Danum Valley; a few reasons why to visit

Written by Aleena Che Ramli

Have you ever watched the National Geographic documentary and dreamed of going to that exotic land someday? What are you waiting for? Pack your bags and embark for an epic trip, catch a glimpse of animals in the wild Borneo, explore the terrain of oldest rainforest and discover the hidden secret of Danum Valley. And don't forget to share those moments with your friends online because you might be one of the last people to ever see the animals in real life. Danum Valley is definitely the essential bucket list destination for all nature and wildlife enthusiast. The 130 million year old rainforest is a boundless world of biodiversity, complete with a world class research facility. It is consider to be the largest 440 square kilometers undisturbed area of lowland virgin rainforest in Malaysia. Most of the flora and fauna inhabiting this remote jungle has been able to survive and thrive undisturbed over a period of time. Therefore, the biodiversity here are exceptional and it is be-lived to be one of the most complex ecosystems in the world.

Based on the statistic, Danum Valley has around 15,000 species of plant, as well as over 300 species of bird, a number of iconic endangered species and there are endless new species waiting to be discovered. Thus, it is not surprising to see why people has travel halfway around the globe to explore Danum Valley’s dense interiors.

With so many species facing extinction nowadays, Danum Valley is known to contain the highest concentration of wild Orang Utans in the world. One interesting fact is that Orang Utan has 97 percent similar DNA with human and a life span around 60 years as well. These fluffy orange creatures are extremely patient and intelligent mammals. They are very observant and inquisitive and there are a lot of stories about Orang Utans escaping from zoos after watching their keepers unlock and lock doors. But sadly, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), the Sumatran and Bornean Orang Utans' rainforest habitats are disappearing at an alarming rate due to deforestation and likely to extinct in the next 10 years.

On the other hand, Sumatran rhinos are also categorised as one of the critically endangered species. It is the smallest of the living rhinoceroses and the only Asian rhino with two horns. They are covered with long hair and are more closely related to the extinct woolly rhinos than any of the other rhino species alive today. Even though it was declared extinct in 2015, some of the rangers claimed that they have seen a handful of the Sumatran rhinos roam near the Danum Valley. Who knows you might be the next person to spot the extinct creature during your trip.

Meanwhile, sustainable tourism at Danum Valley has also increased the awareness in conserving the smallest elephant in the world. Borneo elephant or better known as Pygmy elephant are a gentle giant with a baby like face, unusually large ears, plump belly and an extremely long tail, which occasionally drags on the ground while the animal walks. Since it is a quite tame and passive mammals, tourist sometimes get to experience a close encounter with the herd and they are often spotted along the access roads to Danum Valley. Unfortunately, there are approximately 1500 of Borneo pygmy elephant left and it is listed as Endangered on the IUCN red list of threaten species.

Beside the pygmys, do you know that the sun bears are the second rarest bear species after the giant panda? Despite their name, the honey expert are actually nocturnal, roaming the forests at night. Moreover, it is the smallest bear species with lengthy tongues of up to 25cm long. The arboreal creature are classed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and the population has declined over 30% in the past 30 years due to habitat destruction and poaching in their native range.

So, do you still want to sit there and watch it on NatGeo? Or plan an unforgettable trip for experience that may not be around for much longer? Nevertheless, Borneo Rainforest animals are often illusive, but by traveling with an expert guide and doing your homework, you can increase your chances of spotting some of these iconic endangered species. Bike and Tours offers Danum Valley Conservation Area Adventure package with a perfect transit accommodation in Lahad Datu. We also have a comprehensive range of Borneo wildlife tours including hike and bike to Danum Valley for thrill seekers.