THE HIDDEN TREASURE OF THE LAND BELOW THE WIND
Borneo, the third largest island in the world, located in the South East Asia is well known of its green treasures. Borneo consist of 3 countries, Brunei, Indonesia (Kalimantan) and East Malaysia (Sarawak and Sabah). Sabah or once called the North Borneo has endless treasure to be discover. The majestic mount Kinabalu, Padas river, white sand beaches, the mythical island of Sipadan and of course the treasure that hid in the thick jungle, separated from the outside world and lost in time, Maliau Basin.
Maliau Basin, Sabah’s Lost World
Named as Sabah’s Lost World due to its isolation in the deep forest and was not discovered until 1980s. Located in the heart of Sabah, Maliau Basin, bounded by a sheer cliff, a huge bowl of pristine rainforest separated from the outside world hidden beneath the mist. Covering area up to 588 sq kilometers, it is a home to thousand species of animals, insects and plants that found nowhere else on the earth and some of it are never been seen before. Although only few percent of Basin’s had been discovered, it already revealed that it is a home to the most complex interaction of wildlife on earth. There are over 82 mammal species has been recorded and most of them are endangered species: the Banteng, orangutan, Proboscis monkey, golden-ray Bed cat, Malayan sun bear, clouded leopard, borneon pygmy elephant and others.
The very first discovery is when the World War II pilot fly over Sabah in 1947 and notice a sunken forest below and almost flew into the basin’s escarpment and claimed that ‘it must be higher than the mount Kinabalu’. However, it remains as a mystery until the 1980’s. Due to its large area, there are 50% of Basin has never been seen yet and only 2000 people had set foot to Basin. Basin is put under Damai World Heritage with other two conservation area. Imbak Canyon, the green canyon of Borneo is located at the north of Basin and the east is the Danum Vally, a place carpeted with pre-historic virgin forest.
‘Maliau Basin’ carries the meaning of The Land of The Giant Staircase in the Murut language hides many waterfalls and the most renowned is the majestic 7 Tiers Waterfall. It’s almost home to the Borneo’s famous carnivorous pitcher plant. Recently, there are 9 species of pitcher plant found Basin. Maliau Basin has never been log and continue to become a habitat to 1800 different species of tress, 45 of it are listed endangered species.
Up until today, the access to Basin are limited. Only few people are allowed to enter Basin in order to manage the impact on the ecosystem. Visitors must obtain permission in advance from the Yayasan Sabah. The government of Sabah do its best to protect Maliau Basin and hoping that it will remain untouched for many years.
‘The human spirit needs a place where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man’ - unknown
