Introduction
Mount Kinabalu, one of Southeast Asia’s tallest mountains at 4,095 meters, dominates Kinabalu Park, which is placed in Sabah. A study by the Royal Society Kinabalu Scientific trip in 1962-1964, led by Prof. Corner, laid the foundation for the creation of a protected area in Kinabalu. It is the first park in the state of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Kinabalu National Park, also known as Taman Negara Kinabalu, was founded in 1964 as one of Malaysia’s first national parks. At 1,585 meters above sea level, this park serves as the starting point for the summit path that leads to Mount Kinabalu’s peak.
Mount Kinabalu is the heart and soul of Sabah, as well as the greatest source of pride for its people. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the highest mountain between the Himalayas and New Guinea, and it has been designated as a hub of the plant variety in Southeast Asia. A summit sunrise from the 4,095-meter Low’s Peak is a must-see if you’re planning a trip to Borneo.
Plants & Animals
With four climatic zones, Kinabalu Park is home to one of the world’s most diverse collections of biodiversity, with over 4,500 species of flora and fauna, including 326 bird species, an estimated 100 animal species, over 110 land snail species, and its most famous feature, Mount Kinabalu. The rhinoceros’ hornbill, mountain serpent-eagle, Dulit frogmouth, eyebrowed jungle flycatcher, and pale-faced bulbul are among the bird species documented in the park.
The rafflesia, which has a big crimson blossom that may grow to over 170 centimeters in diameter and is one of the world’s largest flowers, blooms here. Other flora includes around 800 orchids, over 500 ferns (more than Africa), and the world’s most extensive collection of pitcher plants (nepenthes). The Bornean spiderhunter is a pure endemic, with 24 species found mostly on the mountain.
The majority of the mountain’s animal species reside up in the trees and are thus rarely seen. The orangutan, three types of deer, Malayan weasel, Oriental small-clawed otter, and leopard are among them. The black shrew and Bornean ferret-badger are two endemic species.
The Kinabalu Giant Red Leech and Kinabalu Giant Earthworm are two of the many indigenous animal species found there.
Tourism
The park is one of Sabah’s and Malaysia’s most popular tourist destinations. It is also one of Sabah’s and Malaysia’s most prominent tourist attractions. In 2010, approximately 611,624 people visited the park, including 47,613 climbs. Up to 150 climbers every day use guides and porters to ascend Mt Kinabalu, with the majority stopping at the Laban Ratan huts near the summit for the night before completing the trek early the next morning. Although a reasonable degree of basic fitness, as well as proper walking gear and waterproofs, are essential, the ascent (4,095 m) is not regarded particularly challenging. The mountain is known for its numerous carnivorous plant and orchid species, the most notable of which is Nepenthe’s rajah.
Kinabalu Park has something for everyone, from sports enthusiasts biking around and climbing the mountain to families with young children walking through the treetop canopy and soaking in the sulphureous Hot Springs, to naturalists and plant enthusiasts looking for endemic Borneo plants, birds, and animals, Kinabalu Park has it all.
