
An Undescribed Gecko (Gekkonidae: Cyrtodactylus) from Deer Cave, Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak, with Comments on the Distribution of Bornean Cave Geckos Donald A
Claremont Colleges Scholarship @ Claremont WM Keck Science Faculty Papers W.M. Keck Science Department 1-1-2009 An Undescribed Gecko (Gekkonidae: Cyrtodactylus) from Deer Cave, Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak, with Comments on the Distribution of Bornean Cave Geckos Donald A. McFarlane Claremont McKenna College; Pitzer College; Scripps College Joyce Lundberg Carleton University Keith Christenson Recommended Citation McFarlane, D. A., Lundberg, J. and Christenson, K. (2009). "An undescribed gecko (Gekkonidae: Cyrtodactylus) from Deer Cave,Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak, with comments on the distribution of Bornean cave geckos." Herpetological Bulletin 110: 33-35. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the W.M. Keck Science Department at Scholarship @ Claremont. It has been accepted for inclusion in WM Keck Science Faculty Papers by an authorized administrator of Scholarship @ Claremont. For more information, please contact [email protected]. An undescribed gecko (Gekkonidae: Cyrtodactylus) from Deer Cave, Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak, with comments on the distribution of Bornean cave geckos DONALD A. MCFARLANE1,3, JOYCE LUNDBERG2 and KEITH CHRISTENSON1 1 Wm. Keck Science Center, Scripps College, 925 North Mills Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711 USA. 2 Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa, K1S 5B6, Canada. 3 Corresponding author: [email protected] ECKOS of the genus Cyrtodactylus are a Mulu, and are preparing a formal description. Gspeciose group in Southeast Asia, with at In July 2008, a gecko was observed and least nine species known from the island of Borneo photographed in the dark zone of a high-level (Das & Ismail, 2001; Das, 2006). -
Day 1 International Flight to Entebbe, on the Shores of Lake Victoria
Mount Kinablu and Mount Trusmadi • Climb Kinabalu and remote Mount Trusmadi • Jungle and Flora like entering the world of “Lord of the Rings” • Mulu National Park and the most beautiful mountains view in Malaysia” EXPEDITION OVERVIEW This great adventure combines many other companies standard Borneo and Mount Kinabalu programme with a unique Adventure Peaks twist to include the wild and rarely climbed peaks of Mt Api (1750m) and Mount Trusmadi (2642m). Our first ascent is of Mount Api that we combine with a longboat journey and jungle trek to the Deer Cave, the home to over two million bats that exodus the caves almost every afternoon as featured in the BBC series Planet Earth. It is just one of many natural wonders to find in this off-the-beaten trail and tropical paradise! Moving northwards we continue our programme of acclimatise on Mount Trusmadi the second highest mountain in Sabah, a peak extremely rich in flora and fauna. Unlike Mount Kinabalu few tourists venture here and very often you have the mountain to yourself! The sunrise view out towards our main objective Mount Kinabalu is out of this world. Acclimatised we can now enjoy the ascent of Mount Kinabalu the highest point between the Himalaya and Iran Jara on the island of Borneo. First climbed in 1851 by Sir Hugh Low. Those with more time can extend their journey through Borneo with a visit to the Orang Utan sanctuaries at Sepilok, sit in hot springs or a neighbouring Tropical Island. Participation Statement Adventure Walks recognises that climbing, hill walking and mountaineering are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. -
Borneo 3 Peaks Mt Mulu Api Pinnacles, Mt Kinabalu and Mt Trusmadi
Borneo 3 Peaks Mt Mulu Api Pinnacles, Mt Kinabalu and Mt Trusmadi • Climb to Mt Mulu Api Pinnacles, Mt Kinabalu and remote Mt Trusmadi • Jungle and flora like entering the world of ‘Lord of the Rings’ • Mulu National Park and the ‘most beautiful mountain view in Malaysia’ • World’s highest Via Ferrata EXPEDITION OVERVIEW A unique adventure that is not just your standard Mount Kinabalu (4095m) ascent; this expedition takes you to the remote parts of Borneo to climb the Mulu Pinnacles and the wild and rarely climbed peak of Mount Trusmadi (2642m), where few tourists venture but from where you get the most spectacular sunrise views back over to Malaysia’s highest peak. You experience a longboat journey, the cave exodus of two million bats as featured in the BBC series Planet Earth. It is just one of many natural wonders to find in this off-the-beaten trail and tropical paradise alongside turtles, orangutans, pitcher plants, flora and fauna of the mossy jungle as an alien world, like entering the world of ‘Lord of the Rings’. Add to this a tropical island, the world’s longest cave system and the world’s highest via ferrata, it is just an amazing trip in just two weeks!! 101 Lake Road, Ambleside, Cumbria LA22 0DB Tel: 01539 433794 www.adventurepeaks.com [email protected] OUTLINE ITINERARY return to camp is by the same route and we spend the KEY to inclusions: remainder of the day relaxing by the river or visiting a (H-hotel, Ld-lodge, R-mountain refuge/hut, C-campsite, nearby population of the fanged pitcher plant.