Diverse vegetation
With its elevation ranging from 150m to 1,000m above the mean sea level, Danum Valley is flora rich with 511 species of trees identified. Walking along the trail dominated with dipterocarp trees closely spaced tree canopies and little undergrowth in one place is surely a treasured experience. It is also home to exceptional epiphytes and herbaceous plants including orchids and pitcher plants.
High wildlife diversity
Danum Valley is recognised for its large presence of terrestrial mammals, with more than 121 species of mammals, including 10 species of primates like the Bornean Orang-utan, and Probocis monkey. For mammals, Danum is home to large, medium and small mammals, among which are the Bornean pygmy elephant and the rare Sunda Clouded Leopard. According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Sunda Clouded Leapord is below 10,000 individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing. Other vertebrate faunas of DVCA are 73 species of reptiles, 56 species of amphibians and 47 species of fish.
paradise for birders
It is also a haven for birders as more than 328 species of birds are found in Danum Valley including the Bulwer's pheasant, Great Argus pheasant, kingfishers, Blue-banded Pitta and hornbills, representing nearly three-quarters of the resident birds of the entire island of Borneo, of which 15 species found here are endemic to Borneo. This gives Danum the privilege of being one of the best destinations for bird watching.
One of the striking features of the avifauna of DVCA is the abundance and diversity of hornbills, with all eight Bornean hornbills recorded. The five species - the Helmeted, Rhinoceros, Black, Wreathed and Bushy-crested hornbills are common, while the Wrinkled, Oriental pied and White-crowned hornbills are rarer. They are usually seen visiting the flowering trees around the Studies Centre, together with other varieties of flowerpeckers, sunbirds and spiderhunters.
