Today, I arrived at Sukau Rainforest Lodge. I decided to stay here because it is close to Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. The main reason I chose to visit Borneo was to see the Orangutans so I was really looking forward to finally seeing them. They did not disappoint!
What Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre has done to save the Orangutans species is amazing! Many Orangutans have died in recent years due to deforestation and the destruction of their habitat. Baby orangutans take many years to mature (approx. 8 years) and cannot survive on their own during that time which makes Orangutans especially vulnerable to endangerment. If the baby gets separated from its mother, the young orangutan does not know enough to survive and dies. The Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre takes in orphaned Orangutans and slowly teaches them how to survive on their own. When the Orangutans have matured, they are released back into the wild. They have trackers on them and can see they are doing well.
Besides learning about what they do, I also got to see these young Orangutans learn how to use ropes, platforms. They learn by observing the older Orangutans which I thought was really cool. It was so much fun to watch them interact and develop essential survival skills through play. Orangutans use both arms and legs to carry things and were so curious about how things worked. I also caught a glimpse of an older male that was around (not an orphan, I think he just hangs around the area). He was 300 pounds. When he was near, the staff intervened to keep him at a safe distance. I was so inspired by the Centre and definitely want to learn more about it when I get back.
After the Orangutans, we walked to see the Sun Bears. They are the smallest bears in Borneo and were adorable. This sanctuary takes them in because people have tried to raise them as pets or have trapped them to sell their organs for Asian medicine. There were about 30 of them but we could only see about 6 because the others were trying to keep cool under rocks or logs. The Sun Bears were black with a yellow ring on their neck. They were beautiful and it was hard to believe they were once held captive in cages. The Sun Bears, too, will be released back in the wild when they are ready. Some of the bears do not fear humans enough due to their years of domestication and will never be ready so will just live in the sanctuary.
The resort itself was lovely and incredibly eco friendly. I was incredibly impressed by the efforts made by the resort to be as “clean” as possible. Since their location is along the banks of the Kinabatangan River in Borneo, one of Asia’s most important waterways, the resort recognizes its responsibility to maintain the quality of the waterway and minimize pollutants as much as possible. The rooms used energy saving light builds and inverter air-conditioners. Rainwater is harvested and the resort is 100% self-reliant on water which is fantastic. I loved how the resort made sure to politely remind the guests of their duty to reduce their footprint by decreasing the amount of times they flushed the toilets, encouraging guests to turn off the water taps and showers and reuse towels. Additionally, there were explicit instructions for how to recycle and we were asked to bring our own refillable water bottles.
Sukau Rainforest Lodge: Asia's Most Eco-Friendly Hotel
I was impressed with some of the less obvious policies the resort had implemented. The boats for river safari cruises to and from the lodge are equipped with portable Yamaha 4- Stroke outboard engines. Its low-noise performance and zero-emission imizes noise, pollution and reduces the stress on wildlife and passengers. The rooms did not have any radio or television and the Lodge was built with local hardwood and all of the furniture was locally-made.
I loved my time in Borneo at the Sukau Rainforest Lodge and certainly understand why it has won multiple awards for its excellence in ecotourism.
Score
| Component 1: Conservation of Nature | 29/30 | |
| Building materials are environment-friendly | 10/10 | |
| Noise is limited in natural areas | 10/10 | |
| The water sources are protected | 9/10 | |
| Component 2: Responsible Tourism Practices | 35/39 | |
| That water usage is limited by means of implementing, for example, showers instead of baths, water saving showerheads and dual flushing toilets | 9/10 | |
| That biodegradable products are encouraged, such as biodegradable soap | 5/5 | |
| The correct disposal of waste, including cigarette buds, into allocated waste bins is encouraged | 7/7 | |
| Solar heating systems are in place | 4/7 | |
| Paper and other materials are recyclable | 10/10 | |
| Component 3: Environmental Education | 29/31 | |
| Tourists be informed of benefits of conservation | 7/7 | |
| Tourists are aware of the impact they have on the environment | 5/7 | |
| Tourists are told not to touch or disturb birds and animals | 7/7 | |
| Tourists are encouraged to keep on the walking trails | 10/10 | |
| 93/100 |
Photos
To read more about Sukau Rainforest Lodge's environmental efforts, check out its Annual Sustainability Report. Photographs by me.