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This incredible wildlife conservation project offers a variety of activities that together will provide you with a unique experience in Malaysian Borneo. You will play a vital part in the conservation of the endangered Pygmy Elephant and be rewarded with an excellent safari style programme, staying at a luxury eco-lodge on the edge of the river of Lower Kinabatangan.
Come up close to orang-utans at the world famous orang-utan rehabilitation centre, stand at the foot of the highest peak in South East Asia and absorb the food and culture of Kota Kinabalu, the capital city of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.
Project Age Limit
Minimum 18 years, maximum decided on potential participants health.
The Volunteer Programme
A large part of the programme will be focused on the conservation of the pygmy elephant.
Note: Monitoring pygmy elephants is through the river safari. This involves speedboat cruises along the river to sight pygmy elephants on the riverbank. This is one of the only programmes in South East Asia where you can visit wild elephants, however, you will not be able to touch elephants for your own safety. Elephants travel in herds and you will see groups of them along the river. There will be great opportunities to take photos and observe their natural behaviour very close up. There may also be trekking involved.
Programme Activities
By joining the Pygmy Elephant and Orang-utan Conservation programme you will make a meaningful difference to the conservation efforts and will also experience some of the following:
- Come face to face with Pygmy elephants and see wild orang-utans, proboscis monkeys, hornbills and other fascinating animals and birds found exclusively in Borneo.
- Collect much needed data on the migration patterns of Pygmy elephants in the area and also on orang-utans in the wild.
- Visit a world famous Orang-utan Rehabilitation Centre and observe feeding times of rehabilitated orangutans.
- Visit Malaysia’s first World Heritage Site, Kinabalu National Park at the foot of the highest mountain peak in South East Asia, Mount Kinabalu.
- Talks on the issues surrounding the pygmy elephant conservation. Participate in raising awareness of Pygmy elephants to local schools and local fishing villages.
- Experience a river safari (by speed boat) and learn jungle survival skills
- Enjoy staying at an award winning luxury rainforest eco lodge, with buffet meals, comfortable bedrooms and modern facilities – this is as close to luxury as you can get in a remote jungle location!
- Offset your CO2 emissions by planting trees as part of the local forest regeneration programme
- Support local ecotourism growth and help generate local economy
- Absorb the culture of Borneo city, Kota Kinabalu and time to shop and enjoy the great food and nightlife.
The Pygmy Elephant
The pygmy elephant is smaller than Asian elephants but with larger ears and longer tails. They are exclusively found in this area of the world, although how they got to Borneo still remains a mystery! Some say they were brought as a gift from the King of Thailand or Sultan of Brunei and left in Sabah in the 17th Century. Some say they are remnant elephants, which came from Asia during the Ice Ages. In the last few years DNA analysis showed that the pygmy elephant were a genetically distinct species from other Asian elephants. This sounded alarm bells in the conservation world, especially as there are only about 150 pygmy elephants left in the wild.
The primary threat to these elephants is the loss of continuous forests. Mammals of their size require large feeding grounds and viable breeding populations with sizeable male to female ratios. Deforestation has also brought the elephants into more frequent contact with people, increasing human elephant conflict in the region.
The large blocks of forests they require are now being fragmented by encroachment in forest areas and conversion of natural forests into commercial plantations. Human disturbances within forests such as logging, increased agriculture, building of palm oil mills with associated settlements and hunting are rapidly breaking up contact between sub populations, as well as minimising the areas of forests available for each small group to live and feed on.
Orang-utans
Many young orang-utans have been victims of the illegal pet trade throughout Asia. Young orang-utans were caught during forest clearance or captured by poachers. The Malaysian Government has now clamped down on illegal trading by prohibiting all such practices and by imposing prison sentences on people who are caught keeping orang-utans as pets.
Young orang-utans that are kept in captivity can become sick or suffer from neglect, which in some cases even extends to cruelty. Some of the orang-utans that are raised as pets cannot be returned to the wild, but others are able to be rehabilitated. This is a long and expensive process, so the work at the orang-utan rehabilitation centre is essential. The rehabilitation centre that you will be visiting provides medical care, amongst many things, for orphaned and confiscated orang-utans.
Project Support
You will have the support and guidance of our coordinator and team throughout your stay in Malaysia. You will be provided with competent assistance and help with any questions you may have, or advice you need during your stay.
Additionally you will have access to a 24 hour emergency contact number for one of our UK staff should you need to contact them at any time.
Project Orientation
On day three, after your river cruise safari you will receive a brief orientation to welcome you to the country. Our Malaysian staff will inform you of the details of your placement and the duties involved, additional contact numbers that you may need to know, things to do and an introduction to Malaysian culture and life.
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