A Paradise Island with Wondrous Wildlife
Gaya Island is the largest of five islands forming the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park in Sabah, northern Borneo. As well as idyllic beeches, the island boasts a rare intact primary forest (it has been a forest reserve since 1923) that is home to some wondrous wildlife. The luxurious Gaya Island Resort sits in the hear of the island so a stay here means living up close to rare animals. Here is a taste of just some the wildlife you might encounter as you stroll around the Resort.
Proboscis Monkeys
With its protruding belly, a tawny-red fur patch resembling a unibrow and the largest nose of any primate, the proboscis monkey (or long-nosed monkey known as the bekantan in Indonesia), is a sight to behold. They may not be beautiful, but they are exceptional swimmers thanks to their webbed hands and feet.
Red Giant Flying Squirrels
Petaurista petaurista live in hollow trees more than 25 meters above ground, but come dusk, they can be spotted gliding from one tree to another as they forage for berries, young shoots and the occasional insects or bird’s eggs. Gaya Island Resort builds artificial nesting boxes and installs them on trees within the grounds, so keep your eyes turned upwards as you take an evening stroll.
Photography by Nandini Velho (nandini.velho AT gmail.com)
Bearded Pigs
Found in the rain and mangrove forests of Southeast Asia — Sumatra, Borneo, the Malay Peninsula and various smaller islands - Sus barbatus can be recognised by its prominent beard. They live in families and Gaya Island Resort is home to one headed by a boar called Timmy. If you want to see them, head for Tavajun Bay as the sun sets where they are likely to found combing the beach for tubers, fallen fruits and plants.
By Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE - CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40784181
Brown Boobook Owl
Ninox scutulata live in the woods and forests of tropical south Asia and can be recognised by their long, hawk-like barred tail and large, yellow eyes. Gaya Island Resort is home to one called Nonox who was
found abandoned in the grounds by one of maintenance staff. Unable to fly, he was taken to the Resident Naturalist and his team who nursed him until he developed into a fully grown wild Boobook owl. He was released back into the jungles of Gaya Island Resort in February 2015. Keep your eyes peeled after dark.
Michael Gillam, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Take a Captivating Holiday to Singapore & Gaya Island Resort