Borneo Wildlife and Nature Ep6

Branching Out Exploring the world under the canopy

The rainforest of Borneo’s natural beauty is seen not only high above the canopy but also what is unseen until we go further down below. Cleverly camouflaged insects that mimic the shape and colour of sticks that sway gently back and forth, bugs that do not quite live up to their given name, endemic reptiles with unique abilities and physical appearances, as well as those that move stealthily with an interesting appetite. Under the canopy, there is a world full of charms. It is truly a realm of incredible beauty and great diversity.

Listen to the unheard

Meet one of the most feared and misunderstood nocturnal animals. Bats are peculiar yet fascinating, as they are the only mammals that are capable of true and sustained flight. A wide range of bat species, from fruit- and nectar-eating to insect-eating varieties, inhabit the caves here, and they use echolocation to navigate and locate food. Their presence is evident from the thick guano mounds, or bat droppings, that pile high up on the cave floor. As the sun moves over the horizon and day slowly turns into night, witnessing the bat exodus will be worth the wait.

The Hidden Gem in the Forest

Mulu is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Natural Site. The tropical karsts here are the most studied in the world, and they contain one of the largest and most extensive limestone cave systems on earth that are the roosting places of millions of swiftlets and bats. Marvel at the stunningly beautiful geological rock formations and explore the underground rivers that continue to sculpt the landscape along the more than 200-kilometre expanse. Discover the one-of-a-kind Borneo one-leaf plant, which can grow up to a metre long while growing in these caves, and see the Pinnacles towering high among the trees.

Discover the wonders of Mulu

Mulu’s dense forest is home to the famed pinnacles and a variety of known and yet-to-be-discovered flora and fauna. Its ecosystems are a complex web of organisms, which include plants, animals, and fungi, that rely on each other to survive. The forest floor is dark and busy, full of decomposing debris from organic matters that fall from above and thriving with worms, bugs, beetles, and weevils. These organisms are decomposers that break down the decaying materials, turning them into nutrients that are then absorbed by the shallow roots of the rainforest trees. Dozens of predators later feed on these decomposers.