BORNEO WILD HABITAT RESTORATION

View orangutan and pygmy elephants in their natural habitat

borneo wild habitat restorationThe lower Kinabatangan floodplains are abundant in wildlife, such as Orangutan, Pygmy elephants and Sun bears. You can spend time not just admiring this amazing landscape, but helping to protect it.

First, you will help in conducting wildlife population surveys. You will observe these endangered species in their natural environment. Moreover, learn about their life cycles and their interconnected biodiversity roles.

Borneo wild habitat restoration to connect forest canopy

Second, get ready to do some hands on work. Plant tree saplings in the jungle. Or do a spot of ‘weeding’ to maintain the young trees that have been planted by previous volunteers. This project is part of a wider regional initiative for Borneo wild habitat restoration.  It is very rewarding to witness the results of this long-term effort all around.

Additionally, you will get immersed in the local community, the gentle ‘People of the River’ (Orang Sungai in Malay): visiting them in their homes or buying and planting saplings from their nurseries. As a volunteer, you also contribute to environmental education for the school children in the village. You will gain a greater understanding about truly responsible tourism. So, make a personal impact at this Borneo wild habitat restoration project. Maybe push your own limits in the tropical rainforest landscape!

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    PLEASE SEND ME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BORNEO WILD HABITAT VOLUNTEERING

    VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES:

    ♥ WILDLIFE OBSERVATION
    ♥ MONKEYS, ORANGUTAN, ELEPHANTS
    ♥ HABITAT RESTORATION
    ♥ COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

     

    Trips of 3 to 7 daysfrom RM 1,600 (group)

    INCLUDES ACCOMMODATION, MEALS AND ALL ACTIVITIES
    EXPERT JUNGLE GUIDE
    MINIMUM AGE: 18 and over
    MINIMUM NUMBER: ONE

    Project activities

    Wildlife Population Observation

    You will spend time observing and recording local wildlife on a boat cruising along the main river and its tributaries within the wildlife sanctuary. The data you help collect will be used for the project’s population density surveys.

    Habitat Restoration

    This work involves tree-planting and maintenance activities at high priority areas. It involves generating saplings in the nursery and then planting, mulching, clearing invasive species and collecting data on tree growth. This is the most crucial activity in connecting fragmented forest in the area to encourage healthy orangutan and pygmy elephant populations.

     

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    Education Project & Community Development

    Community and Education programmes involve interaction with the villagers and the students of the village school to promote conservation.

    Jungle Trekking

    As an introduction to the flora and fauna of the rainforest, you will learn about the various aspects of the rainforest habitat and its resources for the inhabitants in terms of shelter, food and medicine.

    Cultural Interaction & Community Impact

    Contributing back to the community is a big part of this project. In order to give back to the community, most daily meals will be hosted in the private homes of individual villagers, which will not only provide them with some income, but it will also give you an insight into their lives and culture based around the river and the rainforest.

    Trip Itinerary - 3 DAYS

    Day 1: Arrival and SEPILOK
    Pick up from SANDAKAN airport and transfer to SEPILOK
    Visit the famous ORANGUTAN sanctuary and view the SUN BEARS of Sepilok
    After noon RIVER CRUISE for wildlife observation
    Overnight in Sukau village (riverside)

    Day 2: Tree Planting
    Morning river cruise and TREE PLANTING at Project Site
    Lunch with local village family
    Afternoon nursery activities
    Dinner with local village family
    Overnight in Sukau village (riverside)

    Day 3: Conclusion
    Breakfast and transfer to airport or local destination

    *Extension by 1 or 2 days is possible. For more info, please enquire here.

    Trip Itinerary - 7 DAYS

    Day 1: Arrival and Welcome*
    You will be welcomed at your arrival at Sandakan Airport by a team member. Welcome dinner & briefing.

    Day 2-5: Project days
    Transfer to Project Site at Sukau. Orientation followed by health and safety talk & tour of the village. Project work starts.

    Day 6: Sepilok travels
    Visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre to reinforce what you have learned about the rainforest. After lunch, visit the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and the Sun Bear Conservation Centre. Try to catch the sunset from the rooftop bar at Sandakan.

    Day 7: Departure
    Check out and transfer to Sandakan Airport. Suggested departure before 17.00 hrs.

    HOW TO BOOK

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    AGE LIMITS:

    This project is suitable for individuals, couples, families (children from age 8 ) and small groups

    For special quotes , enquire here

    borneo wild habitat restoration

    2024 DATES & GROUPS

    AVAILABLE ALL YEAR: Short trips (3-5 days) for small groups (2 to 6 people)

    21 APRIL, 21 MAY, 21 SEPTEMBER, 21 OCTOBER: VOLUNTEERING for 7 days ( for individuals*)

    *ask us here for group or families

     

     

    PRICES - 3 DAYS/ 2 NIGHTS

    3 Days
    Rm 1,600

    Group size: 6 people

    PRICES - 7 DAYS

    Includes:

    • Accommodation & Food
    • All project activities
    • Conservation contribution to the project
    • Airport transfers
    • Boat and river transfers
    • Sepilok entrance fees
    • English-speaking guide and project coordinator

    Excludes:

    • Flight fares
    • Travel insurance
    • Visa and Permit applications (Camera fees)
    • Vaccinations
    • Food/activities not included in the project
    • Personal travel and personal incidentals

    HOW TO BOOK

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    Accommodation and Food

    Accommodation is included, as well as meals on working days. Volunteers will be sharing rooms throughout the project timeline. While in Sukau, volunteers will stay at a B&B Village style with ensuite showers and toilets. Single rooms are subject to availability.

    Food is an important part of Malaysian culture, as you will soon find out! Volunteers are also welcome to venture out to some of the delicious local restaurants to try traditional Malay dishes – sampling the local delicacies is an experience not to be missed!

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    Tips for Volunteers

    • We recommend comprehensive travel and health insurance coverage.
    • Vaccinations – Please check with your medical practitioner on the required medication / vaccinations for the trip.
    • Bring comfortable work clothing (lightweight long sleeve and pants for mosquito protection)
    • Wear waterproof walking shoes in the forest

    HOW TO BOOK

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    Lower Kinabatangan

    The Kinabatangan River (Sungai Kinabatangan) located in Sabah, Borneo, is the second-longest river in Malaysia. Every year, during the northeast monsoon period, the river swells rapidly and overflows its banks creating a huge forested alluvial floodplain.

    While the forested lands around Kinabatangan have undergone a major transformation due to excessive logging and development of monoculture plantations since the 1950s, the original lowland forests and mangrove swamps near the coast remains largely untouched. As such, Kinabatangan still provides a variety of habitat for the local wildlife to flourish.

    Hence, the area contains some of Borneo and Southeast Asia’s highest concentrations of wildlife from proboscis monkeys and orangutans to pygmy elephants and Sumatran rhinoceros. Also, Kinabatangan is known for its bird species, including the storm’s stork and 8 varieties of hornbill.

    WILD ELEPHANT SAFARI
    Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus), Tanjung Putting National Park - unlike other great apes, such as chimpanzees, gorillas and bonobos, these gangly guys don’t like to live in groups. A female will usually have a baby (or two) with her, but males like to be alone - taken during a photo trip to Indonesia in 2018 - by Thomas Fuhrmann - see more pictures on www.snowmanstudios.de

    The local project team

    The local project team works with the local and international conservation organisations to balance the need of the people and the wildlife. Hence, the focus is on improving the lives of the local indigenous people (Orang Sungai) by offering an alternative income source through ecotourism, while educating and raising conservation awareness within the community. The project also supports the local wildlife by prioritising habitat restoration through its reforestation initiative. The results are closely monitored by measuring how the forest canopy is reconnected year by year. Over the past few years, the team has seen impressive numbers of orangutans and pygmy elephants return to the reforested area.

    HOW TO BOOK

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