FORESTRY BLOG: Singapore, Ma...

Changi Airport, Singapore, live orchid garden

Changi Airport, Singapore, fern tree garden

Changi Airport, Singapore, fern tree

Changi Airport, Singapore, fern trees

Changi Airport, Singapore, orchid garden

Changi Airport, Singapore, live garden

Changi Airport, Singapore, garden

Johor Bahru, Malaysia, Sri Mariamman Temple

Sultan Ibrahim Building, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Sultan Ibrahim Building, Johor Bahru, Malaysia. It was built in 1940 during the British rule of Malaya. Today, it houses the state secretariat and other departments of the state government. Despite the emergence of modern skyscrapers, the construction--with its distinctive Saracenic design and prominent tower--still dominates the cityscape.

Johor Bahru, Malaysia

The Grand Palace and Royal Abu Bakar Museum, Johor Bahru, Malaysia. This beautiful palace was commissioned by Sultan Abu Bakar, who laid the foundation stone in 1864. One of the oldest buildings in Johor, it has a cosmopolitan architecture with clear Anglo-Malay influence. Today the palace assumes an additional role as the Royal Abu Bakar Museum, displaying treasures of the royal collection.

The Grand Palace and Royal Abu Bakar Museum, Johor Bahru. It is in the Renaissance style and was built by local workmen under the supervision of an European architect. Much of the original furniture was ordered in England by His Majesty Sultan Abu Bakar in 1866 and he personally directed the laying out of the Palace gardens.The building has been enlarged and renovated several times. In 1912 the east wing was pulled down and the present Banquet Hall was erected in its place. Today the Palace is mainly used for State ceremonies and official functions, although since 23 February 1982, it has filled an additional role as the Royal Abu Bakar Museum, displaying the art treasures of the Royal collection and historical relics of the Sultanate of Johor.

Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque

Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque, Johor Bahru, Malaysia One of the most arresting architectural sights in the city, this mosque is a shining legacy of the conquest of Islam in this country more than half a millennium ago. It also marks the beginning of the modernisation of the Johor State, being commissioned in 1900 by Sultan Abu Bakar - a much respected monarch widely referred to as the “Father of Modern Johor. Costing a grand sum of MYR400,000, the building can accommodate 2,000 worshippers. Congregational prayers are held daily; Friday congregational prayers for men only. Non-Muslims may roam the grounds, except on Friday and during communal prayers.

Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque, Johor Bahru, Malaysia: girls

Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Sandakan, Borneo, Malaysia

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, precious home of the last wild Orang-Utans of Northern Borneo.

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. This centre sits at the edge of the 4,294 hectare or the 43sq km, Kabili-Sepilok Forest . The reserve is named after 2 rivers that flow through and drains into the Sandakan Bay , and they together with 5 other smaller rivers are also the lifelines of inhabitants living within its confines.

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. The Kabili-Sepilok reserve protects a fraction of tropical lowland Dipterocarp forest that used to cover much of these parts of Sandakan and which also includes a small coverage of mangrove swamp. This too is fast disappearing to commercialisation and plantations.

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. Kabili-Sepilok Forest also protects all fauna and flora including orangutans that had been rescued, rehabilitated and released into the forest. Although this is a forest reserve and it is protected under Class VI Virgin Jungle Reserve but it can be given out for logging by the Conservator of Forest.

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. The forest reserve is also home to the mousedeers, wildboars, waterfowls, kingfishers, other small and overlooked creatures; while the mangrove swamp and waters shelter and feed dugongs and dolphins. The orangutans, gibbons, macaques and proboscis monkeys are also found here.

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. In the 1930's , records show that there were replanting activities after logging was conducted hence after 70+ years , the tree stock is still sustainable in the area. This is good news for tree swinging primates and apes where most are arboreal which means that they hardly come down to the forest floor and require unbroken canopy of trees above for them to move through the forest.

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. Today the Sepilok Centre attracts about 90,000+ people a year. Some 260 people a day come to the centre just to see the orangutans in their natural habitat. Most of the time, visitors only get to see the young orangutans during feeding time at the observation platform a mere 10minutes walk into a forested area.

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. The clinic, nursery and other areas where young orphaned orangutans are kept - are out of bounds. The orangutans are susceptible to infections and virus that humans carry and can die easily from contagions.

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. For the wellbeing of the older ones, the rangers encourage as little interaction with humans as possible in hope that when they are released back into the jungles, they will learn to live independently of humans.

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. There are several nature trails that lead into the reserve and takes trekkers from tropical highland to lowland mangrove swamps. These trails are open daily from 9.00am till 4.15pm and trekkers are required to register at the Sepilok Rehab Centre's reception.

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. The centre opens: Mon - Thursday , Saturday & Sunday : 9.00am - 12.00nn , 2.00pm - 4.00pm Friday : 9.00am - 11.00am , 2.00pm - 4.00pm

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. The centre itself contains a clinic, the visitor information centre and the video room. The info centre provides a good breakdown (if not a little dated - check out the groovy 1970's attired attendants in the pics) of the work carried out at the centre plus capture of the 2 sumatran rhinos residing at Sepilok.

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. Not only is the centre a halfway house for displaced and orphaned orangutans, it is also a clinic and 'home' for other endangered animals like the Malayan Sun bear. Not much research has been done on these creatures and they may be dying out faster than we think - poachers kill them for their gallbladders - supposed medicinal remedy and also the paws are a delicacy in China and Taiwan .

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. Many tourists choose Sabah as a holiday destination primarily to catch a glimpse of its diverse wildlife especially the Orangutan.

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. Sepilok Orangutan Appeal UK - a charity organization headquatered in the UK , maintains its main operations in Sepilok.

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. The Appeal has adoption programmes where interested individuals or corporations can help by adopting young orphans at the Sepilok Centre for as little as £25 per annum. Volunteers or staff at the Appeal man a booth at the reception centre and are happy to help on individual's enquiries on how to help.

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. There is now a pressing need to translocate rehabilitated orangutans into areas like Tabin Wildlife Reserve on the North Eastern Side of Sabah, Borneo. This 121,000 hectare site has been gazetted for a wildlife reserve park.

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. Tabin has currently an estimated 1,500 orangutans roaming the vast reserve whereas Sepilok - Kabili Reserve has 250 individuals. The orangutan requires roaming space and an average of 4 orangutans per km sq. is a little worrying for the health of these individuals. Hence the need to translocate them.

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. The translocation programme is an expensive affair. The helicopter has to be flown in from Kota Kinabalu and the orangutans picked up at Sepilok and sent to Tabin. Tabin's orangutan camp is a tough trek on foot and to lessen the stress on the orangutans, the helicopter is used but costing somewhere in the region of RM20,000 per trip to charter.

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. Those who are interested in working with the orangutans can in fact opt for a 2 month programme , spending time at the Sepilok Rehab Centre as well as at the Nature Interpretation Centre of the Rasa Ria Resort at Kota Kinabalu.

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. Orang-Utan in Malay translates into “man of the forest” are protected under Malaysia’s Fauna Conservation Ordinance which, among other things, prohibits hunting, trading or keeping them as pets.

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre was established in 1964 to return orphaned apes back to the wild. The objectives of the project have expanded in recent years and while Orang- Utan rehabilitation is still the primary goal at Sepilok, present aims include public education on conservation and research with other endangered species including the captive breeding program of the rare and endangered Sumatran Rhinoceros. The centre now has more than 37 staff looking after the welfare of the Orang-Utans.

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. The Orang-Utan is one of the most endangered of Malaysian wildlife species. Found only in Borneo and Sumatra, the Orang-Utans’ survival is constantly threatened by forest fires, felling of trees, poaching and illegal hunting.

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. The Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Centre is situated on the east coast of Sabah, 23 km from Sandakan. A twenty-minute drive from Sandakan brings you to Kabili-Sepilok Forest, an enormous area of virgin rainforest.

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. When the rescued Orang-Utans first arrive at the centre, they are often in a sorry state and riddled with diseases. They are put into cages while they're treated for their ailments and nursed back to health. The wardens then teach them how to forage for fruit, climb trees and generally fend for themselves. When they are mid-way through the rehabilitation process they are released into the surrounding forest reserve. The animals then spend most of their time in the forest but often return to one of the centers five feeding platforms for a “free” meal. When the wardens feel that that an Orang-Utan is fully rehabilitated, it is caught and returned to the wild - usually deep in the forest or to one of the National Parks or Wildlife Sanctuaries.

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. Mangrove Forest Trail - This is the most famous trail in the Sepilok Centre and takes about 2-3 hours walking one way. Interesting features include a scenic stream, water-holes, transitional forest, pristine lowland rain forest, boardwalks into the mangrove forest and wildlife tracks.

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. The Kabili-Sepilok and Sepilok VJR ( Virgin Jungle Reserve) are situated about 22 km from Sandakan town along Labuk Road. The main access into the VJR is at the Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre where the Mangrove Trail leads to the Sepilok-Laut mangroves, about 4.5 km south. Others include forest trails from the Sepilok Arboretum also link to the main Trail. The western and eastern boundaries are accessible as there are unsealed, oil palm plantation roads close to the boundaries.

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. The VJR is surrounded by poultry farms, fruit orchards and small-scale oil palm plantations in the north, by large oil palm estates in the west and an industrial zone (known as the Seguntur Integrated Timber Complex) in the east. The Sepilok Arboretum, just north of the Kabili-Sepilok VJR, is being developed as a centre for environmental education, nature recreation and tourism. Along Jalan Sepilok, the road that leads into Sepilok and ends at the Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre, are 3 B&Bs and two resorts.

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. Sepilok (or Kabili-Sepilok) Forest Reserve, is situated 23km outside Sandakan

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. Remains of the orang-utan were discovered in southern China, Vietnam and Java but presently, Pongo pygmaeus is endemic only to Borneo (P. pygmaeus pygmaeus) and Sumatra (P. pygmaeus abelii). It is the only great ape living outside central Africa and an adult male can reach a metre in height and 100kg in weight. Fossil finds e.g., P.p paleosumatraensis indicate extinct varieties which were 16% to 40% larger than the present day species. They are largely arboreal and prefer primary lowland dipterocarp forests, much of which have been destroyed largely due to exploitation for timber. The massive habitat destruction is responsible for the declining population as the apes are driven to other areas with insufficient food.

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. In the wild, the skills necessary for survival are learned by an Orang-utan offspring from its mother during its first few years. Orphans at the centre are taught by human trainers instead. Every morning after a temperature cheek, the young apes are collected from their cages in a wheelbarrow into which they pile themselves and are given a ride to Station A, an open patch of ground amongst the towering Dipterocarps. Here, they are exercised - climbing, nest-building - and finding food under the care of a Ranger. Not all the juveniles are returned to their shed at night, as a few of the older apes are allowed to sleep out. Due to constraints of space, some of the juveniles are caged in pairs and the Rangers have noted life-bonding amongst these pairs; they become pals for life and will not be separated willingly

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. Once their survival skills develop, graduates are taken to feeding platforms for further reconditioning for their return to the wild by increasing their freedom in. a natural environment. Less control is exercised and their diet is now supplementary rather than principal. Diet is kept monotonous (bananas and milk) in an effort to bore them; the apes will seek more food in the rainforest to the point of self sufficiency. Their occasional reliance on the food provided allows the rangers to monitor the condition of their former wards.

Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve. Success is met with the revival of survival instincts and social integration with other apes (wild) in the forest reserve. A successful rehabilitation is not always easily determined because an Orang-utan which ceases to visit the feeding platforms may simply have died and disappeared in the rapid degradation process offered by decomposition and scavenging in the tropical rainforest. However, obvious results are seen in those who pay occasional visits to the feeding platform at Station B, the rendezvous of the semi-wild adults for the regular feed. The rehabilitated 'graduates' of the centre who turn up are those who may have difficulty in obtaining food or need extra food.

Puu Jih Shih Temple , Sandakan

A view from Puu Jih Shih Temple , Sandakan to Sandakan Bay

Puh Jih Shih Buddha Temple, erected on a 100-meter high hilltop above Tanah Merah in 1987. It is situated 4 km west of Sandakan.

A view from Puh Jih Shih Buddha Temple, Sandakan. There is a water village at the bottom of the hill.

A view from Puh Jih Shih Buddha Temple overlooking Sandakan Bay and Kampung - water village.

Puh Jih Shih Buddha Temple, Sandakan - an extravaganza in red and gold, with writhing dragons and gilded Buddhas.

Puh Jih Shih Buddha Temple

Puh Jih Shih Buddha Temple

Puh Jih Shih Buddha Temple

Puh Jih Shih Buddha Temple

Puh Jih Shih Buddha Temple

A view from Puh Jih Shih Buddha Temple

A view from Puh Jih Shih Buddha Temple

Puh Jih Shih Buddha Temple

A young fisherman in Sepilok Jungle Resort, Sabah, Borneo

kids showing off in Sepilok, Sabah

kids in Sepilok, Sabah, Borneo

grounds of Sepilok Jungle Resort, Sabah, Borneo

Sepilok Jungle Resort is adjacent to Orang Utan Regabilitation Centre, the perfact place to observe one of nature's most endangered animal species.

Sepilok Jungle Resort is situated Km22 (11Km from airport ) Labuk Road, Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia

It is set amidst beautiful landscape gardens and thousands of acres of tropical rainforest.

Sepilok Jungle Resort

Sepilok Jungle Resort

Sepilok Jungle Resort

Sepilok Jungle Resort

Sepilok Jungle Resort

Sepilok Jungle Resort

Sepilok Jungle Resort

The Kinabatangan River (Sungai Kinabatangan) is the second longest river in Malaysia, with a length of 560 kilometers from its headwaters in the mountains of southwest Sabah, to its outlet at the Sulu Sea , east of Sandakan

Annual flooding along the 400 miles of Sabah's longest river forms a vast freshwater swampland area of thriving biodiversity. This is one of the best areas in South East Asia to see an abundance of wildlife in its natural habitat, including elephants, orang-utans, crocodiles, civet cats, macacques, otters, a variety of birds and monkeys.

Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary has the highest concentration of proboscis monkeys and orang utans in Malaysia.

orang utan

The most famous attraction is the Proboscis Monkey, found only in Borneo and recognisable by the male's long, distinctive nose and a peculiar mix of colours - grey legs, white belly and tail, and an orange coat. A trip down the Kinabatangan River almost certainly guarantees you several sightings of this large yet surprisingly graceful primate, as it flings itself forcefully from tree to tree, or watches you lazily from a comfortable lofty branch.

Logging has devastated much of the upper domain of the Kinabatangan River, so the lower section is now the best place to see wildlife. Even this area has been threatened by palm oil plantations fragmenting the environment and restricting the movement of wildlife.

Independent travel to the river remains difficult and it is best to arrange a trip to the area from the nearby town of Sandakan.

Boat trips are the most relaxing, and least environmentally-damaging method of viewing wildlife, transporting you with ease into the heart of the rainforest.

The longest river in Sabah, the Sungai Kinabatangan drains over 17,000sq km of land area. The name comes from the early Chinese settlements on the banks of this long river, hence the Malay term for “Chinese, Long River”. The settlements originated with the collection and trading of rattan, bee’s wax and edible bird’s nests centuries ago.

Originally under the rule of the Sultan of Sulu, the Kinabatangan and the surrounding region came under the British North Borneo Chartered Company, and eventually became part of modern Malaysia.

The Kinabatangan has its source in forested mountains, and flows down through sandstone hills, limestone outcrops and fertile lowlands before reaching the swamps and the floodplain. The lower Kinabatangan is inhibited by natives like the Tambansia, Idahan and Dusun, as well as Chinese and Malays from Sulu, Bugis and Brunei.