The Klias Wetlands are a wetland on the peninsula of the same name in the southwest of the Malaysian state Sabah. A trip to this remote part of Sabah is particularly worthwhile because of the native fauna. During a boat trip on one of the watercourses in the area, you can see carefree proboscis monkeys, mudskippers and fireflies.
background
As soon as you drive you can see one of the impending dangers for Borneo's nature - palm oil plantations as far as the eye can see. Malaysia, together with Indonesia, produces 85% of the palm oil produced worldwide, which has seen an enormous rise as a renewable energy source. Huge rainforest areas were cleared in both countries to create the areas required for this. As a result, palm oil cultivation came under international political criticism. Slowly there are initiatives like that Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. Another source of income that the mangroves have to give way is shrimp farms. In the meantime, the mangrove forests have become a nature reserve Klias Wetlands Preserve.
landscape
Almost the entire peninsula is covered by mangrove forests. They are traversed by the Klias River and countless watercourses. In the forests themselves there are only a few villages and only very occasionally you can see one or the other house of a fisherman who only lives in the region seasonally on a boat tour through the forests.
Flora and fauna
The wetland was populated by monkeys, monitor lizards, crocodiles, unusual fish such as the mudskipper and myriads of fireflies.
- Proboscis monkeys (Nasalis larvatus, Proboscis Monkey, Kera Bekantan) - Proboscis monkeys (also used by the Malays in some regions Orang Belanda are certainly the main attraction of a drive through the Klias wetlands. This species of monkey lives exclusively on Borneo. The population here on the peninsula is estimated at around 400 animals of the total of 1000 that still exist and are classified as endangered by the IUCN. The threat lies in the ever-expanding palm oil plantations which are increasingly narrowing down the rather large territories that this species requires. The proboscis monkeys live in groups of 10-30 specimens. They feed mainly on leaves and fruits. In order to reach particularly tasty fruits, the very good swimmers quickly cross one of the numerous watercourses. The population on the Klias Peninsula is still quite unsuspecting and can be easily observed by visitors.
- Crab monkey (Macaca fascicularis, Long-tailed Macaque, Monyet pemakan kepiting) - You are sure to come across these macaques on a boat tour. They are easily recognizable by their long tails, which give them their name in English. These monkeys are very common in Southeast Asia and are not yet endangered. They can be found from Myanmar to the Philippines and from Thailand to Indonesia. The presence of water is important for their habitats. They live in groups of up to 60 animals. The crab-eating macaques are omnivores, but primarily feed on fruits. They are also not very impressed by passing tourists, so that one can actually take a closer look at these animals.
- Silver crested langur (Trachypithecus cristatus, Silvered Leaf Monkey, Lutung Kelabu) - This species of monkey, native to Indonesia and Malaysia, can also be seen in the Klias Wetlands, but the chance of seeing these animals is not as great as with the aforementioned monkey species. These tree dwellers live in harem groups and feed on leaves, fruits and seeds. The remaining males without a harem often live solitary.
- Mudskippers (Periophthalmos, Mudskipper, Gelodok) - These amphibian-like living beings are fish. They inhabit caves in mud piles and are typical inhabitants of mangrove forests. With their shovel-like front fins, they can move around in the country, and even climb trees. The animals feed on food particles in the mud and algae. If you observe the landscape closely, you will see one or the other inhabited Schlickberg on the way.
Arrival and exploration
A visit to the peninsula is wonderful as a full day excursion from about 120 kilometers to the north Kota Kinabalu from possible. The whole thing is straightforward and very well organized. You can book such a trip in almost every travel agency in the city. The price is around RM 190. The offices put you in touch with one of the local tour companies. In the morning the tour starts in a small bus to the south. Up to Beaufort there is rapid progress on the good country road parallel to the railway line. The paths are slowly getting narrower and houses on stilts can be found to the right and left of the paths. The bus stops at a jetty and the view is lost in the endless forests of the wetland. After a short walk you reach a small base camp such as this Garama Village Base Camp (5 ° 21 '54 "N.115 ° 34 '23 "E). After a refreshment with a few typical Malaysian dishes, the boats set off on a tour of the watercourses. After returning and having a snack, including a short rest, darkness has now fallen. The boats go out again for a short exit. Now fireflies can be seen everywhere in the trees with their little fireworks. The visitor should be prepared for two things - rain and mosquitoes at any time. The boats have a roof that can be set up, but you still don't stay completely dry. The souvenir shop in Basecamp also sells simple rain ponchos and mosquito spray.
If you really want to explore the peninsula on your own, the city is not too far away Beaufort a good starting point. Some roads lead across the peninsula. For a boat trip in the wetlands, you may want to check the availability of boats in advance with your accommodation or a travel agency in Beaufort. Beaufort itself can only be reached by road. From Kota Kinabalu there are buses to the city (departure at Wawasan Plaza & Anjung Senja Esplanade, RM 8.00), but the place can also be reached cheaply by rental car or private car. Due to a complete renovation of the line, the train service to Beaufort has been suspended.
The small town is located on the southwestern tip of the Klias Peninsula Kampung Menumbok. From here there is a car ferry connection with Labuan.
accommodation
- Borneo Proboscis River Lodge, P.O.BOX 13368, 88838 Kota Kinabalu. Tel.: 60 (0)87-209221, Mobile: (0)12-8338393, Email: [email protected]. The lodge is located about 18 kilometers from Beaufort directly on the Klias River. The lodge offers bedrooms in typical Rungus longhouses and offers various adventure packages for exploring the Klias Peninsula with and without an overnight stay.
gallery
 On one of the watercourses |  A crab monkey |  sunset |  Path to the base camp |
 Garama Village Base Camp |  On one of the watercourses |  Proboscis monkey and rainbow |  In the mangrove forest |
literature
- : Just follow your nose. In:In Asia, Vol.4 (July / August) (2009), Pp. 22-27 (German). - Excursion to the Klias peninsula.
Web links
More information on some of the animal species:
- Proboscis monkeys: Wikipedia - IUCN Red List
- Crab macaques: Wikipedia - IUCN Red List
- Silver crested langur: Wikipedia - IUCN Red List
- Mudskipper: Wikipedia
