What's happening near Lambir Hills National Park?

There has been some feverish activities near a patch of forest along the Miri-Bintulu road next to Lambir Hills National Park in the past months. Yep, we noticed the garish scar on the hillsides across the road from the park, a special tribute to our dearly departed at upwards of a few tens of thousands per lot.

There are also a few visibly garish newly bulldozed paths on the same side of park HQ. Where it goes, no one knows.

This relatively more concerted development however is right at the side of the gazetted area of the Park itself. Earth moving machines, excavators and workers have been seen busy clearing the area. 4WD vehicles bearing the "SY" signage are scattered near the workers' quarters.

No signage whatsoever from the people developing the area, it's a private venture some say.


WMD at work.


Workers quaters, another two houses to the right with recently completed man-made ponds (not pictured).


There's also major roadwork in progress just a few meters away on the Miri-Bintulu road itself.

Does anybody know the details?

Perhaps this is another one of those tri-partite squable of landrights that surely becoming more common in Sarawak, but quietly simmering in the background away from public knowledge. In this case best guess would be between the folks from nearby Rumah Entulang, Lambir Hills National Park and Shin Yang.

We surely haven't seen this in any of the local papers.

World Migratory Bird Day 2010 in Miri and Kinabalu

Students lining up to register and pick up their WMBD souvenirs from Pustaka Miri staff. Pustaka Miri has been a staunch supporter of our WMBD activities since 2008.


Participants posing with their WMBD posters and Encik Ahmad Samsudin of Pustaka Miri.

This year on May 08th and 15th marked the 3rd year MNS Miri Branch celebrated WMBD.

Our first WMBD in 2008 was celebrated with bird photographer Choo Tse Chien from Penang with slideshows of Malaysian birds as well as endemic Bornean species at Pustaka Miri, several schools in Lutong as well as rural schools in Bekenu. We went birdwatching with our members in Lambir Hills and Similajau National Park.

In 2009, Nazeri Abghani from Miri Branch spoke about waders in Kuala Baram and Miri in general in conjunction with WMBD at Pustaka Miri and Kpg Tengah, Bekenu. Denis Degullacion from Borneo Bird Club spoke of Bornean birds at Similajau National Park to park staff and participating schools nearby. We conducted fieldtrips simultaneously in Miri and Similajau for participants and our members.

For 2010, we invited Khoo Swee Seng from Selangor to talk about migrating raptors and garden birds in Pustaka Miri as well as led fieldtrips for members and students to Lambir Hills National Park and Kuala Baram. For the first time this year we exported WMBD to Kinabalu National Park in conjunction with MNS 70th year anniversary. Collaborating with MNS Sabah Branch together with Alim Biun of Sabah Parks, Jimmy Omar of Sabah Foundation, Denis Degullacion of Borneo Bird Club and our staunch supporters we birdwatched with students from SMK Dato Paduka Mat Salleh Ranau at KNP.

"World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) aims to inspire people to take action for the conservation of migratory birds and encourages national authorities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), clubs and societies, universities, schools and individuals around the world to organize events and programmes, which help draw attention to migratory birds around a central theme each year.

This year’s theme is “Save migratory birds in crisis – every species counts!” It is closely linked to the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) declared by the United Nations for 2010.

The WMBD 2010 theme aims to raise awareness on globally threatened migratory birds, with a particular focus on those on the very edge of extinction – the Critically Endangered migratory birds.

In line with the International Year of Biodiversity, the 2010 WMBD theme also highlights how migratory birds are part of the biological diversity of our world and how the threat of extinction faced by individual bird species is a reflection of the larger extinction crisis threatening other species and the natural diversity that underpins all life on earth.

By focusing on “migratory birds in crisis” during the International Year of Biodiversity, World Migratory Bird Day 2010 is also highlighting the role played by birds as indicators, enabling us to clearly see and highlight the negative effects our current way of life is having on the planet and it’s biodiversity.

As one of the best researched taxa, birds serve as vital indicators for the state of biodiversity and the biological health of the ecosystems they inhabit. If a bird species becomes threatened with extinction it is often a clear sign that the conditions of the required habitats have changed and that other species that depend on them may also be affected." (1)

The events at Pustaka Miri on 08th May saw participants from 8 schools in Miri making up approximately 70 students, and teachers. Members of the public were also present. The presentation for the day focussed on common birds in Malaysia according to habitat as well as migrating raptors. Khoo Swee Seng spoke of his involvement and MNS yearly efforts with the Raptor Count in Tanjong Tuan.


Khoo Swee Seng speaking about common birds in Malaysia classified according to their habitats.


Raptors had the students in full concentration, Khoo spoke about the raptors in Tanjong Tuan and the efforts by Malaysian Nature Society with the studies there.


Khoo presenting a momento in the form of a framed WMBD 2010 poster to a representative from Pustaka Miri.

Our fieldtrip the next day, took students to Kuala Baram to see common open grassland habitat birds. The students had ample opportunity to identify several common species to the area.

At Kinabalu National Park on the 15th May, led by Alim Biun, Jimmy Omar, Denis Degullacion, forty students were taken around a loop trail to see some of Sabah's endemic birds common to the locality.


Group photo before the start of the birdwatching session.


Jimmy Omar going though the finer details of how to use a pair of binoculars, Alim Biun and Denis Degullacion led the second group of students.


Now, where did the Green Magpie go. Students peering into the trees to look out for the bird making the loud calls.

Here's another year for the birds and for WMBD!

Nazeri Abghani/MNS Miri/May 2010

Climbing Mount Kinabalu with Tapir.

Climbers the morning of the climb prior to their arduous journey to the summit.

On the 15th of May, avid trekkers from the Malaysian Nature Society Miri Branch embarked on an attempt to summit the tallest mountain in South-East Asia: Mount Kinabalu.

After meeting our guide and porter, we proceeded to Timpohon Gate at 8.45 am where we began our 6 km hike to the Laban Rata resthouse at 3272 m altitude.

The air was cool and crisp as we walked on the well-trodden trail, which was flanked with wild ferns and mosses. Upon reaching Layang-Layang rest hut, the vegetation changed to stunted alpine trees. The weather was cloudy during our ascent to Laban Rata. The clouds shrouded the views below, and as the chilly wind blew through the trail, it brought along rain from the higher altitudes.

Prior to our climb, we have been training religiously on the trails of Lambir Hill National Park. Even though we were physically able to tackle the continuous climb, we were not prepared for how our bodies reacted to the high altitude. A few of us experienced headaches, and some ran out of breath quickly due to the thin air.

We reached Laban Rata at 2.15 pm. We could see the imposing mountain behind the resthouse playing peek-a-boo with us behind a curtain of clouds.

It rained heavily in the evening, sending streams of rainwater cascading down the mountain in waterfalls. We remarked to each other that it will be a slippery and wet climb to the summit come morning.

At 2 am, we had our supper at the cafeteria before embarking on the 2.7 km hike to the summit.

The first few hundred meters along the trail was done on wooden staircases. Subsequently, we had to scramble up the granite mountain face with the help of several sections of rope. The weather at this point took a turn to the extreme.

The wind was mercilessly cold and constant. Rain drizzled upon us, reducing the visibility to a mere 10 feet. The weather condition made it very difficult for us to navigate on the steep slope. The thought of giving up did cross the minds of some of us, but we kept trudging onwards.

At 5.30 am, the rain had ceased. Dawn was breaking, and we could see how high we were up in the mountain. Every step we took felt like we were moving in slow motion. We could already see Low’s Peak from where we were. It seemed very near, but it felt like forever for us to reach there.

Finally at 6 am, we reached Low’s Peak.

The view was spectacular to say the least. Clouds spread out under us like fluffy white pillows; the rays of the sun gilded the mountain face with ethereal golden light which can only be described as majestic, and the lush forest of the Kinabalu National Park down below spread like a verdant green carpet that extended beyond the horizon as far as the eyes can see.

Though we did not spend much time at the peak, we had ample time to raise up our “MNS 70th Anniversary” banner for a well-deserved photo-op, our Tapir made it to the top! Perhaps the highest point yet for a Tapir.

We descended to Laban Rata for the much awaited breakfast. After packing our belongings; we quickly made our way down, slowly and surely, back to Timpohon Gate.

As we depart for Kota Kinabalu even after our repeated pledge to never do this again, we looked up at the beautiful mountain range, and we know deep down inside that we will be back again someday.

Mount Kinabalu was an unforgettable experience and a testament to the power of Mother Nature.

Climbers at the summit, welldone! Big toothy grins for MNS Miri trekking team after making it to the summit with our Tapir in conjunction with MNS 70th Anniversary.

MNS Miri were in Mt Kinabalu area to for a triple event together with MNS Sabah Branch. While the trekkers were braving strong winds and sheer slopes up the summit, the flatgrounders were busy with endemic birds in the park and astronomy with students from SMK Datu Paduka Mat Salleh, Ranau.

Faye Osman/MNS Miri/May 2010

Community Education Program with Loagan Bunut National Park

Loagan Bunut NP, the largest protected freshwater body in Sarawak.

We have committed several dates for MNS Miri Branch's involvement in several community education programs mooted by SFC at the beginning of the year.

This is a part of a comprehensive program by SFC Miri whose audience was meant to be local community members living close or around a national park or reserve, our target this time are the folks surrounding Loagan Bunut National Park. Through this platform already well established by SFC, MNS Miri Branch hopes to achieve our own objectives of raising the awareness amongst rural community members.

Tentative plans for Loagan Bunut CEP with schools:


20th May Travel by car to LBNP from Lambir Hills NP
21st May Program with SK Long Lapok
22nd May Program with SK Kpg Bok
23rd May Program with SK Log Teru
23rd May Return to Lambir Hills NP.

Volunteers are recommended to travel together with SFC staff from Lambir Hills National Park on the 20th, however those familiar with LBNP can join their most convenient location on the dates specified.

Loagan Bunut NP will be the base camp for this weekend's program. Volunteers will be transported to respective locations daily.

Those interested to participate, please email mnsmiri@yahoo.com or sms 0168542212.

TAPIR made it to Mount Kinabalu Summit for 70th Anniversary!

Tapir on the summit by Faye Osman.

Our beloved Tapir made it to the summit of Mount Kinabalu last weekend (May 15th) in conjunction with our 70th Anniversary!

Congratulations to our intrepid climbing team Faye, Peter, Lau, Sia, Zhang led by Sara. Muchos gracias to Faye who lugged the cuddly guy all the way up the summit!


Group photo of a portion of members and participants who indulged in birdwatching for endemics and later astronomy and rocket launching in conjunction with our 70th Anniversary triple events over the weekend. Forty students from SMK Datu Paduka Mat Salleh, Ranau; Sabah Parks, Yayasan Sabah staff, MNS Miri and Sabah branches were a part of the Kinabalu Triple (Climbing, Birdwatching and Astronomy).

Our members (both Miri and Sabah Branches and friends) more attached to flat ground participated in a morning of birdwatching activities at the park looking for endemics, guided by Denis Degullacion of Borneo Bird Club, Alim Biun of Sabah Parks and Jimmy Omar of Yayasan Sabah.

Later that evening students were taken to a tour around the big blue in an hour of talk and colorful slideshow by CK Lim, amateur astronomer from MNS Penang followed by a short stargazing session peering into the Ranau nite skies.


CK Lim explaining the basic principals behind water rockets to MNS Sabah committee members.

The excitement continued the next morning with rocket-building and launching session led by again CK Lim and Kong Lih-Shan of MNS Sabah. A total of 6 water rockets shot up to the skies accompanied by loud applause from participants and spectators.

More stories on last weekend's Kinabalu Triple Do to follow.