Merry Christmas

Wishing you a merry Christmas!

Don't throw caution into the wind when facing wild animals - Borneo Pigmy Elephant

Below is a report about an exciting outing in the Borneo wildlife center turned into tragedy.

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Borneo pygmy elephant fatally gores Aussie tourist
The Associated Press
Updated: 12/08/2011 03:30:50 AM EST


KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—A pygmy elephant fatally gored an Australian tourist in a remote Malaysian wildlife reserve on Borneo island, an official said Thursday.
Jenna O'Grady Donley died of injuries from the attack Wednesday at the Tabin Wildlife Reserve—the first known fatal incident of its kind in Malaysia's eastern Sabah state, said state wildlife department director Laurentius Ambu.
The wild male elephant had been roaming alone around a mud volcano when Donley, a friend and their Malaysian guide saw the animal while trekking near their resort, Ambu told The Associated Press.
Donley, 25, a veterinarian, is believed to have gone within 10 meters (30 feet) of the animal, which might have charged at her because it was alarmed by the unfamiliar humans, Ambu said.
Rangers have not seen the elephant, but plan to drive it back into the forest, Ambu said.
Pygmy elephants, unique to Borneo island, are a distinct subspecies of mainland Asian elephants. They are considered endangered, with about 2,000 left in Sabah state.

Adult pygmies stand up to 8 feet (2.5 meters) tall—a foot or two (30 to 60 centimeters) shorter than other Asian elephants. They are more rotund and have smaller, babyish faces with longer tails that reach almost to the ground. They are also less aggressive than their Asian counterparts.
The elephant that attacked Donley is believed to be a near-adult about six feet (two meters) tall.
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the victim was from New South Wales.
An embassy official was to arrive in Borneo on Thursday to provide consular assistance, the department said.
The Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur did not immediately respond to questions about its plans.
Elephant attacks occur occasionally in Sabah, usually if the animals are disturbed, Ambu said, adding that it was the first incident of its kind at the Tabin reserve.
He said people should remain at least 160 feet (50 meters) away from wild elephants. Elephants in the wildlife reserve are currently in a migration season, traveling to different locations in search of food.
In comments issued through Malaysia's national news agency, Bernama, Sabah's tourism minister Masidi Manjun offered the state's "heartfelt condolences" to Donley's family, saying what happened was "an unfortunate incident resulting in the loss of a young life."
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I have repeatedly warned in my websites and blogs, always exercise extreme caution when in the wild, up the mountain and in the sea.
Tourist guides should also be firm when their clients have gone over the line. Customers are always right, no doubt about it, but not in cases where their lives may be endangered.

MASWINGS direct flights within the BIMP-EAGA region early 2012

MASwings, the wholly owned subsidiary of the Malaysia national carrier, MAS, will extend its operations to cover the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines - East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP - EAGA)early 2012. This was disclosed by Sarawak Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Abang Openg on 22 November 2011 and stated that the Federal Government has accepted this proposal from his ministry.

MASwings is currently the regional airline covering Sarawak and Sabah. With the implementation of the proposal to make MASwings the regional airline for BIMP - EAGA, it will definitely enhance the trade and tourism activities within the region.

20th International Borneo Safari 4x4 Challenge

Datuk Masidi Manjun, Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, flagged off the 20th International Borneo Safari 4x4 Challenge at 9:30am 24 October,2010 at the Sabah Tourism Board Office situated on Jalan Gaya in Kota Kinabalu.
The theme of this year's challenge is "Conservation in Adventure".
Registration manager, Anthony Foo disclosed that there are 169 registrations totalling 450 people, not including participants from overseas, Sarawak, Brunei, China, Indonesia and foreign media and Malaysian journalists. This is a new record of number of registrations for the Safari. As a result, the Kota Kinabalu Traffic Police has requested the Kota Kinabalu Four Wheel Drive Club (KFWDC) to limit the number to 60, which will be escorted by outriders to Bukit Vor in Putatan for the first two special stages.
The rest of the vehicles will form a separate convoy to Keningau and then to Kampung Ansip for the first night's campsite.

This year's Borneo Safari has also received overwhelming sponsorship which includes :

• Pacific Transmission Sdn Bhd
• Singapore Petroleum Company Ltd (SPC)
• Robert Bosch Sdn Bhd
• Nihon Corporation Sdn Bhd
• NES Oil Seal Sdn Bhd
• Yi Loong Air-Con (Sabah) Sdn Bhd

The above companies have agreed to sponsor four-wheel drive equipment, accessories, lubricants, batteries, shock absorbers and steering components.

Programme

	Date		Activity
	Oct 24		Flag off at STB Building,Jalan Gaya,Kotakinabalu Two special Stages at Bukit Vor, Putatan Overnight in Camp Ansip, Keningau
	Oct 25-26		Overnight in Camp Maliau Basin
	Oct 27		Overnight in Camp Ikea
	Oct 28-29		Overnight in Camp Marimba
	Oct 30		Overnight in Camp Luasong
	Oct 31		Closing ceremony at Sekolah Yuk Ching, Tawau

Related posts:

• 4WD Safari
• 16th Borneo International Safari
• Borneo 4WD Cross Country Challenge
• Open 4x4 Jamboree Contest

Second Borneo Bird Festival

Bird watchers join the 2nd Borneo Bird Festival at Selipok, Sandakan from 15-17 October 2010.

More details at the link below:

SPAM

Please don't spam my comments.
Don't force me to disable the comments function.

25th Sabah Dragon Boat Race 2010

How time flies! It's the annual Sabah Dragon Boat Race again.
Here are some photos of the event taken by my FB friend Shamsul Adzrin.
Check it out by clicking on the dragon boat image.


Related posts:
2009
2008
origin
2006


Photo courtesy: Shamsul Adzrin

Merry X'mas

Wishing all my Christian friends a Merry Christmas!

Kiulu 4M Challenge 2009

Check out these breath taking shots taken by Rabani during the annual Kiulu 4M Challenge. Click on the image below.

Please view related post

Photo courtesy: Rabani HM. Ayub

Wildlife North Borneo

Check out some great photo on wildlife North Borneo by Alphonsus Loinsang.

Photo courtesy: Alphonsus Loinsang

Orang Utan

Here's some photos of Orang Utan(Wild Man of Borneo) taken by Agoes which show how human like they are.

1st Borneo Bird Festival

Visit 1st Borneo Bird Festival photo album Photos courtesy : Jollence Lee, Facebook

Results of the 24th Sabah Dragon Boat Race 2009

Photo courtesy : Datuk Masidi Manjun

Here's the results for the 24th Sabah Dragon Boat Race jointly organised by Sabah Tourism Board, Sabah Chinese Cultural Association (SCCA)and Seri Travel Sdn Bhd on 21th June 2009 at Likas Bay:

Category	Champion	Runner UP	2nd Runner Up
Sabah Head of State Trophy	Pertubuhan Peladang Kawasan Tuaran	Terayung	Rasa Ria AS
Sabah Chief Minister Trophy	Pasukan Selipok Laut Sadakan	Shan-shui B	Persatuan Pengayuh Peranak Gayang A
Sabah Dragon Trophy Mix & International	Nexus Resort A	Maju Oriental B	Mengkabong Mix Team
SCCA President Trophy Men	Sadakan Fishing Tong Kang Assn	Persekutuan Persatuan Persatuan Cina Tawau	Persatuan Teo Chew Tawau
SCCA President Trophy Mix	Sadakan Fishing Tong Kang Assn	Peak Dragon	KK Foo Chow
Kinabalu Dragon Trophy (u-20)	Shan-Shui Junior	Inai Kiara	Persatuan Pengayuh Peranak Gayang
Men's Open Team Trophy 200m	Pasukan Sepilok Laut Sandakan	Shan-Shui B	Nexus Resort B
Mix Team Open Trophy 200m	Nengkabong Mix Team	Maju Oriental C	Maju Oriental D
Charity Race	Nexus Resort C	Darau Village	Persatuan Pengayuh Peranak Gayang Tuaran

Dignitaries present included Deputy Chief Minister cum Minister of Youth & Sports Datuk Peter Pang En Yin, Minister of Tourism,Cultural & Environment Datuk Masidi Manjun,KK Mayor Datuk Illyas Ibrahim and Assistant Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong.

Sabahans shun Mt Kinabalu nowadays

Ever since the management of Mt Kinabalu is privatised few years back,the fees to be spent on climbing to the summit has being rising steadily. Now it is beyond the reach of ordinary locals,especially the students who formed the bulk of local climbers in the past. This sad situation was disclosed by none other than the Minister of Tourism of Sabah himself.Then again the state government is bound by contract and nothing much can be done. So fellow Sabahans forget about climbing Mt Kinabalu at least once a year like before,thanks to the "wise" state government! The state government is wise or not,I am not so sure,but they are definitely smart to let the private management company to hold the controlling card in approving the mount climbing permit. Why it is smart,let me explain. The Tourism Minister said the high price is due to the tour operators bundling every thing into a single package.From the surface it seems to make sense, but the real truth is the state government has allowed the private management company to manipulate the permit application such that nobody will get the permit unless they go through "the company". The National Park Warden will not approve the permit if the applicant does not meet any of the following requirement:

1. proof of booking for accommodation for the night halfway up the mountain
2. two experience mountain guides
3. must begin the climb early in the morning
4. properly prepared for the climb

Very reasonable and not difficult to comply, right? Wrong, item #1 is the secret.The accommodation (rest house at Laban Rata,pic at left)is run by the company in question. When the company is entrusted to run this rest house,they convert it into a luxurious setting,hence justifying them to charge a high price.

Under other Chief Ministers before the current one, the rest house mentioned above had very simple furniture, with dormitory type of beds,climbers sometimes have to sleep in sleeping bags.But the fees were very affordable so almost all climbers rushed to book and stayed in here. When it was fully booked then the late comers had to stay in zinc huts further up the slope(about 5 minutes climb)as shown here. The situation is the other way round now, people rush for the huts,when all the huts are taken,then only they will book into the rest house.
The Tourism Minister announced that the abandoned construction project for a new rest house will be revived,so that more rooms will be available when it is completed. (The project was stopped because the contractor used bomb to clear some boulder for the foundation works.This practice was widely criticised for it may damage the slope structure of Mt Kinabalu,may even cause Mt Kinabalu to lose its status as a world Heritage site.) But I doubt the strategy will ever work if the state government privatises the new rest house also. We will be back to square one again.

New 7 Wonders

All Malaysians in general,Sabahans in particular, please go to the following url to vote for Sipadan Island. Of course,how can we leave out visitors, especially scuba diving enthusiasts, from other parts of the world? Please all vote our unique Sipadan Island into the "New 7 Wonders" by going to their website now: Vote The New 7 Wonders

4WD Safari

It's off-road adventures season again.The 4WD Safari will begin soon.I will post the details as soon as I get them.

Sabah International Fishing Tournament entry form

The Sabah Anglers Association will be holding an international ranking fishing tournament 10-12 April 2009,20 nautical miles off Pulau Mengelum. Entry fees : RM150.00/pax (before 1st April), RM180.00/pax (after 1st April). Those who are interested may download the official entry form :here Note: It may take several minutes to download with its full graphics and all,worse still, you may have to click refresh a few times before you have it, good lucks! Also the recently slow Streamyx speed is not helping things one bit. BTW,anyone suffers the same problem also,or it's just me? Further info: Zachary Mobijohn Honorary Secretary Sabah Anglers Association Tel: 6-088-232121 Fax: 6-088-265540 Mobile: 6-013-8504007 mailto:sabahanglers@gmail.com

Happy Chinese New Year

Happy Chinese New Year to all my Chinese friends!

Borneo International Marathon 2008

I had posted an article on this event in another blog Sabah,but I think visitors to this blog might also be interested too.Here is the link: Sabah.

Bird watching to lure tourists

Students from more than 20 overseas and local institutes of higher leanrning together with members from the public took part in replanting mangrove trees in Sabah Wetland Conservation Society (fomerly known as KK City Birds Sanctuary),witnessed by the minister of Tourism,Cultures and Environment of Sabah,Datuk Masidi Manjun and Tengku Zainal Adlin,Chairman of Malaysia WWF. Datuk Masidi praised the participants for contributing a concious effort towards conserving the mangrove trees in Sabah.

These trees not only provide a sanctuary for birds,they also offer excellent protection against natural disasters like tidal waves (tsunami) by forming a natural barrier for the sea shores. He said the large area of sea fronts grown with mangrove trees(about 1/3 of the nation's mangrove trees are found in Sabah)helps to prevent soil erosion every year. Datuk Masidi suggested that Sabah should capitalise on the large number of birds of diferent species to lure foreign visitors.This will greatly enhance the tourism industry.

Read also previous posts - Click here