Borneo's animals
Orangutans and proboscis monkeys.
CEphoto, Uwe Aranas — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Pangalau — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Pangalau — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Pangalau — CC BY-SA 4.0
A zoological and botanical park opened in 2007 in natural forest at Putatan, about twenty-five kilometres south of Kota Kinabalu, covering more than a hundred hectares. The idea is for the animals to live in surroundings close to their natural home, and most are Borneo species that are hard to see in the wild. Here you can see orangutans, the long-nosed proboscis monkey found only on Borneo, the Borneo pygmy elephant, sun bears, clouded leopards, gibbons, crocodiles and many birds in a large aviary, along a walking trail of about a kilometre and a half through the trees, beside a broad botanical garden. The park opens daily from half past nine to half past five, with the ticket counter closing at half past four. Foreign visitors pay about twenty ringgit per adult and ten per child, free for over-sixties and visitors with disabilities. Bring cash, as cards are not always accepted. Come in the morning, when the animals are more active and the heat gentler, and allow two to three hours. There is no convenient public transport, so take a taxi or ride-hailing car and arrange the return in advance.
Orangutans and proboscis monkeys.
Among the smallest elephants in the world.
About a kilometre and a half through the trees.
Putatan, about 25 km south of Kota Kinabalu
Not entirely, but it is the easiest and cheapest way to see Borneo's animals near Kota Kinabalu; the great wildlife reserves of eastern Sabah are hours away by plane or car.