Hidden deep within the lush landscapes of Borneo lies a world of breathtaking wildlife and untamed beauty. Utan Rainforest Lodge (UTAN), nestled in the heart of the Sungai Kapur Virgin Jungle Reserve, offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness some of the most remarkable creatures and ecosystems on Earth.
Here are The Unique 10 (U-TEN) of UTAN which you experiences that will forever change the way you see the natural world.
1. Kapur Merah Forest – The Great Giants of the Jungle
Step into the towering grandeur of the Kapur Merah forest, where ancient giants stretch high towards the heavens. Beneath the shade of colossal trees like Dryobalanops beccarii, you’ll feel the humbling power of nature. This untouched lowland forest is a sanctuary of serenity and life, a place where time seems to stand still.
Just within the Sungai Kapur VJR, you can find the UTAN Giant kapur tree, which is just a few minutes trek from Utan Rainforest Lodge, and the Kapur Twin Towers, which is located further away.
2. Mangrove & Nipah Forest– Nature’s Resilience
In the heart of the tidal mudflats, the Mangrove and Nipah forests are bursting with life. These resilient ecosystems provide a home for the majestic Flying Foxes, whose twilight flights through the sky are a reminder of nature’s delicate balance. Their role in pollination and seed dispersal is vital, ensuring the forests thrive for generations to come.
Currently, the regenerating mangrove tree species include Aegiceras corniculatum and Glochidion littorale. You can also find common mangrove climbers like Derris trifoliata and Aganope heptaphylla growing on these trees. Experience a serene river cruise journey as you pass by the mangrove and nipah forests to sight for wildlife.
3. Forest Class 6 – A Living Legacy
The Class 6 Virgin Jungle Reserve in the Sabah, Malaysian Borneo covers 107,048 Ha of land. The Sg. Kapur Forest Reserve (FR) is located in the easternmost part of the state, within the Kinabatangan district, and spans about 1,250 hectares. It is managed by the Lahad Datu District Forestry Office. Initially designated as Lumerau FR on May 15, 1958, it was reclassified as a Virgin Jungle Reserve (Class VI) on March 14, 1984, to serve the purposes of forestry research and biodiversity conservation. Timber extraction is completely prohibited in this reserve.
Approximately 17% of the reserve remains in its original pristine condition. About 38% of the reserve is classified as disturbed forest, including lowland mixed dipterocarp forest (MDF), lowland kerangas forest, and lowland seasonal freshwater swamp forest.
4. Bornean Wild Cats – The Mysterious Felines of Borneo
Sg. Kapur Virgin Jungle Reserve is home to some of Borneo’s rare and elusive wild cats, and if luck is on your side, you might even be able to spot them during the safari night drive at Utan Rainforest Lodge. This pristine area provides a sanctuary for species such as the marbled cat, Leopard Cat, and the endangered flat-headed cat.
These felines thrive in the reserve’s diverse habitats, which include undisturbed lowland forests and swampy areas. The reserve plays a crucial role in the conservation of these species, offering them a safe haven from threats such as deforestation, habitat conversion, and hunting.
1. Marbled Cat
The Marbled Cat (Pardofelis marmorata) looks a lot like the clouded leopard, but it has a thick, bushy tail and resembles a house cat. Their tails help them climb really well, even allowing them to go down trees head first. Marbled Cats are very elusive. To learn more about their habitats, researchers set up camera traps in eight forests and two palm oil plantations in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. After four months of using these motion-triggered infrared cameras, they found that marbled cats are most common in undisturbed lowland forests.
2. Leopard Cat
The Leopard Cat is native to Borneo and is a highly adaptable feline. It can live in degraded habitats like paddy fields and is nocturnal, hunting small mammals such as rats. While its natural habitat is lowland tropical evergreen forest, it has adapted to human-modified landscapes with enough vegetation cover and can be found in agricultural areas like rubber, oil palm, and sugarcane plantations.
3. Flat-Headed Cat
Flat-headed cats are natural fishers and hunters, thriving in swampy and riverine forests. They hunt slippery prey like fish, frogs, and shrimp, and are so comfortable in the water that they even wash objects in it. Since they typically hunt at night, a night drive is the best way to spot them.
This cat is endangered due to habitat loss from agricultural expansion, pollution, and hunting. Researchers find it challenging to capture flat-headed cats on camera traps, leading to significant gaps in knowledge about their distribution and ecology. Named for their uniquely shaped skulls, flat-headed cats are considered one of the world’s most endangered and elusive felines, and they are smaller than domestic cats.
4. Clouded Leopard
The Leopard Cat is native to Borneo and is a highly adaptable feline. It can live in degraded habitats like paddy fields and is nocturnal, hunting small mammals such as rats. While its natural habitat is lowland tropical evergreen forest, it has adapted to human-modified landscapes with enough vegetation cover and can be found in agricultural areas like rubber, oil palm, and sugarcane plantations.
5. Irrawaddy Dolphin – Grace in the Waters
Irrawaddy Dolphins are facultative river dolphins, meaning they swim in both coastal areas and rivers. Like most dolphins, Irrawaddy Dolphins are not aggressive, and if you’re lucky, you might just be able to sight them during the morning river cruise at Utan Rainforest Lodge. They are intelligent creatures known for their cooperative fishing relationships with traditional fishers.
Irrawaddy Dolphins are grey to dark slate blue with a paler underside and no distinctive pattern. They have a small, rounded dorsal fin located behind the middle of their back, a high, rounded forehead, and a blunt snout with no beak.
The Irrawaddy Dolphin resembles the beluga in appearance but is more closely related to the killer whale. It has a large melon, a blunt, rounded head, and an indistinct beak. Its dorsal fin is short, blunt, and triangular, located about two-thirds down its back, and its shape varies among individuals.
6. Large Flying Fox – Soaring Through the Twilight
The Large Flying Fox (Pteropus vampyrus), found in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, is one of the largest bat species and the largest flying mammal in the world. These megabats have a wingspan that can reach up to 1.5 meters (nearly 5 feet) and can weigh up to 1.1 kilograms (around 2.4 pounds). They have a striking appearance with dark brown to black fur and a golden or reddish-brown collar around their neck.
The Large Flying Fox primarily roosts in large colonies in trees, often near water sources and can be sighted during the river cruise activity with Utan Rainforest Lodge. These colonies can include hundreds to thousands of individuals. They are frugivorous, feeding mainly on fruits such as figs, bananas, and mangoes, and they play a crucial role in seed dispersal and pollination in their ecosystems.
Despite their large size, these bats are gentle and non-aggressive. They have large eyes, which provide excellent vision for navigating and foraging at dusk and dawn. The Large Flying Fox is a vital species for maintaining the health of tropical forests.
7. Great Argus Pheasant – A Dance of Wonder
The Great Argus, particularly the subspecies Argusianus argus grayi found in Borneo, is renowned for its extraordinary courtship display, considered one of the most remarkable in the animal kingdom. The male Great Argus has striking long feathers and tail plumes that give it a majestic, train-like appearance when at rest. Its head is blue, contrasting with the more warmly colored female, which lacks the elaborate plumes.
These birds inhabit lowland to foothill forests with sparse undergrowth and mature trees, and can be found within the Sungai Kapur Virgin Jungle Reserve. The male’s distinctive courtship call “kow-WOW” resonates loudly, despite its elusive nature. Named after Argus Panoptes, the mythical Greek giant with many eyes, the male Great Argus displays numerous ‘eyes’ (ocelli) on its tail feathers.
The diet of the Great Argus consists mainly of fruits, supplemented with insects scavenged from the forest floor. During the breeding season, the male performs an intricate dance to attract females. This involves spreading its tail feathers and dancing around a cleared patch of forest floor, which serves as its personal display ground. Mature males maintain these areas meticulously, keeping them free of leaves.
8. Bornean Ground Cuckoo – A Song of Secrecy
The Bornean Ground Cuckoo (Carpococcyx radiceus) is a secretive bird resembling a pheasant, often heard but rarely seen. Its distinctive call, resembling “coo-KOO” and a sneeze-like sound, gives away its presence in pristine lowland rainforests, particularly near rivers or swamps.
If spotted well, the Bornean Ground Cuckoo displays beautiful iridescent purple-green wings, a long dark tail, finely barred underparts, a black head, and a pale blue-green face and bill. It forages on the ground, following ant swarms or Bornean bearded pigs to flush out insects, its main food source. Occasionally, it also consumes fruit.
This large terrestrial cuckoo is endemic to Borneo, found in sections of Brunei, Malaysia, and Indonesia, where it inhabits humid forests. It faces threats from habitat loss due to deforestation.
The Bornean Ground Cuckoo is a resident species, meaning it stays within its local area and does not typically move long distances.
9. Bornean Crested Fireback – A Flash of Colour in the Shadows
The Bornean Crested Fireback is a striking pheasant found in tropical lowland rainforests, especially in wetter areas. The male is dazzling with glossy blue-black plumage, a tufted crest, electric blue facial skin, a vivid blood-red back, and a white tail. In contrast, the female is warm chocolate brown with pale-edged feathers on her underparts.
These birds forage either alone or in small groups on the forest floor. Though naturally shy, they have become accustomed to human presence in some places. Larger than the Malayan Crestless Fireback and Salvadori’s Pheasant, they are distinguished by their blue facial skin and red legs instead of gray.
The Bornean Crested Fireback communicates with guttural “chuckit!” calls or soft “weep” sounds. During displays, males also produce wing-whirring sounds. They typically live in small groups led by a single male and inhabit dark forests. Here, they scavenge and scratch around fallen trees or beneath fruit trees, resembling the behaviour of domestic chickens. They are capable sprinters and can jump and fly short distances when needed.
10. Sabah Partridge – A Symphony of the Wild
The Sabah Partridge (Tropicoperdix graydoni) is a beautifully patterned bird found in the tropical lowland rainforests of Borneo. It is uncommon and facing population declines across its range. This medium-sized partridge is brown with buff scaling, a rusty bib, and a stippled black-and-white head pattern. It has a pale throat and is often seen foraging in small flocks on the forest floor.
Distinct from other partridges in its range, the Sabah Partridge is found at lower altitudes. It is characterized by a pale ear patch and lacks the rufous coloration on the head seen in similar species. Its song, often sung as a duet, consists of loud, tremulous whistles followed by a series of up and down notes, described as “weep! churrrrr…!”.
Formerly grouped with the Chestnut-necklaced Partridge (T. charltonii), the Sabah Partridge can be differentiated by the buff scaling on its belly and the absence of rufous coloring on its head. It belongs to the family Phasianidae, which includes pheasants, partridges, turkeys, and grouse.
Utan Rainforest Lodge offers these rare and intimate moments with nature, where every experience is a reminder of the incredible beauty and fragility of our planet. The Unique 10 encounters are more than just wildlife sightings—they’re emotional, life-changing moments that connect you to the heart of Borneo’s untouched wilderness.