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Day 17:

Telupid - Kota Kinabalu Bird sanctuary

On the way to North, stop in the picturesque town of Telupid.
Visit the interesting Kota Kinabalu Bird Sanctuary, covering 24 hectares of mangrove swamp. The state government designated it as a sanctuary in 1996 to help foster a better understanding and awareness on the value of wetlands.

Located just 2km northeast of Kota Kinabalu, the sanctuary is the only remaining patch of a once extensive mangrove forest. The site is fed by both saline and fresh water, thereby creating a unique ecosystem within which mangrove flora and fauna, and freshwater aquatic species, can flourish at the same time. In fact, some 80 species of resident and migratory birds have been recorded here. The Purple Heron, for example, has already established a breeding colony at the Sanctuary.

Mangroves act as a sponge by absorbing water during a heavy rainfall and later releasing them, thereby making it an effective flood mitigation mechanism. In fact, it is this regulatory function of the wetland that creates an important living sanctuary for the trees, plants, birds and fishes.

End of the Tour.