SANDAKAN TOURS KOTA KINABALU TOURS

DAY TOUR

WORLD HERITAGE

• Kinabalu National Park  and    Poring Hot Spring RM260 Per Pax

ADVENTURE

• Padas White Water Rafting (Grade III - IV) RM298 Per Pax
• Kiulu White Water Rafting (Grade I - II) RM260 Per Pax

NATURE

• Klias River Cruise In Search of Probocis Monkey & Fireflies RM260 Per Pax
• Tip of Borneo, Rungus Longhouse, Bee Farm, Gong Making & Kudat Town RM398 Per Pax
• Kota Kinabalu Heritage Walk & Signal Hill
• Monsopiad Cultural Village
• Kota Kinabalu Nature City Tour
• Night Tour
• Mengkabong Water Village

WILDLIFE

• Lok Kawi Wildlife Park RM190 Per Pax (Minimum of 2 Pax)

CULTURAL

• Rungus Longhouse, Tip of Borneo, Bee Farm, Gong Making & Kudat Town RM335 Per Pax (Minimum of 2 Pax)

DIVING

• Leisure Dive (3 Dives) at Tunku Abdul Rahman Park RM398 Per Pax
• Discover Scuba Diving at Tunku Abdul Rahman Park
• Seawalking at Sapi Island RM300 Per Pax

OVERNIGHT TOUR

WORLD HERITAGE

• 2D1N Mount Kinabalu Climbing (Timpohon Trail)
• 2D1N Mount Kinabalu Climbing (Mesilau Trail & Timpohon Trail)
• 2D1N Mount Kinabalu Climbing & Poring Hot Spring
• 2D1N Mount Kinabalu Climbing & Poring Hot Spring (Mesilau Trail & Timpohon Trail)
• 3D2N Mount Kinabalu Climbing (Timpohon Trail)
• 3D2N Mount Kinabalu Climbing (Mesilau Trail & Timpohon Trail)
• 3D2N Mount Kinabalu Climbing (Mesilau Trail)
• 3D2N Mount Kinabalu Climbing & Poring Hot Spring (Timpohon Trail)

ISLAND

• 2D1N Tiga Island & Mud Volcano From RM380 Per Pax (Minimum of 2 Pax)
• 3D2N Tiga Island & Mud Volcano
• 2D1N Manukan Island
• 1D1N Selingan Turtle Island (Ex Sandakan)

WILDLIFE

• 1D1N Kinabatangan River
• 2D2N Kinabatangan River

ADVANTURES

• 2D1N Kinabalu Park, HotSpring, Sandakan City tour, Chines Temple, Agnes Keith's House, Sepilok Orang Utan Centre
• 3D2N Kinabalu Park, HotSpring, Sandakan City tour, Chines Temple, Agnes Keith's House, Sepilok Orang Utan Centre & Kinabatangan River Tour

CULTURAL

• 2D1N Rungus Longhouse, Tip of Borneo, Bee Farm, Gong Making & Kudat Town

Hi To All Guest who wish to take 2d1n Selingan turtle island trip

We sell 2d/1n Selingan at promotion price Rm1288/person (min.2adults). market price USD 500/PERSON
SABAH PARK RULES NOT MORE THAN 2ADULTS IN A ROOM.

SEP2011 available date to book **limited**ATS = room
Awaiting your advise.

Thanks and greetings.

SCTS GROUP

Please email shirechinsabahtravelstation@gmail.com for latest offer and availability NOW !!!!


HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hurry up .... if u don want to miss the tour

sample itinerary

This package is bound to be the experience of a lifetime, offering you close encounters with two of our planet's most beautiful animals, the majestic sea turtles and the enigmatic orang utan. Watch one of nature's most mysterious wonders, the sea turtles' landing and nesting on Selingan Island and make a date with the Orang Utan, one of man's closest cousins.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Selingan Island

The day begins with a 45 minute boatride from Sandakan to Sabah's very own turtle island, Selingan Island. Relax and enjoy an afternoon of leisure after registering at the Turtle Island Park's headquarters. Unwind at your chalet or go for a swim or snorkel, the choice is entirely up to you!

The highlight of the day begins after dinner, when the ranger issues a call to watch the turtles nesting and laying their eggs. These eggs will eventually be transferred to a specialized hatchery. If you are lucky, you just might also have the opportunity to see young turtle hatchlings being released into the sea!

Day 2: Selingan Island to Sandakan

After breakfast, you return to Sandakan for a visit to one of Sabah's well known tourist attractions, the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre. Initially set up to rehabilitate orphaned orang utans in 1964, this centre has developed into a major draw for tourists, providing a window into the life of the orang utan.

In the afternoon, pay homage to the sacrifices made by Allied soldiers who served in Borneo at the Australian War Memorial located in Sandakan before departing for Kota Kinabalu by flight.

Sabah Parks allow only non-flash photgraphy of turtles. Video and digital video cameras are not allowed.
Unsupervised movement on Selingan Island from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am is prohibited by Sabah Parks.

Please find below our latest availability for Selingan reserved priority for 3d2n estimate Rm1900/person , 4d3n tour packages estimate Rm2300/person. Will change without prior notice.

Please check with us again for updated availability to avoid unforeseen circumstance.

Best Regards,

SCTS Web officer 030

Regret to tell no 2d1n turtle. Island for sale ..at this moment **super peak season**July-Sep**yearly

if you looking for 2d1n, guest may check with us - 2to3 weeks before arrival.
Regret to inform selingan turtle island room is reserved priority for 3d2n 4d3n 5d4n tour packages include Abai/Sukau + Selingan. Especially during peak season Mar-Apr, July - Sep. Many participants reserve 3-5months advance and we are waiting for their payment. If they not able to come , the room will auto-release to 2nd , 3rd wait list....

However, we can put you in waiting list for any cancellation tour 1-2weeks before arrival. Or you may check with us 3weeks before tour commence.

Notes:

Partners welcome to submit your latest rooming list for sale.

1D1N SELINGAN TURTLE ISLAND (EX SANDAKAN)

ITINERARY
Day 1
09:00am - Meet at Jetty (Sandakan).
09:30am - Depart from jetty for a boat ride to Selingan Turtle Island.
10:30am - Upon arrival, register at the rangers office and then check in to chalet.
Free at Leisure.
12:00pm - Lunch.
Free at Leisure.
07:30pm - Dinner.
After dinner, watch turtle laying eggs on the beach, transfer eggs to hatchery and release of hatchlings to the sea.
Overnight at Selingan Island Chalet.
[Lunch & Dinner Inclusive]
Day 2
06:30am - Breakfast.
07:00am - Depart Selingan Island and return to mainland.
[Breakfast Inclusive]
PACKAGE INCLUDES:-

• Sea Transfers / Accommodation / Entrance Fees / Jetty Fees / Listed Meals

PACKAGE EXCLUDES:-

• Camera Fees / Others not stated

DURATION

• 1 Day & 1 Night

RATE

RM1088 per person

*RM500 surcharge applied to single supplement.

THINGS TO BRING:-

• Hat / Raincoat / Insect Repellant / Sun Block / Torch Light / Personal Toiletries / Drinking Water / Swimwear / Towel / Sandals / Walking Shoes

Why Choosing Sandakan and how to go?

-         The world famous Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation

Centre,Selingan Turtle Island, Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary,

Lankayan for diving, Labuk Bay Proboscis monkey Sanctuary,

Gomantong cave, all this in Sandakan!

-         1 daily flight MAS Airline and 2 daily flight AirAsia.it took

you about 2 hours and 30 minutes from Kuala Lumpur

 or 40 minutes flight from Kota Kinabalu,3 daily flight (MAS)

 and 2 daily

flight (AirAsia). 

Keen on an exotic monkey watching adventure in Borneo? Sukau is a good bet

 by any standard. The riverine destination is just a couple of hours southeast of

modern Sandakan, not far from the Sepilok Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre.

Ten species of monkeys and apes are found in 25,000 hectares of the Kinabatangan

 Wetlands Sanctuary, rated the highest concentration of primates in the whole of Borneo.

The area has a plethora of animals like the Clouded Leopard, Asian Elephant, Crocodiles,

Civet Cats, Otters, all eight species of Hornbills found in Borneo, Egrets, magnificent

Kingfishers, Storks, Hawks and the incredible Oriental Darter which dive into

 rivers and lakes to pursue fish!

Proboscis Monkey - an exotic monkey can be found in Kinabatangan Wetland

What to See/do

Proboscis Monkey
This is the most amazing and bizarre three footer, pot-bellied male Proboscis Monkey found

nowhere else in the world except Borneo. No fossils had ever been dug up outside Borneo,

a point that mystifies scientists. Sighting of the Proboscis Monkeys is guaranteed

 because they have one fixed habit, that is they always sleep overnight on trees

above riverbanks. Knowing this, tour operators arrange daily evening or

early morning river joy rides either along the Kinabatangan-Sabah's longest river,

or its tributaries, especially the Menangol.

The Proboscis monkeys are fun to watch because they are very active.

They frolic around like skilled aerial acrobats, leaping through tree gaps

and breaking through masses of leaves dangerously and noisily but always

 making it.They are also great divers. Visitors have seen them diving 60 feet into

 rivers and since they are web-footed, they can swim strongly across rivers!

There are about eleven beautiful ox-bow lakes in the area that are rich

 in fish and prawns. Riverside chalets are available for overnight accommodations.

 

Earth hath no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.
~Thomas Moore~

  


 
THE PROBOSCIS MONKEY

The greatest concentration of wildlife in Borneo, is found near Sandakan, along the lower regions of Sabah's biggest and longest river, the Kinabatangan. Orangutans, macaques, red and silver leaf monkeys, elephants, birds, eight species of hornbills, crocodiles, civet cats and otters are found in this region, but the most famous and most bizarre animal is the Proboscis monkey (a primate found only in Borneo). With its huge pendulous nose, a characteristic pot belly and strange honking sounds, it is one of the most peculiar and ugliest (or beautiful???) animals in the world. There is only one species of the proboscis monkey, Nasalis larvatus. The distinctive physical feature from which this monkey takes its name is the long pendulous nose of mature males. The Proboscis Monkey is found only in the coastal areas of Borneo and the Mentawai islands west of Sumatra living in coastal mangrove swamps and riverine forests on the lower reaches of major rivers coastal and mangrove forests CLASS: Mammalia ORDER:Primates SUBORDER : Anthropoidea FAMILY : Cercopithectdae which includes 18 genera and 81 species. These monkeys are widely distributed in the Old World, from southern Europe (Gibraltar) to Africa and through central and SE Asia, including southern China and Japan. SUBFAMILY: Colobinae GENUS:  Nasalis SPECIES: larvatus   (Proboscis monkey) MALAYSIAN NAME:  Monyet Belanda - "Dutchman Monkey". The proboscis monkey got its Malay name during the colonial period. The locals felt that the Proboscis resembled the European traders and colonialists (both were hairy, both had big noses, both had pot bellies!). SIZE:males - 56 to 72 cm WEIGHT: 8.2 to 23. kg GESTATION: 166 days. One young is born at a time, and breeding is not restricted to a season. COLORATION: Reddish-brown or chestnut color on the back, orange on the shoulders with grey limbs and long white tails. A little dark red fur on the top of the head goes down the back LIFE SPAN: BEHAVIOUR: Proboscis monkeys move about and live in groups of 11-32. They live in single-male harems with about seven females. The small harems often come together to form multiple-male bands which are thought to be temporary foraging aggregations. Often bands of up to 60 can be found roosting together in trees near rivers at night. Males usually leave their natal groups and can be either solitary or form bachelor herds before getting their own harems. Females may move from one harem to another when young, but otherwise harems are stable. Males confront intruders. DIET: Proboscis monkeys are vegetarian and predominantly eat leaves, although fruit, seeds, and flowers are included in their diet when available. The prefer the pedada leaves. HABITAT: Proboscis monkeys live almost exclusively in mangrove forests near fresh water and in lowland rainforests. They can be found near rivers edges, resting and sleeping. Areas around human settlements are completely avoided. They are mostly arboreal (tree living) but have been known to leave the trees in order to cross open ground, or pass through nipah palms. FEATURES: The male and female are distinguished by the size of the body and the nose. The male is bigger than the female and its nose is more pointed. Females do not have this characteristic. The nose of male, can be 4 inches long, hangs down like a small trunk to the end of the monkey's mouth. In the female and the young, the nose is shorter and turned up at the end. The males' big nose is a secondary sex characteristic: the bigger the nose is, the sexier the monkey is. It has also been suggested that the nose aids in radiating excess body heat. These monkeys are also proficient swimmers and expert at leaping from tree to tree, or from a riverside tree into the middle of a river. They often cross rivers and narrow points in big groups because they run a risk of being preyed upon by crocodiles, while in the water. Though protected by law and listed as endangered by the USDI and Appendix 1 of CITES, this unusual monkey is threatened with extinction owing to loss of habitat and hunting. Their habitat is under severe threat from logging and land clearing for plantations. Deforestation is the main threat to the Proboscis Monkey. Hunting by locals, has also contributed to the decline in the monkey's population. In 1977, about 6,400 proboscis monkeys were found living in Sarawak. Today there are only 1,000. There are 2,000 in Sabah and maybe 4,000 or so in Kalimantan. A number of conservation measures have been implemented to protect the proboscis monkey. The Sarawak Forestry Department was the first to do a detailed study of the species, and the government has gazetted national parks and wildlife sanctuaries to provide protection. The Forestry Department also has an education unit which educates the people, living in villages, on the importance of wildlife conservation. Sabah is Malaysia's most important nature conservation area. The Sabah State Government is in the process of establishing the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary. WWF Malaysia has been working with the Sabah Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Development, Sabah Forestry Department and Sabah Wildlife Department since 1983 on a number of projects in the Kinabatangan area. These projects include surveys of crocodiles, orang- utans, waterbirds and other wildlife. SUMATRAN RHINOCEROUS Sumatran rhinos once widespread throughout mainland Southeast Asia from North Burma to the Malay Peninsular, the islands of Borneo and Sumatra, now known to exist only in Malaya, Borneo and Sumatra. The word rhinoceros means 'nose-horn', which is appropriate as rhinos are the only mammals with horns on their noses. All other horned mammals have horns on their heads. There are five species living today: the black and white rhinos of Africa and the Sumatran rhino (two horned), and the Indian and the Javan which (one horned). Despite the name, the horns are not made of horn, nor do they have a bone in the middle but consists solely of thousands of tightly packed , incredibly strong modified hair known as keratin. ORDER: Perissodactlya (odd-toed hoofed mammals) FAMILY: Rhinocerotidae< br> SUBFAMILY: Dicerorhinae  (two-horned rhinos) GENUS:  Dicerorhinus  (from the Greek di, meaning "two"; cero, meaning "horn" and rhinus, meaning "nose") SPECIES: sumatrensis (referring to Sumatra with the Latin -ensis, meaning locality) MALAYSIAN NAME: Badak Berendam COMMON NAMES: Sumatran rhinoceros Asian two-horned rhinoceros, only 2 horned Asian rhino. Hairy rhinoceros: refers to the long, shaggy hair found on the species in contrast to the other, hairless species. SIZE: 1.2 to 1.3 meters  (5ft.) tall and 2.5 to 2.8 meters (8-9ft.) long WEIGHT: 1,600-2,000 pounds  (900 kgs) GESTATION: 17 months. One young is born COLORATION:  The skin is slate grey covered with short greyish-black hairs. Younger animals have a reddish-brown coat. The hairs grow 2.5 cm (1in.) per year. It has fringed ears and two horns . FEATURES: The Sumatran, a.k.a. the hairy, rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) is probably the most endangered of all rhinoceros species. Numbers have declined by 50% due to poaching over the last 10 years. Fewer than 400 Sumatran rhino survive in very small and highly fragmented populations in Southeast Asia with Indonesia and Malaysia being the only significant range states. Furthermore, there is no indication that the situation is showing any signs of stabilizing. The Sumatran rhinoceros is the smallest of the five existing species of rhinoceros. It is more hairy than any of the others and has two horns on its snout - though these are shorter and rounder than those of the white rhino. Females have smaller horns compared to the males. Rhinos are ungulates  (animals with hooves), with short, stout legs, thick skin and tufted ears which are pointed and can move independantly The skin texture is granular and has a sparse but even coat of short stiff hairs. The tail is equipped with a row of thick, black wiry hairs which grow in a line along the underside and the top of the tip. BEHAVIOUR:  The fearsome appearence of the rhino masks a gentle, largely passive creature. Despite the occasional show of aggression, they live life at a leisurely pace. Most of their day is spent eating, sleeping and - their favourite occupation - wallowing in mud !! They are very agile and can run upto 50 kilometres (30 miles) per hour. When distured unexpectedly they flee rapidly giving a series of short hoarse barks. Rhinos are shy, solitary animals and live alone or in small temporary groups of about seven animals. The rhino mothers are fiercely protective of their offspring and their relationship with the young calves is among the strongest in the animal world. Solitary with the exception of females with claves; males solitary but visit female territories to mate. Feeds on fruit, leaves, twigs and bark. Both male and females sexually mature at 7 to 8 years of age. Gestation period approximately 17 months; interbirth interval of 1 calf every 3 to 4 years. Life span is approximately 32 years They prefer to wallow their days in pools of water and mud to escape the effects of the sun and remain submerged for hours. When they finally emerge they are covered with a coat of mud which act as a barrier against the bites of insects and parasites. Soon afterwards they rub themselves against trees and rocks. The Asian species are excellent swimmers, able to cross the widest rivers. DIET :   Though predominantly browsers , the rhinos live on a diet of grass, mature leaves, barks and twigs from a wide range of woody plants and young saplings. This diet is often supplemented with fruits and shrubs. The Sumatran and the Javan rhinos are rainforest dwellers with a larger intake of fruits, more than the other species. Favourites include figs and mangoes, although they also eat lichen and fungi. HABITAT:  The Sumatran rhinos being timid and secretive in nature, inhabit the steep slopes of mountainous jungle terrain wherever they have access to enough vegetation and water to maintain their bulk. Records in Sabah, East Malaysia indicate that these animals are usually within a 14 km radius of a mineral source. TRACKS, DUNG & OTHER CHARACTERISTICS:  Rhino tracks (spoor) are important as the presence of these animals are usually indicated by their footprints : adults on firm soil 18.5 - 23.5 cm across at widest point, showing 3 clear toe marks. In mud wallows, they have a clear, deep horn marks in the sides of the wallow, distinguishing it from other large mammals. Rhino's dung consists of coarsely chopped woody material about 9 cm in diameter, usually found in small piles, sometimes in mounds frequently used over long periods. The chinese especially regard the dung as highly medicinal. They spray bushes and tree trunks with their strong-smelling urine to mark their territory. There are less than 500 rhinos alive and their numbers are still diminishing. They are threatened with severe habitat destruction and are also threatened with extinction largely due to the superstitious belief that the substance of their horns and other parts are of medicinal value especially in promoting virility. There is no foundation for this belief; the horns of the rhinos have the same constitution as hair, and scrapings from one have the same therapeutic value, or lack of it, as chopped up horsrhair ! It is a pity that men destroy and kill anything for their own benefit !

Oriental Darter The Oriental Darter or Indian Darter (Anhinga melanogaster ), sometimes called Snakebird,  is a water bird of tropical South Asia and Southeast Asia. It is a cormorant-like species  that has a very long neck. It often swims with only the neck above water. It is a fish-eater. The Oriental Darter differs in appearance from American darters most recognisably by its white lateral neck stripe. It builds a stick nest in a tree and lays 3-6 eggs.

Asian Elephant, The Asian or Asiatic Elephant (Elephas maximus), sometimes known by the name of its nominate subspecies (the Indian Elephant), is one of the three living species of elephant, and the only living species of the genus Elephas. The species is found primarily in large parts of Malaysia, West Malaysia (Borneo), Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka,  Indochina and parts of Indonesia. It is considered endangered, with between 25,600 and 32,750 left in the wild. It is smaller than its African relatives; the easiest way to distinguish the two is that the Asian elephant has smaller ears. The Asian Elephant tends to grow to around two to four meters (7'–12') in height and 3,000–5,000 kilograms (6,500–11,000 pounds) in weight. ASIAN ELEPHANT Elephants are the largest land mammals of Malaysia. Their imposing stature and docile temprament combine to make them one of the best loved animals. The Asian species inspite of its Latin name is smaller than the African;  Asian elephants range from Bangladesh to Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India to Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. Elephants are indegenious to Malaysia and a wild population is found in the north-eastern part of Borneo. Most live in forests but some can be found on plains and marshes. About 14,000 to 17,000 domesticated elephants work in Asia, mostly in logging. ORDER: Proboscidea (animals with trunks) SUBORDER: Elephantoidea (elephant-like forms) FAMILY: Elephantidea (elephants) GENUS: Elephas SPECIES: maximus SUBSPECIES: indicus  (Malaysian elephant) MALAYSIAN NAME: Gajah. The west Malaysians refer to it as "Pak Tulang" meaning father bones and the east Malaysians call it "nenek" meaning grandmother. Elephants are feared by the people and they feel that if they call it by its real name, one might just pop out of nowhere and harm them ! SIZE: 2.5 to 3 metres  (8 to 10 ft.) high. Adult males are 15% larger than the female elephants. WEIGHT: 5000 kilograms  (11,000 lbs.) GESTATION: 21 months. 1 - 2 babies are born and they are nursed for about 2 years. A baby elephant weighs about 1200 lbs. at birth. COLORATION:  Grey LIFE SPAN: 8 to 12 years in both sexes. The longest authenticated period in captivity is 57 years. The life span of an elephant is limited by the duration of its molar teeth (6 in each jaw). The molars do not grow together but one after another, throughout the elephants life. Only one enormous molar (parts of two) are present in the jaw at any one time. As it wears down each one is substituted by the next in succession and when the sixth and the last molars have erupted and worn away, the elephant can no longer chew its food and dies. Anyone willing to design dentures ??? BEHAVIOUR: Elephants are social animals, living in herds of 5 to 20 animals, usually under a dominant bull. Herds usually split and merge with each herd having its own beat. They live in a close knit family group and within the group individual elepahants know their status. They communicate by making rumbling sounds or trumpeting, by touching each other with their trunks and by sniffing the scents of others. Elephants like wallowing in water not only to cool down but to take care of their skin which is very sensitive. Using their trunks they also coat their skins with a thick layer of mud. This dries on the body and helps to protect them from the sun, parasites and insects. They are mostly active from two hours before dusk to two hours after dawn. They sleep for only 4 to 5 hours a day , usually waking at 15 minute intervals to check for danger. The hottest part of the day is spent resting under shady trees. They can travel for many square kilometres and swim across rivers. Elephants show the same emotions as humans. They rejoice when greeting friends , comfort the young and the sick and protect their family from danger.They even grieve when another member of the group dies, covering the body with lefy branches or staying with them for several days. Their social behaviour is very complex and not yet fully understood. DIET: Needing little sleep, elephants spend most of their days foraging for the enormous amounts of vegetation they need to eat in order to sustain their huge bulk. They can find their way over vast expanses of any kind of terrain in search of food and water. Their diet is varied and can consist of anything from grass and leaves, to fruits and flowers, to tree bark, even mineral rich soils. Sixty plants have been identified in their natural diet. The cultivated plants are paddy, sugar cane, bananas, sweet-potatoes, tapioca, coconut, rubber and palms. In captivity they require about 125 kilograms of hay daily, plus grains. They are particularly fond of beer and other forms of alcohol; they are known to seek out fermenting durian fruits in Malaysia Malaysian elephants are particularly fond of bananas and palms. Each year they cause extensive damage to oil palm plantations by raiding the crop. They not only eat the palm shoots but have a nasty habit of uprooting several plants in a few hours. Elephants also require 35 to 50 gallons of drinking water per day. To drink, the elephant sucks water in its trunk and squeezes the end shut. Then it puts its trunk into its mouth and lets the water gush down its throat. When drinking it breathes only through its mouth. Baby elephants need lots of practice to learn how to drink using their trunks and when they are very young ,will frequently drink with only their mouth, curling their trunks out of the way. HABITAT: Elephants need a large living space as they are pure herbivores. Plants do not give as much energy as meat, so they have to graze over wide areas. The size of an elephant herd is dependant on its habitat. The more fertile a habitat is, the larger the herd it can support. The size of its ears reflect its haitat: the hotter the climate the larger the ears, because it uses its ears to cool down by flapping them. FEATURES: The elephant's most distinguishing feature is its long flexible trunk, which are infact incisor teeth which first appear when the elephant is 2 years old. It is made up of thousands of tiny muscles,giving it incredile power and also enales it to take food from anywhere. The trunk continues to grow throughout the elephants life and weighs 60 kilograms (130 lbs). It contains over 40,000 muscles and tendons! They have ivory tusks which are larger in male elephants. The largest tusk found in Malaysia was 1.75 metres long and weighed 41 kilograms. The size of its ears reflect its haitat: the hotter the climate the larger the ears. The large flappy ears are another distintive feature of the elephant. They are triangular in shape and used for cooling when flapped. The size of its ears reflect its haitat: the hotter the climate the larger the ears. Their legs are made of a pillar of thick bone with a broad foot, supported by a fatty material which helps to spead the elephants weight. Considering their size, elephants are remarkably light on their feet. ! Elephants have thick, wrinkled skin which is highly sensetive and liable to crack. Elephants have become victims of human vanity. For millions of years they roamed freely, now over the course of time they have come under the threat of extinction. The surviving population of elephants in Malaysia in 1977 was 556 only. The space that elephants need is no longer there as more and more land is being cultivated and roads and railways replace forest valleys. The most serious threat to the elephants is the ivory trade. Ivory is simply elephant tusk, but it has been treasured for centuries for carving intricate objects. Carvings and curios fetch a high price and as long as there is a demand for these objects the killings will go on. When one elephant is killed the others tend to stay around it rather than fleeing, so whole groups can be killed in one go. Conservation of Asian elephants is under way, but worldwide efforts are required to save it from extinction. A national initiative called Project Elephant is being planned to safeguard wild elephants in India. If successful, it should guarantee the elephants survival there, even if it continues to decline elsewhere in Asia. The future of the largest land animal lies in our hands !

Woodpecker

BirdlifeAmong the 200 species found in the region are 8 species of hornbill (rhinoceros, helmeted,

 black, pied, wreathed, wrinkled, white crowned and bushy crested), oriental darter, several

species of egret, Storm’s stork, Sunda ground cuckoo, stork billed kingfisher, brahminy

 kite, crested serpent eagle, greater coucal, red-crowned barbet, black and yellow

broadbill, white-rumped shama, white-chested babbler, heron, hawk, osprey, falcon,

pheasant, parakeet, buffy fish owl, frogmouth, nightjar, trogon, bee eater, roller,

woodpecker, pitta, swallow, bulbul, forktail, warbler, flycatcher, flowerpecker, spiderhunter,

drongo, oriole and crow. Some 27 species of bats and an estimated 2.1

 million bats, mostly wrinkled-lipped bats roost in Gomantong Caves.

Among the famous inbabitants are four species of swiftlets namely white-nest swiftlet,

 black-nest swiftlet, mossy-nest swiftlet and white-bellied swiftlet. However only

 the first two species produce the coveted edible nests, which are made out of their saliva.

Tarsier There are at least three species found in the Borneo, in Philippines and Sumatra, and in Sulawesi. Tarsiers are about 6 in. (15 cm) long with  a 10 in. (25 cm) hairless tail, and weigh about 4.5 oz (130 g). The body is covered with dense brown fur. Enormous round eyes are set close  together in a flat face. Tarsiers' legs are specialized for climbing and jumping and end in long, thin digits bearing adhesive pads. They feed on insects and reptiles. They are believed to mate for life and to form  family groups. Tarsiers are classified in the phylum Chordata, subphylum  Vertebrata, class Mammalia, order Primates, family Tarsiidae. Crocodiles Saltwater Crocodiles are an awesome creature to see, especially in the wild in an area where  they are abundant and thriving.

How to get there

Made possible with several daily flights link from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan,  Lahad Datu and Tawau. Other travel from Kota Kinabalu is also possible by air-conditioned coach and mini bus, lasting approximately 6 hours  per way to Sandakan. They are many Tour Operator operates at Lower Kinabatangan river with accommodation and transportation provided.