LOCATIONBorneo’s Danum Valley is a treasury of biological diversity.

Danum Valley represents perhaps the last area of primary lowland forest in SE Asia which remains truly pristine; never logged, hunted or settled the flora and fauna of Danum remains completely intact. Surrounded by a matrix of recovering logged forest, which is all now fully protected, Danum is buffered and protected on all flanks. This exceptionally important forest has been SEARRP’s base for 30 years.

“After three decades of studying the world’s great rainforests, I thought I’d seen the best nature has to offer. But that was before I visited the Danum Valley.”
William F. Laurance, PhD, FAA, FAAAS, FRSQ
Distinguished Research Professor & Australian Laureate

Life in Danum Valley

ORANGUTAN

Orangutans are found only in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. They are Critically Endangered as a result of human activities such as habitat destruction and poaching.

SMALL-TOOTHED PALM CIVET

Nocturnal, solitary, and arboreal, these omnivores feed mostly on insects, fruits, and small vertebrates. With declining populations, their main threat is habitat loss and hunting.

LEAF-FOOTED BUGS

Named after the leaf-like expansions on their legs, these bugs feed on plants, injecting juices that macerate the tissues of the growing tips and causing them to wilt abruptly.

BORNEO PYGMY ELEPHANT

Borneo Pygmy Elephants, smaller and tamer than African elephants, are endangered, threatened by habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation driven by expanding human populations.

STRIPED STREAM FROG

This handsome species can be identified by the orange stripes which extend from snout to vent. They are associated with lowland streams in tropical forests.

BIOLUMINESCENT FUNGI

A common mushroom in the tropical rainforests of South East Asia, they emit a greenish light 24 hours a day that is much more visible at night, and can turn a forest stroll into a magical experience.

BORNEAN ANGLEHEADED LIZARD

This lizard is arboreal in habit, living in tree trunks and on vines. Their dependence on primary lowland rainforest for survival puts them at risk of extinction as these habitats are under threat.

PANGOLIN

An elusive species, the armour plated insectivore is nocturnal and solitary. Pangolins are currently listed as Critically Endangered, threatened mostly by poaching and human expansion.

GREAT ARGUS PHEASANT

This near-threatened bird is found only in Borneo. The male bird clears a patch of ground on the forest floor, and displays his plume while dancing and calling out to attract nearby females.

STICK INSECT

Stick insects resemble the twigs on which they live, providing them with one of the most amazing natural camouflages on Earth.

TIGER LEECH

Tiger leeches can grow up to 3cm and are easily identified by the red stripes marking the length of their body. They prey on mammals (including humans) and their bites sting but are not fatal.

ORIENTAL WHIP SNAKE

A relatively common sight in the rainforests of South East Asia, this snake is rear-fanged (colubrid) venomous snake in shades of green, yellow, grey, and brown.

The Forests Around Danum

The Sabah Foundation Forest Management Area , within which Danum is embedded, represents a unique venue for tropical forest science: a 10,000 square kilometer microcosm of rainforest conservation threats and opportunities and managed landscapes. All the major natural forest and human modified land uses are here: primary forest, rovering logged forest, forest being actively restored, oil palm and timber plantations and forests dedicated to supporting community livelihoods.