Phase 1 – The Tropical Ecology Field Trip

A 3-day tropical ecology field trip at the Cardiff University research facility, the Danau Girang Field Centre in Sabah, Borneo. Situated within the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, this area has an amazing variety of animals and plants, including ten species of primate (e.g. orang-utan, proboscis monkey, Bornean gibbon), Bornean elephant, clouded leopard, other cat and civet species, sun bear, binturong, salt water crocodile, monitor lizard, reticulated python, king cobra and over 300 species of bird.
And if you’re interested in birds…all eight species of hornbill found in Borneo can be found here.

The amiable head scientist and director of Danau Girang Field Centre, Dr Benoit Goossens, orchestrates the exciting teaching and learning activities including; interpretive boat trips, interpretive walks, lectures and seminars (when visiting scientists are available).

The course will take you through an ecological and biogeographical comparison of the tropical ‘wet’ forest regions of the world to give you a more holistic understanding of the earth’s rainforests. With interpretive boat rides, walks and animal observations to complement the teaching inside, the course gradually focuses on the ecology, conservation measures and issues of the rainforests of Borneo. By the third day the teaching is more specifically on the knowledge base and conservation issues surrounding the Kinabatangan floodplain, a widely recognised biodiversity hotspot.

“…certainly recommended for people who have a passion for wildlife and conservation and want to experience something different” – Anita Gatherole, Huntingdon, UK.

“Any Biology based university student or A-level student would find this (course) incredibly beneficial… " – Josh Pendergast, Kent, UK.

"I had an amazing experience at the Centre - seeing wildlife I had previously only seen on TV, zoo's etc....Benoit's passion for his work is very obvious and inspiring. To be able to walk through and sleep in the tropical jungle is a wonderful thing to do" – Helle Enderby, Denmark.

Danau Girang Field Centre is a collaborative research and training facility managed by Cardiff University and Sabah Wildlife Department and was re-opened with Cardiff University funding around May 2008. Benoit’s research interests are within the fields of population genetics, ecology and conservation, and has taken him throughout central and eastern Africa and Asia. Benoit is employed by Cardiff University yet works very closely with Sabah Wildlife and local NGO’s. A full breakdown of Benoit’s research and publications can be found here. Visit the Danau Girang Field Centre website here.

The hostel accommodation at the Danau Girang Field Centre	'The main building at the Danau Girang Field Centre, Kinabatangan River Wildlife Sanctuary, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo'
Walking in the area around Danau Girang Field Centre	Seminars at Danau Girang Field Centre

 

Phase 2. Trekking in the Cooler Climate of the Central Highlands of Borneo

This is a 4-day remote jungle trek through one of the most important conservation areas in the world, and with your new and enhanced knowledge and understanding of the rainforest you will be all the more able to truly appreciate this incredible experience.

Our treks begin from the small yet almost totally self-sufficient highland community of Ba Kelalan, on the edge of one of the largest remaining blocks of contiguous primary rainforest in Southeast Asia – adjacent to both the Pulong Tau National Park in Sarawak and the huge Kayan-Mentarang National Park of Kalimantan, Indonesia. This is one of the last remaining great areas of wilderness in the world which historically has been difficult to enter until recently. English speaking guides in this area is also a problem which is another reason why few foreigners venture deep inside – our British and Australian Expedition Leaders can speak Malay and Indonesian.

This trek is extremely rewarding, sleeping in hammocks under mosquito nets and raincover, yet challenging. You will be passing through completely untouched rainforest where a suspected new species of carnivore was caught on camera in 2003, looking a cross between a cat and a fox. Generally participants carry their own backpack, but you may be able to hire a local porter to take your backpack.

Alternatively we may be trekking in the Crocker Range National Park, Sabah’s largest National Park; a mixture of lowland dipterocarp and lower montane rainforest which includes many species endemic to Borneo including endangered species such as the orang-utan, the sun bear and the clouded leopard. The Crocker Range and the Kinabalu masif stretches almost the full length of the western half of Sabah and is the central part of the water catchment area of western Sabah.