Kinabalu Park

Kinabalu Park
IUCN category II (national park)

Location of Kinabalu Park in Malaysia
Location	Sabah, Malaysia
Nearest city	Kota Kinabalu
Coordinates	6°09′N 116°39′E / 6.15°N 116.65°E / 6.15; 116.65Coordinates: 6°09′N 116°39′E / 6.15°N 116.65°E / 6.15; 116.65
Area	754 km²
Established	1964
Governing body	Sabah Parks

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	Kinabalu Park
Type	Natural
Criteria	ix, x
Designated	2000 (24th session)
Reference no.	1012
State Party	Malaysia
Region	Asia-Pacific

Kinabalu Park (Malay: Taman Kinabalu), established as one of the first national parks of Malaysia in 1964, is Malaysia's first World Heritage Site designated by UNESCO in December 2000 for its "outstanding universal values" and the role as one of the most important biological sites in the world with more than 4,500 species of flora and fauna, including 326 bird and around 100 mammal species,^[1] and over 110 land snail species.^[2]

Located on the west coast of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, it covers an area of 754 square kilometres surrounding Mount Kinabalu, which at 4,095.2 metres, is the highest mountain on the island of Borneo.

The park is one of the most popular tourist spots in Sabah and Malaysia in general. In 2004, more than 415,360 visitors and 43,430 climbers visited the Park.

History

The region was designated as a national park in 1964. British colonial administrator and naturalist Hugh Low led an expedition from Tuaran to the region in 1895. He also became the first recorded man to reach the peak of Mount Kinabalu.^[3] The highest peak of the mountain was later named after him—Low's Peak.

Geography

Kinabalu Park is situated on the Crocker Range on the western coast of Sabah. It is located within the district of Ranau, within the West Coast Division. The park is not to be confused with Crocker Range National Park which is a separate park in the south.

The park headquarters is 88 kilometres away from the city of Kota Kinabalu. There are sealed roads leading towards the park headquarters from other parts of Sabah. It is situated on the southern boundary of Kinabalu Park, at an elevation of 1,563 m (5,128 ft).

Administration and park features

Rajah Lodge accommodation with tree ferns in the foreground

This park is administered by an organisation called Sabah Parks. Accommodations in the form of chalets can be found in the park, mostly around the headquarters. Reservations for accommodation and mountain climbing guides are processed through Sutera Sanctuary Lodges (also known as Sutera Harbour), a private company. Every person who wishes to climb the mountain must be accompanied by a qualified guide. Sutera is now requiring hikers stay one night at their lodge near the entrance, in addition to a required stay at Laban Rata. The cost to stay is considerably higher than at lodging just outside the park, and includes a mandatory purchase of meals, etc.

The mountain summit trail begins at Timpohon. There is also an alternative route called the Mesilau Trail.

A notable feature of the park is Low's Gully. It is a 1.6 kilometre deep ravine stretching 10 kilometres on the side of the mountain peak.

Ecology

Vegetation of the Mount Kinabalu summit plateau

This botanical site contains a variety of flora and fauna that ranges over 4 climate zones; from rich lowland dipterocarp forest through the montane oak, rhododendron, to the coniferous forests, to the alpine meadow plants, and to the stunted bushes of summit zone. The mountain is also known for its many carnivorous plant and orchid species, most notably Nepenthes rajah.

It is also home to a multitude of endemic animal species, including the Kinabalu Giant Red Leech and Kinabalu Giant Earthworm. The park also plays host to a variety of birds, insects, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles.

Mount Kinabalu is one of the youngest non-volcanic mountains in the world. It was formed within the last 10 to 35 million years. The mountain still grows at a rate of 5 millimetres a year

References

↑ Chilling out in a tropical destination. The Jakarta Post, 12 June 2011.
↑ Liew, T.S., M. Schilthuizen & M. Lakim, 2010. The determinants of land snail diversity along a tropical elevational gradient: insularity, geometry and niches. Journal of Biogeography, 37: 1071-1078
↑ "Kinabalu Park". Sabah Parks. Archived from the original on 4 August 2008. Retrieved 1 November 2008.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mount Kinabalu.

World Heritage Sites in Malaysia

West Malaysia	Malacca City (2008) George Town, Penang (2008) Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley (2012)

East Malaysia	Kinabalu Park (2000) Gunung Mulu National Park (2000)

See also: List of World Heritage Sites in Southeast Asia

Protected areas of Sabah

World Heritage Site	Kinabalu National Park

State parks	Crocker Range Park Tawau Hills Park Tiga Island Park Tun Sakaran Marine Park Tunku Abdul Rahman Park Turtle Islands Park

Protection forest reserves	Danum Valley Conservation Area Maliau Basin Conservation Area Silabukan Protection Forest Reserve Ulu Kalumpang Forest Reserve Bidu Bidu Forest Reserve

Other nature reserves and sanctuaries	Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre Silam Coast Conservation Area Tabin Wildlife Reserve Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area Rafflesia Forest Reserve

National parks of Malaysia

West Malaysia	Endau Rompin Gunung Ledang Islands of Mersing Penang Taman Negara

East Malaysia	Bako Batang Ai Bukit Tiban Crocker Range Gunung Buda Gunung Gading Gunung Mulu Kinabalu Kubah Kuching Wetlands Lambir Hills Loagan Bunut Maludam Niah Pulong Tau Rajang Mangroves Similajau Talang Satang Tanjung Datu Tawau Hills Tiga Island Tun Sakaran Tunku Abdul Rahman Turtle Islands

ASEAN Heritage Parks

Brunei	Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park

Cambodia	Preah Monivong National Park Virachey National Park

Indonesia	Gunung Leuser National Park Kerinci Seblat National Park Lorentz National Park

Laos	Nam Ha National Protected Area

Malaysia	Gunung Mulu National Park Kinabalu National Park Taman Negara National Park

Myanmar	Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park Indawgyi Lake Wildlife Sanctuary Inlay Lake Wetland Sanctuary Khakaborazi National Park Lampi Island Marine National Park Mein-ma-hla Kyun Wildlife Sanctuary Nat Ma Taung National Park

Philippines	Mount Apo Natural Park Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary Mounts Iglit–Baco National Park Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park Mount Makiling Nature Reserve Mount Malindang Range Natural Park Timpoong and Hibok-Hibok Natural Monument Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park

Singapore	Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

Thailand	Ao Phang Nga National Park Kaeng Krachan National Park Khao Yai National Park Tarutao National Marine Park

Vietnam	Ba Bể National Park Chư Mom Ray National Park Hoàng Liên National Park Kon Ka Kinh National Park U Minh Thượng National Park

Association of Southeast Asian Nations Centre for Biodiversity

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