Sunset over Kota Kinabalu

Sunset while flying back from Lahad Datu to Kota Kinabalu. The image was taken from the plane window.

Proboscis monkey - Another portrait

Young male proboscis monkey.

Proboscis monkey - A portrait

Being thoughtful...

Silver leaf monkey - A portrait

Proboscis monkey - A portrait

Proboscis monkey - Borneo

Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary was established by a private plantation owner to offer alternative food sources to proboscis monkeys that could no longer find sufficient subsistence with their shrinking habitat due to the expansion of agriculture. It is now the best location to observe this animal at close range with great pictures opportunities.

Proboscis monkey - Borneo

Male proboscis monkey at the Labuk Bay proboscis monkey sanctuary, reached from Sandakan.

Silver Leaf Monkey - Borneo

The fur of the infants silver leaf monkeys remains orange for three to five months after birth and then turns black as the adults'.

Orangutang - Borneo

Orangutang means "person of the forest" in Malay language. They are not monkeys but apes, sharing over 96% of their DNA with humans. Above is a young male, recognisable by its beard and beginning of a mustache.

Danum Valley - Borneo

Forest & Light.

Danum Valley - Borneo

A beam of light.

Danum Valley - Borneo

Morning fog.

Danum Valley - Borneo

The fog is slowly lifting as the sun warms up the forest.

Danum Valley - 5:30AM

Borneo Rainforest Lodge, Danum Valley Conservation Area, view from the balcony of our chalet at 5:30 AM while getting ready for our morning walk.

Sambar Deer - Danum Valley - Borneo

Sambar deers are nocturnal animals. While males usually live alone, females are found in herds with their youngs.

Western Tarsier - Danum Valley - Borneo

Immediately upon arrival, we were allocated a guide and advised to wear our leech socks for a first walk as an orangutan had been spotted in the vicinity. While we were able to observe the animal, it was too high in the tree and the light was not appropriate for a picture.

Back to the lodge for an excellent buffet dinner, we were told that one of the naturalists had found a rare Western tarsier. Should we want to see it before or after the night drive into the forest? As it was, we climbed on the back of the truck for our night drive and stopped close to the location where the tarsier was. We jumped out to see the animal, took a few shots using a torch light as sole light and continued our first night tour. Later in the night, we came back and I was allowed one picture with the flash. I could not mess this one up as I knew that the previous shoots with the torch light were not great. I set the camera on manual, 1/60, f/5.6, ISO400, spot metering on the eyes, 180mm with the 70-180 micro and flash mounted on camera on TTL -0.7EV. With more time, I might have done something better but the naturalist that had been keeping watch by the animal for most part of the evening was looking forward to his dinner.

The locals name the tarsier "ghost monkey". They recount stories to explain that the animal is part bat (ear & nose), part rat (the tail) and part frog (the legs). It can be found at night with the reflection of the torch light on the eyes. To protect themselves during full moon, the tarsiers can move a thin skin over their eyes to reduce the reflection of the light. The animal must then be spotted on the first pass of the light as they will hide their eyes immediately afterwards.

Danum Valley - Borneo

After a 90 km drive from Lahad Datu on a bumpy gravel road / old log road, we reached the Borneo Rainforest Lodge, a resort located in the secluded Danum Valley.

Gomantong Caves - Sabah - Malaysia

The ceiling of the limestone cave reaches 90m high with natural chimneys through which the bats exit in a large swirling group at sunset.

Gomantong Caves - Sabah - Malaysia

The floor of the cave is covered by a thick layer of bat guano, living ground to millions of insects some crawling up onto the slippery pathways and hand rails...

Gomantong Caves - Sabah - Malaysia

The Gomantong Caves are the largest cave system in Sabah. They are located approx. 110km from Sandakan and are home to over millions of swiftlets and bats. The swiftlets' nests are harvested and sold as bird nests internationally.

Stork-Billed Kingfisher - Kinabatangan River - Borneo

Another species of kingfisher presents in the region.

Common Kingfisher - Kinabatangan River - Borneo

A common kingfisher woken up by our lights.

Buffy fish-owl - Kinabatangan River - Borneo

Another predator of the night, awaiting for a prey on a low branch above the river.

Crocodile at night - Kinabatangan River - Borneo

After dinner, time for another boat trip to meet the creatures of the night.

All the images taken at night while in Borneo were captured with a D700, 70-180mm macro and SB900. Camera was most often set at 1/60 f/6.3 -0.3EV manual, the flash on TTL.

Palm Civet - Borneo

Just after the sunset, we were very lucky to encounter this palm civet attracted by the fruits on a branch hanging over the river.

This image was taken from a small boat (not very stable) with a D700 camera handheld at 1/30 f/6.3 +0.7 ISO1200, 70to300mm VR lens at 300mm. Due to the dark face of the animal and the relatively bright background, I had to add the 0.7 compensation to ensure that details would be captured. This is a typical situation where you have to thank the camera manufacturers for the latest improvement in Vibration Reduction and low noise at high ISO technologies, without which such shot would not be possible.

Sunset over the Kinabatangan River - Borneo

And the night falls rapidely over the river...

Proboscis Monkey - Kinabatangan River - Borneo

Adult male proboscis monkey observing the river from its vantage point.