Mount Kinabalu spans six vegetation zones from lowland rainforest to alpine scrub
Borneo is an island of extremes. Flanked by flawless coral reefs and white sand shorelines, tropical
swamp rainforest covers the floodplains and offers approach to remarkable montane and snow capped biological systems home to species discovered no place else on earth. Mount Kinabalu is a 13,435 foot rock massif ascending from the Bornean wilderness, the tallest crest between the Himalayas and Papua New Guinea and the focal point of Kinabalu National Park. The mountain not just pulls in climbers, it is likewise a biodiversity hotspot. Scholars and nature sweethearts overall make journeys to the recreation center to respect its 6,000 plant species, of which 1,000 are orchids. The larger part of Borneo's well evolved creature, flying creature, land and water proficient and invertebrate species are likewise spoken to inside the recreation center, making a standout amongst the most organically differing places on the planet and legitimately guaranteeing UNESCO World Heritage Status.
Mount Kinabalu in the state of Sabah in Malaysian Borneo
One of Kinabalu National Park's 1,000 orchid species, Coelogyne sp.
Mount Kinabalu is, at least, astonishing. Towering alone not too far off, glaciated stone towers look through the stirring fog to facilitate raise Borneo's sentiment being the genuine "Lost World." My magnificently knowledgable aide, Adrian, ran me through the mountain's geologic history and biotic extravagance on our three hour drive from Kota Kinabalu. It turns out the mountain isn't the main thing that is enormous in Borneo. Kinabalu National Park is home to an extremely energizing rundown of world-record holders. The world's greatest moth, greatest stick bug, greatest blossom, greatest orchid, greatest leaf..the list goes on. I was fortunate to experience a couple of these leviathans on our trek through the woodland at the mountain's base.
The world's largest moth, Atlas atticus
1. World's Biggest Moth. The chart book moth, Atlas atticus, is both enormous and lovely. This adolescent halted to posture for a couple photographs keeping in mind its wings are not yet completely built up (it will develop more!), you can see the serpent-like cover at the tips of its wings, looking uncannily like the leader of the moth's woods neighbor, the ruler cobra. The chart book moth can achieve a wingspan of twelve inches!
A family living near the park found this Rafflesia flower growing on their property
2. World's Biggest Flower. The Rafflesia blossom, Rafflesia keithii presented above, is really a parasite that becomes just on woody vines in the rainforest. The species I experienced maxes out at 95 centimeters (more than 3 feet), yet it's Sumatran cousin achieves a botanical width of 105 centimeters! The seeds sprout gradually, sending string like roots into the host vine and sucking out minor measures of supplements. This vampiric relationship proceeds for up to five years until the blossom at long last sprouts. When open, however, the Rafflesia lives for just an additional five days, making it's nearness behind a neighborhood's home close Kinabalu Park extremely energizing, for sure.
This leaf bug found his way to my cabin door at Sutera Hill Lodge inside Kinabalu National Park
3. This Big-A** Leaf Bug. Lamentably, I couldn't distinguish this example. Be that as it may, despite everything he makes my rundown of mammoth things in Kinabalu National Park.
Whether you're a herbal science geek like me, a climber, trekker or appreciate feathered creature viewing with an incredible perspective, Kinabalu National Park is a spot you need to see to accept. Next, I'll wander up the Kinabatangan River looking for Bornean dwarf elephants and my red-headed cousin, the orangutan.
necklace orchid gracefully spilling over a dead log along the trail in Kinabalu National Park
Poring Hot Springs makes a nice half-way stop on the drive to Kinabalu National Park