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Writer's pictureXin Rui Ong

ES2302 Field Course Recce Trip!

Updated: Apr 6, 2023

In preparation for the upcoming ES2302 field course, TEE Lab members, Dr. Eleanor Slade, Marx Yim, Ong Xin Rui, Chiew Li Yuen, and ASE's fieldwork coordinator, Tessa Liu, embarked on a week-long recce trip to Sepilok and Kinabatangan in Sabah, East Malaysia. We visited the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre and Forest Research Centre in Sepilok and KOPEL in Kinabatangan with the purpose of incorporating society-related areas of conservation management, ecotourism and community involvement to the field course. Throughout the trip, we were very warmly welcomed by our hospitable local collaborators and had an amazing learning experience. For most of us, it was our first time visiting these places, which made it all the more memorable.


In Sepilok, we first stopped by the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) and were hosted by its CEO and founder Dr Wong Siew Te. BSBCC was founded in 2008 and is the only sun bear conservation centre in the world. We were very impressed by its natural and open enclosures that provided ex-captive sun bears a comfortable environment for recovery and rehabilitation. We were also super lucky to get a super close view of the "grail bird" of Borneo, the Bornean Bristlehead, along the centre's walkway!

(L to R): BSBCC entrance; Bornean Bristlehead; Dr Wong Siew Te filming a sun bear through a scope.


The following day, we visited the Forest Research Centre (FRC) and were warmly welcomed by Dr Robert Ong (Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of FRC) and Dr Arthur Chung (Deputy Head of FRC). The FRC was opened in 1974, and has five main research programmes: Forest Ecosystem Management, Forest Biodiversity & Conservation, Forest Plantation, Forest Produce & Products, and Forest Socio-Economic. We had a fruitful discussion on the activities that our students could do for the upcoming field course, and was then followed by a personal guided tour by Dr Arthur around the collections of FRC: wood library, herbarium, entomology collection, frog and fish collection.


(CW from top L): Group photo with Dr Robert Ong & Dr Arthur Chung; Checking out the specimens in the herbarium, entomology collection and frog & fish collection.



(L to R): Herbarium; Wood library; Frog & fish collection.


We then spent an afternoon in the canopies of the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC), an environmetal education centre managed by the FRC. We walked along its 363m long canopy walkway and visited (and hugged) its two tallest trees - the Kabili Monster (71m) and the Sepilok Giant (65m). We also embarked on a 2h guided night walk and spotted elusive mammals like the mousedeer, slow loris and even an itchy tarsier!

(CW from L): Kabili Monster!; Along the canopy walkway; Trekking through RDC.


Next up, we travelled down to KOPEL, a village-based co-operative located along the Lower Kinabatangan. Since 1988, KOPEL and the local communities are stewards of the forests and wildlife around the Lower Kinabatangan and have been working closely with volunteers and contributing organisations to conserve and restore these ecosystems. Through eco-tourism and conservation management programmes, KOPEL offers multiple experiences that enable conservation and generate income for the local communities.



(CW from top L): Encik Jimsai showing us the various edible plants the forest offers; Encik Hasri introducing organic and mosquito-repelling soap!; Learning about the various species used in KOPEL's tree planting programme; Ms Syazana revealing tiny Salvinia weevils that are biocontrol agents against the invasive Salvinia weeds.


We had an amazing time in KOPEL and participated in many activities ranging from tree planting, boat cruising and wildlife spotting along the Kinabatangan River. We even spent a night in the beautiful and rustic Tungog Rainforest Eco Camp, where we slept soundly through a rainstorm.


(L to R): Tree planting; Boat cruise; Tungog Rainforest Eco Camp.


In these short couple of days, our team has had an unforgettable experience and we are very excited to share this with the students in our upcoming field course in May 2023!


Useful links


Additional photos


(L to R; T to B): Pill millipede; Huntsman spider; Stingless bees; House centipede; Male Archduke butterfly; Stick insect; Tractor millipede (held upside-down); Salvinia weed & salvina weevil; Lanternflies; Dung beetle🤎; Rhinoceros beetle; Praying mantis.


(L to R; T to B): Malay civet; Estuarine crocodile; Juvenile white-bellied sea eagle; Tarsier; Sun bear; Proboscis monkeys - the bachelor group.


Photos & videos by: Marx, Li Yuen, Xin Rui, Tessa & Arthur

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