A boost for Sandakan Rainforest Discovery Centre

6.5m ringgit expansion opens door to better understanding of Sabah forests

Last year 40,000 people visited the Rainforest Discovery Centre at the Sepilok forest reserve in Sandakan since it opened in 2007.

Covering 200 hectares, it has long and winding trails that allow visitors to discover some of the rare species of gigantic tropical trees that may be about 1,300 years old, birds such as the hornbills, the endangered orang-utans and other wildlife.

It is indeed an educational and tourist attraction. And this year the centre has won Sabah’s best nature tourism award.

Sam Mannan, the director of Sabah Forestry Department, has announced a 6.5m-ringgit ($2m) expansion that he says will boost its “standing as a top environment education facility.” There will be a car park, an outdoor stage and the 300m canopy walk will be extended by 80 metres by November next year.

A 120-seat theatre was added to the centre early this year. And the Borneo bird festival was held there in October.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: A boost for Sandakan Rainforest Discovery Centre

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Sabah Tourism Upcoming Event: Borneo Bird Festival

Date : 14-16 October 2011

There are a total of 622 resident and migratory species of bird found in Borneo, 32 of which are endermic, and four of which are found in Sabah.

This month, make your way to the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC) in Sepilok, Sandakan and join other bird aficionados for a three-day Borneo Bird Festival event dedicated to the feathered species.

The RDC is a centre for environmental education situate within the famous Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve.

Educate your youngsters about the birdies by signing them up for the Children's Camp or sign yourself up for lectures and workshops on topics ranging from anatomy and conservation of birds, to wildlife and bird photography where you get to learn tips from the experts, all at minimal fees!

You can also learn more about the birds through the exhibitions.

For the birding enthusiasts there will be photography competition, the Borneo Bird Race, daily guided birding tour, childrens’ activities and many more exciting programs at the Festival.

For further details, contact Noredah Othman of Sabah Tourism Board at +60 88 212121 or send fax to +60 88 212075. You can also email noredah@sabahtourism.com or visit www.borneobirdfestival.com for more information as well as the programme.

Source: Sabah Tourism

NOTE: Photo Copyright to Sabah Tourism
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Bird-watching tourism in Sabah

SANDAKAN: As home to 600 resident and migratory bird species, including about 50 that can only be found on the Borneo island, Sabah is a paradise for bird watchers.

Though Sabah is on the international bird watchers list, more needs to be done to promote the diverse bird fauna in the state, and convert it into economic returns.

Realizing the economic potential of bird-watching, and the need to create awareness of the state’s unique avian heritage, the Borneo Bird Club was established in Oct 2010, headed by Gary Albert.

Gary, president of Borneo Bird Club, told Bernama, recently, that the club, with 100 members, serves as the best platform to promote bird-watching as part of Sabah’s tourism industry.

A LOW PROFILE ACTIVITY

Though Sabah has been a favourite haunt for many foreign bird-watchers, the activity isn’t very popular in the state. Sabah is unlike neighbouring countries, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, or even Europe, where there are many bird-watchers’ clubs and tours.

“Only now has the club, with the cooperation of the state’s Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry, Forestry Department and the Wildlife Department, embarked on programmes to inculcate interest in bird-watching and conservation activities,” he said.

The Malaysia Nature Society and the Nature Society in Sabah play an important role in cultivating interest in bird-watching.

BORNEO BIRD FESTIVAL

Sabah’s first official bird-watching activity, the Borneo Bird Festival, was held in Oct 2009, in Sepilok, near Sandakan, with overseas bird-watcher club members taking part, as well.

Due to an overwhelming response, the second festival took place in the following year. This year, the third Borneo Bird Festival will take place in October.

Gary pointed out that Sabah has a number of established bird-watching spots – Rainforest Discovery Center (RDC) in Sepilok, Kinabalu Park in Kundasang, Kampung Sukau in Kinabatangan, Danum, Tabin Valley in Lahad Datu, and Sungai Klias in Beaufort.

These are the places where many species can be seen, including those endemic to Borneo.

However, bird-watching is not limited to bird-watching club members. The club is now focusing on programmes to attract public participation, especially from the younger generation.

For a start, the Borneo Bird Club has enlisted primary and secondary students for activities such as the young ranger programme at RDC.

A mobile exhibition is also on the cards, apart from the upcoming Borneo Bird Festival.

TRAINING BIRD GUIDES

According to Gary, to create greater appreciation for the state’s avian heritage, the club plans to train more bird guides, as their numbers are currently limited.

There are about six licensed bird guides in the state, and their services see high demand.

In the long term, the club plans to train tour guides to serve as bird guides as well. They will be taught different bird species, and the ethics of bird-watching.

At present, tour agents offer bird-watching in their tour-packages, but it is supervised by tour guides.

Continue reading at: Bird-watching tourism in Sabah
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Sabah's Borneo Bird Festival gaining popularity

SABAH’s Borneo Bird Festival (BBF) is gaining popularity, said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun.

“The number of bird watchers attending the three-day event doubled last year to 3,000, comprising local and foreign visitors, compared to 2009’s 1,500 people,” he told the House in response to a question by Elopura assemblyman Au Kam Wah.

Introduced two years back, the event which is held at the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC), aims at luring bird watchers, both domestic and abroad, to learn the species of birds in Sabah.

There are 742 bird species in Malaysia, with 540 species found in Sabah.

The BBF is widely promoted and has attracted bird watchers from Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Philippines as well as members of bird watching clubs from this region.

Continue reading at: Sabah's Borneo Bird Festival gaining popularity
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