Sabah (orang utan).

sabah

Sabah has comfortably set itself in its far eastern corner of Malaysia. Far from the aggressive tectonic movements of Indonesia and placed just below the spectacular typhoon belt of the Philippines, in which Sabah earned the title of “The Land Below The Wind”. Although it is the second largest state in Malaysia, its magnificence is boundless.

Sabah’s grandeur stretches from the depths of the vibrant ocean until the highest peak in Southeast Asia and the spaces in between is nothing less than amazing. While most of the world is getting predictable , Sabah on the other hand is still as flamboyant and relatively unexplored. Its untainted rainforest is home to a plethora of organisms living in a chaotic harmony with each other. The thick jungle provides residency to the unique Proboscis Monkey and the famous man of the forest, the "Orang Utan". These captivating creatures are a rarity and have specifically chosen this paradise as their home. Other wildlife roaming free, the Sumatran rhino, Asian elephant, gibbon, civet, lemur, Malaysian sun bear, including large species of insects and plants, topped with many species of birds which color the forest canopies. The world’s biggest flower, the Rafflesia can also be spotted among the other treasures of the rainforest.

The essence of Sabah lies in the defined backbone of its mountainous range, where the giant Mount Kinabalu stands majestically. The mountainous nature creates a complex and extensive network of river valleys. The meandering rivers flow throughout the vast fertile rainforest ending out onto the clear pristine ocean. The immaculate beaches create a sandy pathway all along the shoreline and just off the coast an abundance of islands scattered across the bluish-green ocean are among the most sought after destinations in the world. The ocean floor is rich in exotic coral reefs and much other marine life making it the ultimate activity for not only scuba divers but to anyone who dares to swim in a garden of coral with the other fishes.

Sabah is very much a holiday destination to the avid traveler and anyone in search of total relaxation. With its abundance of parks, beaches and resorts, there is always something to see and experience. But Sabah is not only about that. There are just as many forest and animal reservations which act as a sanctuary to the state’s fascinating organisms with the goal of preservation and education. These centers welcome anyone to come to admire the beauty and learn the importance of preserving the land and its current wildlife tenants.Before officially being a state in Malaysia, Sabah had a series of other governing powers, starting from neighboring local powers such as Brunei and the Philippines all the way to western colonization by the English. Today, five administrative divisions which govern a total 23 districts make up the current Sabah. Among all the beauty and splendor, there is a peaceful and refreshing cultural integration between the many ethnicities that are living in Sabah. Officially, there are about 32 different ethnic groups living and striving together. The largest non-indigenous group is the Chinese, which make up 30% of the whole population.

The largest indigenous group is the Kadazan-Dusun which contributes 25%, followed by Bajau and Murut respectively contributing 15% and 3%. The English language is widely spoken and understood and Bahasa Malaysia being the national language and means of communication. A number of Chinese dialects are also spoken and each indigenous group has their own language. Unlike most of Malaysia, cultural integration is far more plentiful and apparent in Sabah while maintaining their traditions.

The people are as vibrant as the land itself and energy is spread wide and unconditional. Both mystical and magical, there is adventure for those seeking it and will enchant anyone who sets foot on the land. It is uniquely exciting, yet calming.

The Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre was set up in 1964 to rehabilitate orphaned baby orang utan. Set in the lush 4,300-hectare Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, the Centre under the administration of the Wildlife Department of Sabah attracts tourists and researchers alike, giving them the opportunity to watch their natural habitat. A boardwalk leads you to a viewing gallery and feeding platform where the apes are fed milk and bananas twice a day at 10.00am and 3.00pm by rangers. Feeding time also attracts long-tailed macaques to the area.

While orang utan rehabilitation is still the primary goal at Sepilok (orang utan), it also focuses on public education on conservation, research and assistance on other endangered species such as the rhinoceros.

Visitors are restricted to walkways. Some orang utan have become familiar with people but touching them is strongly discouraged, and while the apes are naturally shy and gentle, the more mischievous ones may try to grab your phone or hat, in which case you should call for a ranger as trying to wrestle the 200 pound apes may not be a good idea.
For the more adventurous, there is trekking through mangrove forest. As this is under the Forestry Department, you will have to get a permit from them before trekking the 5km trail which runs through Sepilok Laut. You can also arrange for a boat return or accommodation in chalets in the forest.