Borneo is an island of natural wonders with one of the world’s highest levels of biodiversity. This a well-known fact and it hardly needs restating. Or maybe it does indeed need to be stated and restated constantly, considering the existential threats that many of the island’s natural habitats and their inhabitants have come to…
It’s easy to be skeptical of Malaysian government ministers. They say one thing and do another. Or else they may fail to do anything at all. Now and again, however, some ministers do seem to want to make a difference for the better. A case in point is a recent…
Some groovy beats. A laidback atmosphere outdoors in scenic settings. Lots of likeminded folks. A message of wildlife conservation. Sound like fun? Fun it is that some 2,500 participants had at the two-day Borneo Rhythms of Rimba Wildlife Festival in late August. Held at the Rainforest Discover Centre in Sepilok,…
Borneo’s wildlife is a wondrous visual symphony and a stunning kaleidoscope of colors. Individually, each species on this storied tropical island is a unique masterpiece of natural selection; collectively, they make for a joyous celebration of Mother Nature in her full glory. But don’t just take our word for it….
Orangutan skulls. Langur skulls. Macaque skulls. Monkey skull necklaces. Hornbill beaks. Sun bear claws. Bear teeth. Wild boar tusks…. These were among the gruesome “decorative” items that two Malaysian men who ran an online business called Borneo Artifact kept mailing from the island into the United States for a decade….
Routinely the only obstacles in the way of poachers out to hunt down yet more members of endangered species in Malaysia’s forests are the country’s wildlife officials. These officials are invariably understaffed and underpaid, but they have an important job to do: saving the country’s wildlife for posterity. In a…