The Untouched World of "Maliau Basin"
Not everyone knows or heard about "Maliau Basin". Its one of the last remaining natural treasures, a saurcer-shaped geological structure that spans 25 Kilometers in diameter with formidable cliffs as high as 1,700 meters. The forests within these walls are some of the oldest and untouched in all of Borneo. The highest point is thought to be Gunung Lotung (Mount Lotung) which is over 1,600 meters in elevation but has yet to be accurately surveyed. Resembling a volcanic caldera, the 25 km diameter Basin is in fact a sedimentary formation comprised mainly of gently inclined beds of sandstone and mudstone.
Maliau Basin
Introduction & History
Maliau Basin located in Sabah, North Borneo. It started or originating from a narrow gorge in the basin where the dark waters of the Maliau River, which eventually joins the Kinabatangan River on its long journey to the sea. An aerial view of the Maliau Basin shows a depression encircled by high cliff, which have protected the densely forested interior from any permanent human habitation or cultivation.
The 390 sq km Maliau Basin was originally part of a 10,000 sq km timber concession belong to Yayasan Sabah (Sabah Foundation), an organization formed in 1966 through an Enactment by the State Legislative Assembly, with the objective of improving the standard of living and education of Malaysians in Sabah. In 1981 Yayasan Sabah voluntarily designated Maliau Basin as a Conservation Area for the purposes of research,education and training.
First discovered accidentally in 1947 by a pilot who almost crashed his plane into the unexpected nothern cliffs.
Flora and Fauna
Flora
E. brevilabrum,
Maliau Basin, Sabah
Over 1800 species of plant have so far been identified, including nine species of pitcher plant and at least 80 kinds of orchid, several of which are new records for Sabah
4 dipterocarp species which mostly can be found on the Basin's outer flanks and in the valley bottoms.
Orchids are especially diverse and accessible in the heath forest and short-heath forest plateau.
Rhododendrons flowering commonest probably being:
- R.bomeense
- R.durianifolium
- R. javanicum and other various subspecies
Nepenthes plants have 9 (nine) species:
- Nepenthes cf mirabiles
- N.gracilis
- N.hirsuta
- N.lowii
- N.reinwardtiana
- N.stenophylla
- N.tentaculata
- N.veitchii
- N.veithchii X.N.stenophylla
Rafflesia:
A rare Rafflesia tengku-adlinii has been found in "Maliau Basin"
Fauna
Animals
'Little known Oriental bird: Bornean Bristlehead'
Big Mammals that have been sighted in the forest reserve included:
- red barking deer
- Borneon yellow barking deer Sambhar
- bearded pig
- banteng
- rhinos
Small mammals are:
- monkeys
- civets
- rats
- shrews
- porcupines
- pangolin
Of the 17 rat species in Borneo, 11 were recorded and interestingly, no squirrels were recorded.
270 bird species has been recorded, including:
- Bulwer's Pheasant
- Giant Pitta
- Bathawk
- Borneon Bristlehead
- Eight Species of hornbills
- 24 new species of birds
- 5 Borneo endemic species
and 2 migrant species
32 species from 5 families of frogs were recorded.
Other species so far been confirmed included Clouded Leopard and Malayan Sunbear, argus pheasant, silver leaf monkey, orang utan, elephants, sumatran rhino,oriental darter and peregrine falcon, seledang (tembadau) and the elusive Bay Cat.
Among the multitude of invertebrate, at least 2 species are new to science, a water beetle Neptosternus thiambooni and crab Thelphusula hulu
Attractions and Activities
"Maliau Basin" conservation area is really good place for adventure jungle trekking and wilderness experience like bird watching, photography and night walks, night drives to spot nocturnal wildlife along the access roads.The famous seven-tier Maliau Waterfalls could be reached within a day. Name like Giluk Falls, Rafflesia Falls and Alin Falls
Google Blog Search
- 1-Borneo - The third largest Island in the world: Maliau Basin
- Maliau Basin conservation area also known as Sabah's Lost World, a 584 square kilometre Class 1 Protection forest reserved and one of Malaysia's finest wilderness areas, comprising a high plateau surrounded by a formidable escrapment ...
- Maliau Basin - Rainforest Outdoors Recreation Fitness Guide Tips Blog
- The Maliau Basin is a place set on a sprawling 588.4 square kilometers land in Tawau, at the South Central Part of Sabah. The area of Maliau Basin is bordered with crater like wall that fall hundred meters down that make it a separated ...
- Scubazoo Blog - Maliau Basin Studies Centre opened by PM
- On Saturday 29th January Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak officially opened the Maliau Basin Studies Centre. Situated on the edge of the Maliau Basin, 588.4 square kilometers of pristine forest in the heart of Sabah, ...
- UMNO Online - Najib To Savour Maliau Basin's Best Kept Secret
- Come this Saturday, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will be Malaysia's first prime minister to visit this internationally-acclaimed area, and at the same time enjoy the golden chance of discovering Maliau Basin's best kept secret. ...
Satellite Picture of Maliau Basin
"Satellite Image of Maliau Basin"
Remotely sensed data captured by the Landsat Satellite (image size approximately 36km x 36km).
Yellow outside Maliau Basin Conservation Area (MBCA) representing disturbed vegetation, while light (fresh) green inside MBCA refers to closed-canopy dipterocarp forest cover.
Reddish blue indicates heath forest.
Dark green on the south-eastern side represents reduced impact logging (RIL) forest.
Logging roads are visible as turquoise lines and dark blue lines for Maliau River and its tributaries.
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